Heeramandi Review & Analysis | Netflix India | Sanjay Leela Bhansali 

For me personally, Alamzeb was the WEAKEST link of the show. She had a sense of indifference in her facial expressions. Portrayed every emotion with a poker face. Sonakshi and Manisha did a fabulous job but the abrupt end of their hostility towards each other just ruins the show

This series is like the girl in the school who is very beautiful but when starts talking it just becomes boring

Classic Bhansali - Get so invested in showcasing beauty and grandeur that you forget that there is a story to be told. The review is spot on!

My shoutout to Farida Jalal....it was lovely to watch ger again... special mention to shruti Sharma as Saima...i so wish she was casted as alamzeb

Alam and Taj so called ‘love story’ is the most annoying part in the series, which I literally fast forwarded to get either Manisha Koirala or Sonakshi Sinha on screen!

Alam zeb was so dead. Didn’t expect SLB to be biased for his own blood and give so much prominence to her. The best were Richa chaddha Sanjeeda and def Aditi. Manisha K made dialogues way too heavy. Sonakshi did her part well.

Who else think mrunal would have been a brilliant cast for alamzeb. Because tajdar and alams romance couldve given sitaramam vibe if done properly

As someone who watched Ekta Kapoor's shows for more than a decade, I was really glad to see Sanjida Sheikh in such a big project.

I think the reason we hype SLB so much is because he's one of the few directors in the industry who actually puts effort into making his movies look visually appealing, there is absolutely a dearth of directors at least in Bollywood who can make aesthetically pleasing movies in the commercial market. While his cinematography, the set designs, colour blocking, lighting etc is absolutely impeccable and meticulous the same cannot be said about the plot of his movies. We as an audience are willing to look past it because of the visual feast. I truly think had heeramandi been a feature length film a lot of us wouldn't have noticed the insubstantial plot

My only problem was with Sharmin Segal's casting... That woman didn't have ONE expression on her face which is a must in a Bhansali product either there's enough expression or too much of it but in this case there was none of it they could have had someone like Wamiqa Gabbi she would have nailed the role And I *PERSONALLY* thought that this was Manisha Koirala's show all the way she was the MVP she was the main character

Here’s my character tier list Fabulous - Malika, fareedan, rehaana, Amazing - waheeda, lajjo, ustaad, cartwright Good - bibbo, phatto satto shama, tajdar, all the nawabs Meh- the guy who got arrested, and his love (forgot their names) , tajs family Absolutley donkey trash - ALAMZEB

Except For Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Niece. Everybody acted superbly. 🔥🔥. His Niece can't act for sure. Her love story angle was pulling the story down because of her acting. Straight face in all scenes

Keep everything aside So happy to see Manisha in something as grand as this She was brilliant in this. One should remember that she was the OG SLB heroine😊❤

Heeramandi was soooo frustrating to watch, specially the bits of Alamzeb. The characters around her had so much emotions and she just stood there like a rock (or sat there) throughout! What a waste of screentime. The only character that I rooted for till the ending was Ustaad, I wouldn't have been surprised if he became the Huzoor of Heeramandi after independence.

It was Manisha, Sonakshi and Aditi's performance for me ❤ Sanjeeda sheikh was amazing too. I wish Richa Chaddha had more screen time. I think the acting was pretty good in general except the character of Alamzeb. But the writing was weak Edit : I'm still on the 3rd epi so.:3

Love Jammy's shade: Duo who throw average poetry at each other getting impressed with last words of verses rhyming with each other 😅🤣

Sharmin segal got most screentime , the best song - chaudhvi shab (even though her voice didn't match to shreya ghashal) and ample scope to perform ... still she managed to ruin it royally she said in an interview that she auditioned for this role ... how was she even selected?

Every character was interesting except Alamzeb who gets the most screen time. Maybe the actress portrayed that character in one tone and it wasn't that boring on paper. Sunakshi, Aditi and Manisha was powerhouse I wish Richa Chadda gave more screen time her character was more like Umrao Jan. Loved that scene when she laughed after her Mujra that was strange yet you completely understood that she is doomed yet she is laughing on herself as well as Zoravar.

In my opinion, Fareedan's backstory deserve it's own spinoff movie / series.

