The much-awaited series of the month Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar was released on Netflix on May 1, 2024. Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar marks the debut web series of veteran filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali. Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar features Manisha Koirala as Mallikajaan, Sonakshi Sinha as Fareedan & Rehana, Aditi Rao Hydari as Bibbojaan, Richa Chadha as Lajjo, Sanjeeda Sheikh as Waheeda, Adhyayan Suman as Nawab Zorawar Ali Khan, Sharmin Segal as Alamzeb and more in the leading roles. Based on the backdrop of pre-Independent India, Sanjay Leela Bhansali's epic historical drama is based on the real-life red-light area of Lahore, Pakistan. Ever since its release, Heeramandi's review has been grabbing the spotlight. While many are hailing SLB for his masterpiece direction, a few are also pointing it over its stretched storyline. Now, Netflix's Heeramandi connection with the book Pir-e-Kamil has emerged. A Pakistani writer has pointed out major mistake Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Netflix series Heeramandi. Below is what Heeramandi's Pir-e-Kamil's connection-
'Mistake in Netflix's Heeramandi'
A Pakistani writer Umera Ahmed who wrote Pir-e-Kamil took to her Instagram handle and shared a snip of the series showing that her book was shown in the Netflix series. Umera Ahmed stated that her book was published in the year 2004, however, Sanjay Leela Bhansali showcased it in the timeline dating back to pre-Independent India. Umera Ahmed also circled Pir-e-Kamil book kept in library's shelves where Alamzeb visits and meets Tajdaar. "So #PireKamil was written before partition or is Time Travel real?..Interesting," wrote Umera Ahmed.
Umera added, "For those asking the context, this is a scene from Netflix series Heeramandi jismai partition say pehlay k Lahore mai mojood aik bookstore ka scene dikhaya gaya hai and look in the left book kaunsi mojood hai us bookstore mai"
For those unversed, Pir-e-Kamil is considered a cult classic. It was released in English as well later. Pir-e-Kamil was first published in Urdu in 2004 and later in English in 2011. The Pakistani book is the story of two people: a runaway girl named Imama Hashim; and a boy named Salar Sikander with an IQ of more than 150. The story spans a time period of around ten years.
Heeramandi's True Story
Heeramandi is the oldest and the biggest red-light area in Pakistan. However, Heeramandi had a great historical importance. Initially, it was known as the Shahi Mohalla. Shahi Mohalla had a rich cultural history dating back to the Mughal era. Located in Lahore, the area served as a vibrant cultural centre in the 15th and 16th centuries, entertaining the royal Rajas & Maharajas with its refined courtesans and performers. Shahi Mohalla was the epicenter of 'Tawaiff culture' when women performers were performers and limited to presenting art forms for royals. During that phase, the tawaifs from Afghanistan and Uzbekistan were not linked to X-rated work.
Heeramandi was set up by Hira Singh Dogra. Hira Singh Dogra was the Prime Minister of Punjab during the reign of Sher-e-Punjab, Ranjit Singh. He thought that apart from housing Tawaifs, the Shahi Mohallas in the heart of the city should be used as an economic hub. He established a grains market in the neighbourhood, commonly known as 'Hira Singh di Mandi'. The world heera, which means diamond in Urdu, is also thought to describe the dancing girls of the area.