WEB DESK: “Heeramandi” The Diamond Bazaar is currently a popular series that has recently been released on Netflix, has stirred a storm of reactions among Pakistanis on the internet.
The web series is directed by renowned Bollywood film director Sanjay Leela Bhansali. ‘Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar’ marks Sanjay’s first OTT project. The original Netflix series features a stellar cast, including Manisha Koirala, Sonakshi Sinha, Aditi Rao Hydari, Sanjeeda Sheikh, Richa Chadha, Fardeen Khan, Sharmin Segal, Shekhar Suman, and others.
The web series is available on Netflix; the series has already been watched by many Pakistani viewers, including popular Pakistani celebrities. Despite high anticipation, many viewers were left disappointed, particularly by what they perceive as glaring inaccuracies in historical depiction and Urdu pronunciation.
One disgruntled viewer said, “Just watched Heeramandi. Found everything but Heeramandi in it. I mean either you don’t set your story in 1940s Lahore, or if you do- you don’t set it in Agra’s landscape, Delhi’s Urdu, Lakhnavi dresses and 1840’s vibe. My not-so-sorry Lahori self can’t really let it go.”
Also, many Pakistani celebrities are reacting to the web-series Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar. Ahmed Ali Butt made fun of the series and titled it “Kheeramandi”. The social media influencer Ken Doll took a sarcastic jibe on “Heeramandi” through his hilarious video in which he’s speaking like the actors who worked in “Heeramandi”. The Pakistani actors including Mathira, Iqra Aziz and others also loved Ken Doll’s take on it.
However, some viewers couldn’t help but find humour in the situation. “Heeramandi is actually a comedy show. If you know Urdu, you’ll be deadass laughing every minute,” quipped one commenter. The genre of historical fiction has long enjoyed its liberties with anachronisms but rising criticism of Bhansali’s recent raises an all-too-important question: Is good art more generously excused for its missteps? As per one viewer, this is certainly the case.
