The highly anticipated series Heeramandi, from acclaimed Indian filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali, has made its debut today on Netflix.

This opulent period drama takes viewers into the fascinating and rarely explored world of courtesans in pre-independent India’s legendary Heeramandi district.

Heeramandi represents the culmination of a passion project nearly 20 years in the making for Bhansali, the celebrated director behind critically acclaimed films like Devdas, Bajirao Mastani, and Padmaavat.

The idea was first conceived by him around 2005, with plans to potentially cast legendary actresses like Rekha, Kareena Kapoor Khan, and Rani Mukerji in lead roles.

For this lavish OTT adaptation, Bhansali has assembled an ensemble cast led by Manisha Koirala as the formidable lead courtesan, Mallika Jaan.

It marks a long-awaited reunion for Koirala and Bhansali, 30 years after their iconic collaboration in the 1942: A Love Story.

Joining Koirala are Sonakshi Sinha as Faradeen/Rehana, Richa Chadha as Lajjo, Aditi Rao Hydari as Bibbo, Sanjeeda Shaikh as Waheeda, Sharmin Segal Mehta as Alamzeb, and Fardeen Khan making an acting comeback as Wali Mohammed. Jason Shah and Taha Shah play supporting roles.

While bearing thematic similarities to Bhansali’s 1994 film 1942: A Love Story by delving into the tawaif (courtesan) world, Heeramandi aims to provide a deeper, grittier look at 19th century Indian courtesan culture often romanticized or brushed aside on screen.

Through lavish musical sequences and intricate romantic dramas, the series explores the complex realities courtesans faced – celebrating their artistic talents and societal influence, while also depicting the oppression, power dynamics and harsh jealousies within the ‘heeramandis’ or brothels they inhabited.

Bhansali seems intent on paying an authentic, no-holds-barred tribute to the unsung stories of this marginalized section straddling worlds of art, culture and institutionalized exploitation in that era.

Initial Praise and Critique

From the premiere episode reactions, Heeramandi appears to have struck a chord with Bhansali’s fans while also drawing criticism over its pacing.

Many viewers were left awestruck by the director’s trademark grandeur in visuals, ornate production design and powerful performances.

“A masterclass on camera movement and mise-en-scene,” raved one viewer, while another hailed it as “a mesmerizing saga” where “Bhansali maintains his signature cinematic flair in paying homage to unsung heroes.”

Particular praise has been reserved for veteran Manisha Koirala’s nuanced, commanding performance as the legendary Mallika Jaan, as well as Aditi Rao Hydari’s turn.

However, some critics felt the opulence came at the cost of a sluggish narrative pace in the initial episodes.

An Ambitious Creative Gamble

With episode runtimes ranging from 50 minutes to a full hour, Heeramandi represents an ambitious creative gambit in bringing Bhansali’s penchant for sprawling, unhurried storytelling to the bingeable OTT format.

The road to realizing this grand saga spanned 14 years from conceptualization to premiere. Only time will tell if it manages to keep audiences hooked and live up to expectations set by Bhansali’s body of critically-acclaimed period dramas.

However, the premiere reactions indicate Heeramandi has all the ingredients – from technical virtuosity to powerful performances – to provide an authentic, unvarnished portrayal of the courtesan culture largely unexplored in Indian cinema.

For fans of Bhansali’s larger-than-life sensibilities, it shapes up as the kind of sumptuous spectacle they crave.