Vivek Agnihotri On Bhansali's 'Heeramandi': 'Does Creativity Give Us Freedom To Glamourise Human Suffering?'

Vivek Agnihotri reviewed Bhansali's 'Heeramandi' and shared that it’s not right to glamourise brothels, referring to them as monuments of human injustice, pain, and suffering.

Sanjay Leela Bhansali's 'Heeramandi' released on Netflix on May 1.

Source : IMDb

New Delhi: Sanjay Leela Bhansali's magnum opus drama 'Heeramandi' released on May 1 on Netflix. The show has been in talks ever since its premiere on the streaming platform, with audiences and critics expressing their reviews from time-to-time. Popular celebrities have also taken to their social media handles to express their views on the courtesan drama featuring a multi star cast. The latest celebrity to talk about Bhansali's series is filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri.

Vivek Agnihotri reviews Bhansali's 'Heeramandi'

'The Kashmir Files' director feels that it’s not right to glamourise brothels, referring to them as monuments of human injustice, pain, and suffering.

Vivek recently took to X and praised a Pakistani doctor for her critique of the show.

The director quote-tweeted the doctor’s critique, which said that the show lacks research and that many things from the era that are intended to be shown don’t sit well with the facts.

Vivek wrote: "A brilliant critique. I haven’t seen the show, but I have visited Heeramandi in Lahore a few times. Bollywood has this tendency to romanticise courtesans and brothels. It’s a sad commentary because brothels have never been places of opulence, glamour, or beauty. These are monuments of human injustice, pain, and suffering. Those unfamiliar with this should watch Shyam Benegal’s Mandi."

He further added, "Those unfamiliar with this should watch Shyam Benegal’s Mandi. Also, a question we must ask: Does creativity give us the freedom to glamourise human suffering? Is it okay to make a film where slum life is depicted as a life of abundance? Is it okay to portray slum dwellers wearing clothes as if they are attending an Ambani wedding? Pl discuss.”

 

A brilliant critique by @_SophieSchol. I haven’t seen the show, but I have visited Heeramandi in Lahore a few times. Bollywood has this tendency to romanticize courtesans and brothels. It’s a sad commentary because brothels have never been places of opulence, glamour or beauty.… https://t.co/D56qU0Zyg0

— Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri (@vivekagnihotri) May 4, 2024

About Heeramandi

'Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar' marks Sanjay Leela Bhansali's foray into the digital world. The show stars Manisha Koirala, Sonakshi Sinha, Shermin Sehgal, Sanjeeda Sheikh, Richa Chadha and Aditi Rao Hydari. It also stars Shekhar Suman, Adhyayan Suman, Fardeen Khan and Tahir Shah Badussha as well as veteran actress Farida Jalal.