Sanjay Leela Bhansali Fails On OTT With 'Heeramandi'!

Known for his grandeur and artistic filmmaking, Sanjay Leela Bhansali stepped into the OTT area with a high-budget web series titled 'Heeramandi'. The director is famous for his period films like 'Devdas', 'Padmavat', 'Bajirao Mastani' and 'Gangubai Khatiawadi'. He extracts the best out of the actors and his dramatic storytelling is loved by many. Such a director has decided to make a web series set in the pre-Independence era. The trailer impressed everyone big time and people were guaranteed a visually appealing drama revolving around prostitutes.

It came out on Netflix and the story happened in an area called Heeramandi where Mallika Jaan (Manisha Koirala) lives with his daughters (Aditi Rao Hydari and Sharman Sehgal). They satisfy the Nawabs to come to them and earn huge money. Her younger daughter falls in love with Bahadur Shah and Mallika Jaan's enemy Fareedaan (Sonakshi Sinha) enters to use it for her gain. All of these inner conflicts get connected with freedom struggle and it makes the crux of the series.

The visuals are like paintings. Everything starting from camerawork, lighting, costumes, set designs and choreography are quite perfect. But the screenplay is what plays the spoilsport. Bhansali took a lot of time in detailing which led to the lag in narration. We need to get connected to the characters. If not, the series will be a tough watch. People who spent over 7 hours on this series are not satisfied at all. It looks like Netflix's heavy investment has gone in vain. Many are suggesting that Bhansali needs to come out of this image trap which he created for himself and try something relevant and current. As of 'Heeramandi', it turns out to be a disappointment.