I wonder why no one is talking about Sonakshi, her performance in the series and especially Tiismi Bahein.

That song "Masoom dil hai mera" and how Richa performed it, was the highlight

Burst out laughing when he turned into a Priety Zinta simp for a moment 😂

Okay so don't hate me here, I feel like using the British and the independence plotline is getting too much here. Like this series could have been more interesting if they just used the Heeramandi politics and how these women navigate through it. There is so much going on but it still can't capture my attention.

I believe if they cut the episodes to 5 instead of 8 and eliminated almost all of the independence struggle, it would've been an interesting series. They could have focused only on the drama between courtesans and nawabs; how they extract information, steal 'sahabs', etc. In fact, I believe that's why the first episode worked for me (because the struggle portions were minimal) and the last did not work for me (where suddenly all characters forget all their motivations and development, everyone is playing friends).

Fun Fact: An ad for the Heeramandi x AJIO Collab dropped before the video started.

The romantic angle was totally unnecessary. Was absolutely frustrated with Alamzeb. She looked someone who will be the poster girl for cons of Botox. No expression whatsoever. Sadness.. stone eyed. Happiness….stone eyed. Revenge…. stone eyed. Unpopular opinion: Aditi was just cruising through the series except the next episode. Jason was superb as Cartwright. Made me want to wrangle his neck. I actually liked the Swan song 😅. Bawled my eyes out. But the 180 of the morality made me go through so many mental gymnastics.

How can you ignore #SonakshiSinha in this series..lol She is the highlight of this series Powerful performance by her🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

Am I the only person that totally vibes with Sanjay Leela Bhanshali's creativity..be it any creation?...I thoroughly enjoyed it..enjoyed as in understood the serious nuances involved along with the "eye pleasing show"...though will say RajKahini( Bengali version ) had more serious appeal.. Also, must say, after Lootera this is Sonakshi Sinha's best performance...Moral of the story..under the umbrella of best sensitive yet heady director, every person can act and shine.. !!!

REKHA would have killed as Mallikajaan. Manisha was beautiful as well.

It was a horrific watch, and the plot line was beyond trash to say the least. Also, Sharmin Sehgal was absolutely horrible to watch because her expressions DID not change throughout.

The sudden spirit of freedom in the last episode was so funny😂 they all became patriots when they lost their business. Bibbo's character was the only true patriot who did espionage etc and was consistent throughout the show. Tajdar's daadi asks him to visit heeramandi as a tradition to learn arts, etiquette and love😂 whereas at the end of the series zulfikar nawab's wife tells that how much the wives community hate them. The definition of 'Tawaifs and Courtesans' itself is a person exclusively appointed for arts, etiquettes and physical pleasures of Nawabs. Grandma was in her own delulu world😂

You missed a very big point, the scene where malikajaan gets raped is when they stop revenging against each other and start revenging against the British because they realized their true enemy was not each other but the Brits and its evident in the line where fareedan says something like “ I wanted to strip her from her pride not honor” and “no woman wishes another woman to get raped” it’s from that episode where the revolution begins. And bibbojaan has been a freedom fighter since the beginning of the show so I disagree with that last line. I think you viewed this series which is based on a feminist movement from a masculine and critical perspective which is why it wasn’t that good to you.

Sonakshi and Manisha made the entire viewing experience worthwhile honestly

I'm so upset Sharmin Segal was given sooo much screentime and did nothing with it. Her expressions were always blank, it added nothing to the screen while the whole series I was looking forward to Manisha Koirala, Richa Chadda, Sanjeeda Sheikh and even Sonakshi who truly impressed me with her performance. I feel like if they gave Sharmin's role to Sanjeeda Sheikh, she could've pulled it off with all the material she would have to work it and she's just as gorgeous. But alas, the nepokid got more screentime and it worked against her. More screentime means you only have to prove your acting skills even further. Really disappointed in the series tbh and hope SLB will focus on the script being just as good as the cinematography

To be honest i can understand why sonakshi changes her mind. I mean she says it directly she wanted to ruin her ego but what mallika jan goes through.... I think since fareedan has been through it she didn't want anyone to suffer through it. Some things hurt us more than death...

