Heeramandi: Bollywood romanticization of a traumatic period

Recently the streaming giant Netflix on Thursday dropped the first look of the filmmaker’s controversial movie Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar, based on the courtesans of Lahore and the life of red-light district in undivided India. This has once again brought in the debate that goes between the historical accuracy and artistic interpretation in Bollywood. This article explores the multifaceted layers of Heeramandi's history, exploring the transformation of devotional Kathak dancers into entertainers in Mughal courts, the dark shadows of the Tawaif culture, and the ethical considerations surrounding Bollywood's narrative choices.

Do you know what Heeramandi is?

Heeramandi, which has been described as a "magical" world by the makers, is an actually a painful saga of more than thousand Hindu women who were kidnapped, sold and converted before being trained to become professional singers, dancers and sex workers by Mughal emperors.

Heeramandi, historically known as Shahi Mohalla, traces its roots back to Mughal-era Lahore. Heera Singh Dogra first established it as a market, but it later developed into a gathering place for courtesans, or Tawaifs. These women including Hindu women were forced to train in the arts, including dance and music, and often served as entertainment for the Mughal rulers.

Heeramandi was actually deeply intertwined with the massacres committed during the reign of Ahmed Shah Abdali. Notorious for capturing, enslaving, and selling Hindu girls, Abdali turned Heera Mandi into a hub for sex trafficking. The area witnessed the painful sagas of thousands of Hindu women, many from noble families and elite classes, who were subjected to misery and humiliation.

Inaccurate Portrayal of Kathak:

Kathak, one of the eight forms of Indian classical dances, originated as a storytelling art form. The meaning of the word itself suggests the act of story telling. The epic of Mahabharata, which is believed to be composed during the Golden age of Ancient India - Gupta Rule, also has incidents of description of Kathak. So these performers were originally story tellers, trying to tell stories from epics like Mahabharata and Ramayana through their performances, enriching the Hindu culture. It was only during the Medieval period, during the rule of Mughals, when the art went under transition.

Similarly, in Heeramandi, these devotional dancers were brought to entertain Mughal rulers in their courts. The refinement of movement, rhythmic vocabulary, and technical genius of Kathak dancers added a cultural layer to the Tawaif lifestyle.

Bollywood Glorifies Prostitution:

Prominent director Sanjay Leela Bhansali is renowned for his visually magnificent and intense films as well as controversial topics. However, concerns of the glorifying of a historic red-light district have been highlighted by his current concentration on Heeramandi and the Tawaif culture in films such as "Gangubai Kathiawadi". Yet, the portrayal may romanticise a traumatic period in history and neglect the hardships faced by the Hindu women who survived the horrors of Heeramandi. Even ‘Umrao Jaan,’ which was made twice, first in 1981 with veteran actress Rekha and again in 2006 starring Aishwarya Rai Bachchan in the titular role, revolves around Umrao Jaan, actual name Amiran, who was abducted as a young child, sold to a brothel and raised as a courtesan.

As Bollywood continues to explore historical subjects, the portrayal of Heeramandi and the Tawaif culture demands a delicate balance between artistic expression and ethical responsibility. The industry must navigate the complexities of historical truths while respecting the cultural sensitivities of its diverse audience. Although series Heeramandi haven’t released yet I hope it’s not as described a magical world glorifying human-trafficking.