Heeramandi The Diamond Bazaar is made by one of the most celebrated directors currently active in the Hindi film industry. With a career spanning over 20 years, he has made only and only good films with the exception of Saawariya. If we look beyond the grandiosity that the man is usually stereotyped into, then he also happens to be one of the most talented writers of our generation. He presented the overused story of Romeo and Juliet, and everyone fell in love with Goliyon Ki Raasleela: Ram-Leela. He spent more than a decade perfecting the script and the outcome we all know is called “Bajirao Mastani”.
So how come such a phenomenal writer, comes up with extremely weak writing? The character of Lajjo and Zorawar don’t add anything substantial to the story. So is true for many minor characters. The sets look perfect to the extent that it is unbelievable. Scenes that could have been very realistic in its presentation are also shot in a very melodramatic manner.
So what exactly went wrong?
Bhansali spends years writing and shooting for a single film. This time he took upon the herculean task of an 8 episode series and he completed it in less than 2 years.
Is that really possible in the usual style of Bhansali? Not really.
Bhansali must have shot some portions of Heeramandi back in 2021. Then, he got busy in the promotions of Gangubai Kathiyawadi in early 2022. He must have gotten back to shooting after getting done with Gangubai Kathiyawadi. And it is a little more than 2 years since his last film.
The man strictly got two years to direct 7+ hours of magnanimity which demanded several years in his usual style. Perhaps, he never really got the time to perfect the script and deperfect the sets. This is the same issue of rushing to shoot that we discussed during Thar. Looks like Netflix didn’t really take the warning and the hurling criticisms at Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar is everywhere to be heard and seen.
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