But Sonakshis performance was also really good. She is underrated for sure - the way with which in tilasmi baahein she dances carefree like her character was just phenomenal

Can i say that i was hoping richa chaddha to be given more screen time. I also personally felt alam zeb was a bummer. A poker face, lack of emotions and a poorly written and executed character. However sonakshi and manisha killlled it also aditi ans sanjeeda. Just wished the latter half could have been a bit more interesting.😊

Alamzeb actress was a bummer, Sonakshi deserved more screen time

SO TRUE!!!! I would have loved to see more of Bibbo, Fareedan, Waheeda and Saima then the love story

I totally agree with the actor who played Alamjeb, Throughout the series I Was thinking what would have been the reason for bhansali to cast her? such an important character it was.

The actress playing alamzeb character really ruined it.. only saving face was bibbo played by aditi..

Can we talk about manisha koirala for a second I watched her in dil se and bombay and there's charm and innocence which is so endearing to watch but cut to this film she have such an intimidating Presence And then I remembered of aishwarya rai role in ps2 bollywood should caste vetran heroines and shouldn't stop giving them opportunities just because they got older because their talent clearly deserve more opportunities

bhansali has really carved an aesthetic for himself just like an artist - you can see a frame and immediately know its a bhansali film - like you would an art piece

The cult of bhansali has gone on for too long. Ok his scope is astounding, his visuals are breath-taking, his design superlative. That's not all a movie is though. After Khamoshi, not once has even a single emotion in any of his films has had any semblance of reality or relatability. And I'm sorry, he doesn't "pull off" melodrama, he just continually doubles down on it. Might work on people who've never grown out of melodrama, or non-indians who can't detect the sheer pretentious inanity of it all. But who else really likes it? Sanwariya was like a parody of himself, and yet the hype continues... If all you're good at is songs and visuals, go make music videos. Good films need honest stories told well. Not just emo wanks and visuals.

Ustaadji was a combo of varys and peter baelish

Heeramandi was grand and beautifull.....but boring.. Jubilee is one of the best series which was set in pre independence india....motwane killed it Still one of my favorite Amazon prime webseries

This might be an unpopular opinion, but I've never liked any Bhansali film I've seen. I never get invested in the actual story and majority of the scenes are very monotone and boring. The aesthetic/songs are the only highlight of his films. I remember watching Devdas and admiring every frame, but cringing at Aish and Srk's acting and dialogues. When people say he's overrated, I unfortunately agree with them.

In my opinion Sonakshi was the best. Shoutout to her for improving her acting on a great scale❤

The core story of this series is very similar to Bugum Jaan movie, played by Vidya Balan which was copied from Bengali movie Rajkahini.But as here a bigger production and a famous director involved, it's going to get more appreciation 😌

Yrr, I thought you are going to mention Sanjeeda Sheikh. I loved her in the series

This review is so apt! I was so irritated with the Cartwright-Alam end. When one of them has just killed his superior, why would he call her home?! Even the saima becoming a singer was so random. I expected Iqbal to join the movement with nothing else going for him. I loved richa and manisha koirala, they've done a fab job. But the series is just so long! This could have easily been a crisp 3-4 episode limited series.

The change from the politics in heeramandi to the freedom struggle felt too sudden. I know they built it up from the 1st episode, but still felt sudden. And I i don't know of its just me or the bad acting, but I feel I've outgrown the age where i enjoy the whole 'love at first sight' plot. 🤷🏻‍♀️

I felt when I was watching "heeramandi" like what i am watching is beautiful....but then it's just that for long time😅

SLB is a great illusionist. He knows how to create visual illusion. That’s why all his movies have extraordinary jewelry & choreography. But the story has always been stereotypical

I wasn’t even mesmerised by the songs as I was in other Bhansali songs. Like you believe that Madhuri is singing Kahe Chhed Mohe, here the actresses just couldn’t portray the depth of the singer’s voice. But Richa Chadda was a surprise - you expect good acting performances from her but here her performance in her song was fab too.

Khamoshi is the only movie of bhansali i loved followed by Black .

