The courtesans of Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar will soon return with season two, and fans can’t stay calm. While the Sanjay Leela Bhansali-period drama received mixed reviews, the announcement of this web-series sequel triggered reactions from internet users. They dropped their expectations from the series in their own cheeky mannerisms. The show’s creator may not have revealed too much in which direction season two will take, but it’s safe to assume that the audience expects a brave new world for the tawaifs of Heeramandi. As far as fashion enthusiasts are concerned, opulent designs, traditional embroideries, period looks and more, the creative genius will be a treat to watch.
Set in the 1940s, the first season focused on three generations of courtesans living in the Heeramandi neighbourhood of Lahore, now in Pakistan. The show captured the essence of a fading era, where courtesans coexist with their impending obsoleteness, finding themselves swept in the whirlpool of India’s freedom movement. Though there is much to say about this poignant narrative, the costumes took centre stage. Blending French and English prints with traditional Indian textiles like brocades, phulkari and jamewar shawls, the outfits had their own story.
‘Heeramandi’ Season 2 Announcement
Confirming the season 2, Bhansali was quoted in reports, saying, “In Heeramandi 2, the women now come from Lahore to the film world. They leave Lahore after the Partition and most of them settle in the Mumbai film industry or Kolkata film industry. So that journey in the bazaar remains the same. They still have to dance and sing, but this time for the producers and not for the nawabs. So that’s the second season we are planning, let’s see where it goes.”
With the announcement of another instalment, fans expect the main to return.
- Manisha Koirala as Mallikajaan
- Aditi Rao Hydari as Bibbojaan
- Sonakshi Sinha as Fareedan
- Sharmin Segal as Alamzeb
- Sanjeeda Sheikh as Waheeda, a courtesan and Mallika’s sister
Sanjay Leela Bhansali has worked with designers of repute—whether Sabyasachi or Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla. For the first season, costume designers Rimple and Harpreet Narula were tasked with creating 300 outfits over two years. The couple drew inspiration from archival textiles, vintage prints, patterns and crafts with zardozi, gota-patti, hand-block printing and more. While we would love to see more of the designer duo’s opulent creations, it will be interesting to see who else Bhansali brings to the forefront for the second instalment.
The characters in season 1 of the show were seen wearing elaborate lehengas, Anarkali sets, and ghararas, while the men wore kurta pajamas, sherwanis, and bandhgalas. What made the costumes iconic was the references. For instance, during Sonakshi Sinha’s jazz number, the actress was draped in a shimmery saree with sequins in over 40 different shades of blush pink. Her blouse was inspired by Pietra Dura inlay art, a craft that flourished in Italy and came to India during the Mughal era. With the detailed story-telling through costumes, we surely expect more period looks with intricate embroidery century-old references.
Sarees
Sonakshi’s sarees in the series indeed had a moment, symbolising a cultural link. While announcing the second season, the filmmaker noted the series’ theme, with women from Lahore joining the Indian film industry. Considering that, we can expect more retro saree looks from the show. Fabrics usually used during the 1950s to 1970s were silk or chiffon with intricate embroidery and embellishment.
Earlier, a Pakistani viewer pointed out the historical inaccuracies in the period drama series. From geography to songs, it also included costumes. The thread featured a black and white picture that showed women dressed in traditional salwar kameez and minimal jewellery. It will be interesting to see if the show can incorporate such designs in the next season.
Just watched Heeramandi. Found everything but heermandi in it.
I mean either you don’t set your story in 1940’s Lahore, or if you do- you don’t set it in Agra’s landscape, Delhi’s Urdu, Lakhnavi dresses and 1840’s vibe. My not-so-sorry Lahori self can’t really let it go. pic.twitter.com/1O6Iq36SV9
— Hamd Nawaz (@_SophieSchol) May 3, 2024
Elaborate Costumes
A Bhansali creation is incomplete without elaborate costumes. The costumes we saw in the first season were nothing short of creative brilliance. For instance, Aditi Rao Hydari’s mustard sharara in the ‘Sakal Ban’ song was handpainted, a fabric that was immensely valued at the time. In fact, the outfits in shades of yellow and mustard for the song were cohesive yet distinctive. The second season, too, is expected to feature enchanting ensembles embodied in intricate embroidered fabrics.
Tawaifs were pillars of art, culture, and aesthetics in India’s rich history. These women were known for not just their grace but also their intellect, artistic prowess, and influence, commanding respect within the elite circles of society. With the announcement of ‘Heeramandi Season 2’, fashion enthusiasts once again are excited to be transported into a world where every stitch, embellishment, and moment tells a tale of opulence, passion, and strength.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 06, 2024 03:45 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).