An opulent spectacle of Lahore's Red Light District, the first teaser of Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s highly-anticipated OTT debut, Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar, dropped yesterday. Unveiled by streaming giant Netflix, the teaser takes us back in time – 1940s, to be exact – and offers a glimpse into the world of Lahore's courtesans. It had viewers both excited and riled up, with several hung up on the fact that a story about Heeramandi should’ve been Pakistan’s to tell. Others, however, expressed their eagerness to watch Bhansali’s take on the area, its women, its politics and lure. Drawn by the opulence of his larger-than-life sets, production and glam, many are "seated" on X, intently waiting on the director to deliver. The good The micro-blogging platform is full of fans-in-the-making, who can't help but admire Bhansali's visual genius and his dressing up of the bazaar and all its courtesans. "This looks incredible omg!" commented a user. "This is going to become a new obsession I just know it. It looks so good and it's so colourful, I have no idea what's going on and I don't care!" added another virtually screaming! "The West could never! OMG!" maintained a commenter. This looks incredible omgggg 🤩🤩✨✨⭐️⭐️ https://t.co/JQH2ZJPyTY — শাহান | شاہان ❄️🇧🇩🫱🏾🫲🏽🍉 (@S_Hussain_1999) February 1, 2024 THIS IS GONNA BECOME A NEW OBSESSION I JUST KNOW IT IT LOOKS SO GOOD ITS SO COLORFUL I HAVE NO IDEA WHATS GOING ON AND I DONT CARE https://t.co/lmFKwfQ0dl — Hillary 🐋 Ocean Ogier 🌊 (@mellowhale) February 1, 2024 THE WEST COULD NEVER!!!!! OH MY GOD!!!!! https://t.co/RnfoFOyqLm — عامر (@Shehzada_Aamir_) February 1, 2024 A user, among many others, confessed that they've "never been this excited for a show." Others were pleased to see their favourite heroines razzle and dazzle. "I'm going to collapse, Sonakshi!" wrote a user. "Omg Aditi Rao Hyderi, your pretty eyes, will have to watch this now," chimed in another. I've never been this excited for a show - this looks like everything I hoped it would be 😍 https://t.co/1K9ObJOrR6 — xox23 (@xo_xo2023) February 2, 2024 IM GONNA COLLAPSE SONAKSHI https://t.co/DCv3eiXPrC — kazzy💜🇵🇸 (@kazzyhart13) February 1, 2024 Omg @aditiraohydari your pretty eyes , ab to ye bhi dekhna padega ❤️🥺 https://t.co/XYpLSOwjW2 — Murãt🪷 (@muratxmalhotraa) February 2, 2024 "It’s giving Saawariya?" pointed out a user. "Oh! this is about to eat" remarked one more. "I confess, Sanjay Leela Bhansali is authentically the best at showing women so celebrative! Can't wait to watch this," expressed a tweep. "Sanjay Leela Bhansali is an artist among filmmakers. His canvas is opulent, intricate albeit muted with a tinge of darkness. The sheer acting powerhouse in this series is a feat in itself. I mean, Manisha Koirala?! This better be good!" urged a user, and we second. It’s giving Saawariya? https://t.co/iGUn45MN5O — Telewishing (@Telewishing) February 1, 2024 oh this is about to eat https://t.co/2L5hWwdvYG — Abhi What Is This Behavior? (@bon_abhijeet) February 2, 2024 I confess, this#SanjayLeelaBhansali is authentically the best in showing women so celebrative ! Can't wait to watch this #HeeramandiOnNetflix @netflix https://t.co/ML4MNhIgTw — kapilKanna (@kapilKanna22) February 1, 2024 Sanjay Leela Bhansali is an artist among filmmakers. His canvas is opulent, intricate albeit muted with a tinge of darkness. The sheer acting powerhouse in this series is a feat in itself. I mean, Manisha Koirala?!!! 🤩🤩🤩🤩 This better be good!! @netflix @NetflixUK https://t.co/4bD6IpSyM4 — Sulagna🐦 (@maitra_sulagna) February 1, 2024 The bad Many, however, hold that the intense glamorisation might take away from the story and what the courtesans had to offer back in the day. A user even called the show Bhansali's "romanticisation of tawaifs". There were also those who felt cheated by Bollywood's up-taking of stories centred around Pakistan's Lahore. “Aaaah, another Bollywood movie with a Pakistani flavour,” tweeted a user under Netflix’s teaser unveil on X. "Most of this is based on imagination not true events," another offered in a disclaimer that is sure to be part of the series. "Take Pakistan out of the picture and Bollywood will crumble!" quipped one more. "Without Pakistan, you Indians can't do politics or make films. You hate Pakistan and then you're also obsessed with it," commented another. Aaaah, another bollywood movie with a Pakistani flavour — Masood Khan Yousafzai (@AMz_masood_12) February 1, 2024 Most of this is based on imagination not true events. — Baz Muhammad (@Stanikzai834) February 1, 2024 Pakistan ko nikal dein tu bollywood crumble hojaye 😭 — kenchiii ✂️ (@SanaaaKhaan) February 1, 2024 Pakistan ky bina tum Endians ka na to Politics chalta hai, na hi Bollywood chalta hai Nafrat bhi Pakistan sy... Diwanapan bhi Pakistan sy — 🇵🇰 سرفراز | (@sarf7a9z) February 1, 2024 "What inaccurate representation Bollywood. Although historically was it ever that glam? All the Mughal history I've read, the tawaif were actually very educated and sophisticated," an X user inquired. "SLB's delusory romanticisation of tawaifs," slammed on more. Lmfao what inaccurate representation Bollywood smh 😭😭 Although historically was it ever that glam? All the mughal history I've read the tawaif were actually very educated and sophisticated https://t.co/HPnbcAFNH8 — Namrah Shafiq (@theEldestB0y) February 1, 2024 sjb’s delusory romanticisation of tawaifs https://t.co/jYOk3TSdD1 — 🎀 (@lunar_hoe) February 2, 2024 The needful While Bhansali continues to amaze or disappoint, it is important for cinema fans that he do the needful – deliver justice to the narrative and their viewing time. With regards to that, Heeramandi promises to explore stories of courtesans and the hidden cultural reality of the area, a buzzing red-light district prior to the Partition of the subcontinent. The project is about love, betrayal, succession, and politics in the kothas with multi-faceted characters and soulful compositions. In a statement last year, Bhansali told ANI, "Heeramandi is an important milestone in my journey as a filmmaker. This is an epic, first-of-its-kind series based on the courtesans of Lahore. It is an ambitious, grand and all-encompassing series; therefore, I am nervous yet excited about making it. I am looking forward to my partnership with Netflix and bringing Heeramandi to audiences all over the world." Have something to add to the story? Share it in the comments below.
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