All the naysayers about the Casting on Manisha Koirala can touch some grass now. They didn’t realized her calibre 🔥

With this review I will not watch it and waste my time... Thanks Jammy

I partially agree with u. But i feel the tragedy that happened with malika jaan was smthng which shooked all women in heeramandi including her rivals. If british could do this with a powerfull woman like malikajaan wht would they do with a normal woman..hence the abrupt change

Alam with zero expressions 😑

Things I liked 1. Set design and music ( I liked the world outside the brothels tbh.. like that’s when the natural visuals shined) 2. Dialogues and delivery (though the male characters like zoravar.. overdid it a bit) 3. Sonakshi Sinha shined (after lootera, I think something I took from the show is she is a good actor limited by mediocre directors), Manisha Koirala and Farida Jalal carried the show 4. The Richa chada arc Things that were mid- 1. The stretchy story 2. Aditi Rao hydari and her intentions ( I just wish they toned down the grey/ dark characters a bit.. I was having a headache by everyone’s cunningness.. and bibbojaan was the only breather😅). I think even Waheedajaan is a tragic case and someone who should have been a larger character. 3. Too many dance sequences Things I didn’t like 1. No setting of story and you don’t connect with anyone from the start, Not the Preindependence circumstance, not the murder, not the revenge :( 2. Alamzeb and tajdar (I am sorry but I didn’t feel anything) and Sharmin is terrible in her role tbh. Like 2 ep for them instead of bibbojaan and Waheeda??

10:40 "who throw average poetry with each other and get impressed", Oh god, I can't stop laughing after hearing this But I actually love this series , all acted really good and the visuals are epic

I was not a fan of Manisha or Sonakshi. But here, they have acted really well. They overpowered the boring series. But what were they thinking about Alamzeb's casting??? Why so bad????

The highlight of the review-“Relaunch your niece bcz no one watched her first film” 😂 absolutely true.. everyone was watchable except Sharmin segal. All the actors were too good

I think SLB as a director would have failed if not for Deepika. Before that Sawariya bombed at the BO. Deepika’s star power and acting prowess is what made him relevant for so many years. Other than that only Devdas was a success for him, but that isn’t a original plot from him. Gangubai only barely broke even. But Ram Leela, Bajirao and Padmavat were blockbusters.

Rap battle in Urdu line was hilarious 😂😂 5:59 😂

I agree with all the points made here except the one where its stated that sonakshis character doesn't need to humanise with her revenge because whatever happened with malikajan was totally inhumane!

Jammy’s initial 1 minute intro lines are exactly what I have felt watching SLB’s movies for so long, for me the stories and performances saved them, everything else was visual spectacle and that’s all

Should’ve cast Rekha as the main lead. She is a specialist in these kind of roles 😊

I was just happy to see Manisha Koirala and SLB reuniting.

Amazing series . And luckily for the first time Bollywood did realize that Lahore is in Punjab and people spoke and still speak Punjabi there. And they very much showed that in the background .

just finished watching Heeramandi and hopped onto RU-vid, and saw that you posted a review, I knew exactly what points you were gonna mention ( except the Preety Zinta part 😆😆) 100% agree with the point about it being so visually pleasing but what else

Last ep was just unbearable 😭😭. Tf was that patriotic u turn , make it make sense.

The first 1 min of the video!! Jammy completely nailed it. It’s like someone is articulating what I exactly thought

Yes Manisha Koirala definitely shines however one cannot ignore the performance of Aditi Rao Haideri... She has also done a great job.. Even with weak story she brings her best

I personally loved the series. In the era of shorts and reels i loved how engaging this series was and made me watch in a day. The beauty of the story is still stuck in my mind and omg the dialogues are massive

Why do u speak with headphone on 🤣

I just finished the whole series in one sitting. Loved the serious despite of few flaws. Acring wise i would love to recommended Fatto and Satto highly. Both of them were flawless. Manisha and Sonkashi were impeccable. Richa, Aditi and Sanjeeda were ok in their roles. My only problem was that why SLB chose Heeramandi story at the backdrop of Freedom movement. He should have invested more time around the stories of Heeramandi courtsien. There are lot of real stories of famous Heeramandi courtsiens connected to bollywood. When you are spending so much money on clothes and sets atleast SLB could speel some amount of money into stories of courtsiens. Overall it wasnt a bad experiences but left me with wanting more.

