Sanjay Leela Bhansali, known for his extravagant sets and larger-than-life stories, has a history of making social commentary movies revolving around the intersection of caste, class, and gender. His new web series, Heeramandi, is also no exception. The regal story with intertwined themes of culture, love, power, revenge, and freedom, explores the social realities of the women in Heeramandi, through the stories of courtesans (tawaifs) and their patrons set against the tumultuous backdrop of the Indian freedom struggle of the 1940s.#Heeramandi helmed by #SanjayLeelaBhansali to release on OTT on May 1. 💯 pic.twitter.com/9xoGyY15bs— Filmfare (@filmfare) March 28, 2024What was Tawaif CultureIn the past, tawaifs were revered members of public society who led somewhat independent lives and preserved eminent art and culture. Unlike the more respectable purdah-bound women of the age, who had neither property nor literacy to their names, they were wealthy and controlled their own property. They were also fluent readers and writers and had a solid understanding of both literature and politics.The women in Kothas, Tawaif houses, began receiving instruction in music and dancing at an early age from well-known ustaads (masters). Little girls would frequently spend hours in riyaz memorizing songs and dances following the rigorous choreography that their tutors had prescribed. The kothas, or mansions combined with performance spaces, of the citys aristocratic and affluent tawaifs served as guardians of art and culture and were only accessible to them.Additionally, tawaifs were frequently invited to mehfils, or feasts, that were hosted by kings and other members of the nobility, where they would perform a variety of songs and dances for the guests. It is very clear that tawaifs were given respect in society. Even though they lived a sexual lifestyle, they distinguished themselves from prostitutes (sex workers).Transformation of Tawaif culture under British influenceThe intertwining of moral judgments with the role of the tawaif in Indian society stems directly from the influence of the British colonizers. To them, the Tawaifs, with their country music and dance, stood in staunch non-alignment with Victorian ideals and morals. Soon, they started associating them with prostitutes and this negative connotation stuck, and transformed the image of tawaifs to prostitutes, stripping them of their autonomy. From Tawaifs to Prostitutes: Evolution of PerceptionThe use of the word prostitute to characterize the world of 16th-19th-century Tawaifs blurs their nuanced identities and emotionally extensive character imbued within a cultural economy. The history of how the preservers of the rich Indian culture and arts, classical dance, and music ultimately were relegated to the status of prostitutes and stigmatized as social outcasts is a story that needs to be told.Sanjay Leela Bhansalis debut web series, Heeramandi, is a period drama thats all set to shed some light on the culturally rich and nuanced lives of women at Heeramandi in the colonial era. With a stellar star cast from Sonakshi Sinha to Aditi Rao Hydari, it is all set to release on May 1 on Netflix.
