Heeramandi: Online users highlight historical inaccuracies in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s series.
Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s debut series on Netflix India, “Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar,” has garnered mixed reviews. Some internet users have raised concerns about historical inaccuracies in the period drama. Hamd Nawaz, a young doctor from Lahore, expressed her disappointment on X, highlighting discrepancies between Bhansali’s depiction and the actual Heeramandi locality in Pakistan.
According to Hamd, the portrayal of 1940s Lahore in the series diverges significantly from reality, with inaccuracies ranging from architectural details to linguistic nuances. She argued that the setting, costumes, and dialogue do not authentically represent the era or the locale. Furthermore, she pointed out that the tawaifs of Heeramandi would not have worn the extravagant attire showcased in the series, emphasizing the harsh realities of exploitation and poverty they faced.
Hamd also noted anachronistic elements in the series, such as the presence of Umera Ahmed’s novel “Peer-e-Kamil” on a bookshelf and a newspaper with a date suggesting it is set in 2022, despite being placed in the 1940s.
“Heeramandi” features a talented ensemble cast, including Manisha Koirala, Sonakshi Sinha, Aditi Rao Hydari, Richa Chadha, Sanjeeda Sheikh, Sharmin Segal, and Taha Shah Badussha, set against the backdrop of the Indian freedom struggle. However, the series has come under scrutiny for its historical inaccuracies, prompting a discussion among viewers about the responsibility of filmmakers to accurately portray historical contexts.
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