This could've been THE show for Indian streaming content to break out globally since Netflix was planning on a proper global release (they even released the teaser on global Netflix channels/pages). But as the release came closer, presumably due to the mediocre screenplay, they decided to release it without much global promotion.

OH MY GOD THANK YOU, for articulating this. I finished it yesterday and have been waiting for someone to do this and remembered you. AND. YOU. DELIVERED.

Not jammy simping over preity😂😂

I know I'm going to be ignored but Indian Tv industry which is being ignored from arround 2013. They tried many experiments exculding mytho shows. 1. Shakimaan open ending movie 2. Adventure of Hatim (reboot of 2003) 3. In balveer 2 (time travel) crossover with another show Aladdin and multiverse (incomplete due to covid) 4. Hero gayab mode on ( based on Indian mythology just like Hanuman) 5. Dhruv Tara (time travel love story but only arround 200 episode only) 6. Icchadhari nag nagin shows like Naagin 1&2 (good enough), Nagarjun ek yoddha (best but underrated) and many more

One has to REALLYY love SLB to love this, but even though, i think i can get away by saying "art is subjective" and frankly, this was a piece of art for sure; if you love the artist, you love the art!! P.S. You have to appreciate A.M. Turaz and other writers for the profound urdu!!

I hope he don't ruin the love and war like this ...otherwise it would be waste for casting such a good actors....I still think it is better for him to only direct movies rather than web series

4:15: Your thoughts on PZ! I feel you bro! 😊

Yesterday I saw all episodes of Heeramandi and I totally agree with your review. I found shruti(Saima) sharma played her character more genuinely and sincerely then sharmin segal's same expression in every frame. this how nepotism works in bollywood???

This was one series I was most looking forward to this year. After watching I a speechless.. because I can’t describe in any word or form What Did I Just Watched!!. Only thing I remember is Manisha Koirala, and rest was just crowd and noise.

Just a thought that crossed my mind while watching Heeramandi..Netflix ke paas ITNA paisa hai..like ITNA..so next time if you think why Netflix is wasting money on some show or a movie just think about Heeramandi..they have THIS much money so baki chote mote shows n movies is nothing for them!🙂

I’ll watch it after my NEET exam. I want to dive deep in a beautiful world.

I was in absolute awe by the performance of Tahashah . New National crush for sure

I started with episode 1 but couldnt go further once Shekar Suman character came on screen. Somehow liked the dark shade of Sonakshi.

You know when a movie is avg / below par when Jammy starts review with " THE GOOD " 😋

Sharmin segals casting was 100% off putting. If they had cast Sanjeeda in sharmins role it would have been interesting to watch

As one of your earliest followers, I remember your old videos where you wouldn’t show your face because you were camera shy. So happy that you have come a long way where you now are so confident on camera. Kudos!

My feedback after watching is - 1. It was way to slow placed in beginning 4 -5 epidodes 2. First episode was most boring and dull. Too many filler & unecessary scenes. 3. Acting was a bit too dramatic.. only few actors stayed grounded like Aditi Rao, Tajdar, Saima, Iqbal. But i think that was intentionally done that way. But some actors put too much intensity into trying to be dramatic which was NOT pleasing at all ! 3. Sonakshi actually acted really well ... ✨✨ I think Akira, Lootera was her best performances and this might just be the 3rd best performance. 4. I don't know the actor but the person playing the character Alamzab who was the WORST !! No acting, same expression for every scene doesn't matter sad or happy ... Her face was the same ... The only thing she did was a shy laugh after everything. I literally felt nothing for her. Like thoda glycerine hi de deti usko 🤦🏽‍♀️🤦🏽‍♀️ She has no chemistry also with Tajdar. I am sorry even the British people acted better than her 🤦🏽‍♀️🤦🏽‍♀️🤦🏽‍♀️🤦🏽‍♀️🤦🏽‍♀️🤦🏽‍♀️🤦🏽‍♀️ Was probably the leasr intresting character. Like the only good thing she did was for 1 min in the end of the last epidode. Thar also SAME dam expression. 5. *But Aditi Rao and the The character Saima, Iqbal, Tajdar, Ustad etc they were the ones that stole the show !!* Their acting went above the roof and was amazing.

Now we know that Jammy supports Punjab Kings in IPL.

