The Larger-Than-Life True Story Behind Netflix’s ‘Heeramandi’

The big picture

• Sanjay Leela Bhansali brings the decadent lifestyle of courtesans in pre-independence India to life on Netflix.
  Heeramandi
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• Heeramandi flourished as a cultural center for elite artisans, linked to royal families and providing education in royal etiquette.
• The series highlights the overlooked contributions of the courtesans to the struggle for independence, avoiding focusing on their downfall.

Known for his period dramas set in royal settings, BAFTA-nominated creator Sanjay Leela Bhansali has chosen to tell the story of the lavish lifestyle of courtesans in pre-independence India for its first Netflix series. Commonly known as tawaifs, these courtesans ruled the city of Lahore, now located in Pakistan. Having explored life in Mumbai's red light district in 2022 Alia Bhatt movie Gangubai Kathiawadi, Bhansali chose to harken back to a time when the courtesans of Heeramandi (which translates as “diamond bazaar”) were celebrated artists and exerted significant control over the socio-political and economic fabric of society. If it's from Netflix Heeramandi she looks larger than life, most likely the courtesans (portrayed by Indian-like actresses). Manisha Koirala i Sonakshi Sinha) are inspired by real-life figures.

The real-life Heeramandi comes to life in the Netflix series

Before Heeramandi, Bhansali had built a reputation for bringing chapters of history to life through his cinematic vision, which is stunning on the big screen. His greatest hits in form of 2015 Bajirao Mastani and 2018 Padmaavat are first examples. Similar to his previous projects, a lavish set, a historically inspired setting and an emotionally driven story are part of Heeramandithe makeup Today, known as Lahore's Red Light District, Heeramandi was once a center of artists where culture flourished. After the arrival of the British in pre-independence India, the area quickly became a center for prostitution and exploitation. In an interview with TIME, Bhansali said that he wanted to bring to light the story of the women of Heeramandi who were often seen as mere entertainers.

Normally, Heeramandi is believed to be named after Heera Singh Dograson of Dhian Singh Dograprime minister during Maharaja Ranjit Singhthe reign of The area's heritage can be traced back to the Mughals who cultivated the area as a center for women artisans brought from Afghanistan and Uzbekistan, he said. the statesman The neighborhood's proximity to Lahore Fort helped establishing its status as the “Shahi Mohalla” or “royal quarter”. something mentioned several times in the Netflix series. A home of artisans known as tawaifsthe area enjoyed the patronage of the royal families and theirs nawabs. How Heeramandi suggests, it was even common for royal families to send their children nawabs to Heeramandi to learn royal etiquette. In fact, the 'nath utrai' ceremony consists of young members of the royal family bidding for a young man's nose ring tawaif who loses her virginity to the highest bidder. This was considered an older age for both young men tawaifs and young nawabs

Culture and art flourished in Heeramandi, Once upon a time

As captured by Bhansali and his team in the Netflix series, Heeramandi was home to master craftsmen skillfully trained in classical dance and music. In particular, the mujra The dance form has been a staple of Heeramandi since the time when the Mughals frequented the courtesans. Being close to the royal family and royal patronage extended the tawaifs an elite status in society, through TIME. It was common practice to invite the tawaifs at royal family events as a sign of respect. It was also common for the tawaifs to be lovers of their royal patrons. Similar to representation a Heeramandiit is possible that some of the tawaifs could have given birth to royal heirs. In HeeramandiMallikajaan (Koirala), the most powerful tawaif of Heeramandi, she is shown to have given birth to Nawab Zorawar Ali Khan (Adhyayan Suman).

Heeramandi suffered under British colonial rule

As TIME suggested, the Heermandi's fall from grace began with the arrival of the British, who brought with them Western ideas of morality that relegated women to the status of prostitutes. Also, as shown in Heeramandithe growing dependence of pre-independence Indian royals on British favor ended up directly tying the destinies of the tawaifs of Lahore with that of the British perception of courtesans. Soon, the gates of Heeramandi were opened to non-royals, and wealthy men entered kothas (brothels), which once enjoyed royal patronage. From being the 'royal quarter', Heeramandi became nicknamed 'Bazaar-e-Husn' or Beauty Market. As well as becoming a center of prostitution under the British, the area also provided great talent for the film industry, with courtesans turning to other means of livelihood. Well trained in arts and music, some of the tawaifs he found great fame thanks to this choice. A similar trend was also followed in other parts of India where the tawaif culture was part of the lifestyle once.

The Netflix series also focuses on Heeramandi's lesser-known contributions

by Bhansali Heeramandi avoid focusing on the fall of the tawaifs of Lahore and rather chooses to remain engrossed in the power struggles and dynamics between rival courtesans at a time when the country was undergoing great change. Via Bibbojaan (Aditi Rao Hydari), the director also focuses on a lesser-remembered contribution of the courtesans. As important members of pre-independence society, courtesans played an important role in the struggle for independence, contributing resources, housing and support. As the TIME report suggests, Bibbojaan is inspired by real life tawaif Azizan Baiwho helped the local rebels in the uprising of 1857. In his interview with the magazine, Bhansali strongly presents his commitment to show this overlooked side of the courtesans' lives, which is also reflected through the rich characters represented in Heeramandi.

by Bhansali Heeramandi on Netflix presents a rich mix of history, music and culture to give a beautiful look at the real life of courtesans which enjoyed great power and prominence almost a century ago. The director's auteur style, which seems tailor-made for larger-than-life stories, helps bring the story of tawaifs in vibrant colors. Often seen through a singular lens, the lives of courtesans are given different dimensions by director Bhansali and writer Moin Beg in Netflix's latest eight-episode period drama.

All episodes of Heeramandi are available to stream on Netflix.

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