I am so surprised that he didn't mention Sonakshi Sinha performances great role . She really perform well

Heeramandi made me want to see Pakeezah, yet again, another time. . What I loved : Bhansali’s beautiful world with the stunning sets, women, costumes, jewellery - I was awestruck & in love!! Manisha Koirala was the true Mallika of this one! What a comeback! Although this was nowhere as “Paak” (pure) as Pakeezah, its still an ode & Bhansali clearly is as obsessed with Pakeezah, as I am : - Alamzeb’s hair in the small urli, taken from Meena Kumari’s iconic shot in the giant-size urli - When Manisha K screams “Qutubuddin” - I could hear Veena’s “Shahabuddin”! Though nothing can match the haunting “aaj hum apni duaon ka asar” & the dance on glass, but SBL had to copy that walking on glass too - Bringing Alam to his home, with relatives sleeping, yet cannot match the OG Uncle voice - “tum yeh bazaari gaali hume nahin de sakte”! Wowwww - what a dialogue!! - Tribute to Rajkumar’s tent on the seaside/lake side (Very Vanyavilas 😊) - The macro shot from top (very Gangubai vibes) with black figures & tonga breezing through it! Outstanding! Richa Chadha’s post death scene & song was the best shot; as per me (Frankly, for me, post this scene, the series nosedived!) - Loved the touch of Asa Singh Mastana’s Heer playing so softly in the background in one of the gambling scenes - Loved that Azaadi song - nice tribute to “hum dekhenge” (Iqbal Bano) What I felt sad about : SLB is the only one who could have tried to make something close to Pakeezah. He attempted it & spent so much. Yet, he failed! There’s no way he can repeat this feat & scale & try again- this made me sad! After the first 2-3 episodes, he was running in all directions. He could not put soul in the romance of Alam & Taj - so so wrong as he is the master of emotion & romance It was tiresome after first 3, it lost the edge. He should have contained it in a 2-3 hour movie! Post that, it drags - I felt more sad than anything else. Too disjointed! Bhansali says he cant see his movies as he’s too critical. He shouldn’t see this one. It’ll make him realise that he had so much going for himself yet he messed it up - “royally”! I feel for him! Aisa mauka phir kahan milega . .

Heeramandi is a profoundly moving series, offering a sensitive portrayal of characters and events set amidst opulent visuals. It's a viewing experience that's truly worth the time investment. Watching this series over the course of two days was a deeply immersive journey for me. Manisha Koirala's portrayal of Mallikajaan is nothing short of inspiring. Her performance is infused with a sense of pride and authenticity that captivates viewers, holding the narrative together with her heartfelt portrayal. She embodies the role of the queen of Heeramandi with remarkable depth and conviction. Sonakshi Sinha's portrayal of the antagonist adds another layer of complexity to the story. Her ability to portray the shades of evil within her character serves as a perfect foil to Mallikajaan's persona. Sinha's character arc, from seeking revenge to empathizing with Mallikajaan and supporting India's freedom struggle, is both smooth and convincing. The supporting cast, including Aditi Rao and others, provide solid performances that enhance the overall narrative. Their contributions add depth and authenticity to the storytelling, making the series a truly immersive experience. Sanjay Leela Bhansali's directorial prowess is evident throughout the series, with his trademark opulence and grandeur shining through every frame. His vision and execution elevate the storytelling, making "Heeramandi" a visual treat reminiscent of his cinematic masterpieces. Amidst the grandeur, the series doesn't shy away from exploring the depths of human emotion. Heartbreaking moments of loss, sacrifice, love, honor, and faith are portrayed with sensitivity, leaving a lasting impact on the viewer. Heeramandi is more than just a series - it's a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the sacrifices made for freedom. It's a story that resonates deeply, prompting reflection and appreciation for the freedoms we enjoy today. I commend the entire cast and crew for their exceptional work and eagerly anticipate more impactful productions in the future.

I don't think its boaring. What do you expect from Movies based on tawaifs. Doing hip hops with a lot of English latka jhatka.? Revealing scenes? Delivering double meaning dialogues or doing action scenes like jawan pathan? Cumonn.... Grow up yaar. This is heeramandi lahore before 1947.. slow.. relaxed... urdu.. tehzeeb... Its not Your Mumbai High fie western bar or disco club...