Extravagant Netflix drama Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar opens a window to an unseen world of courtesans in pre-independent India. Lavish sets and costumes add to the allure of the eight-episode series directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, and it is a tale of love, betrayal, and ambition set against a turbulent political backdrop. Season 2 does not seem to be on the cards, but that’s not because of its popularity.
Season 2 Unlikely Due to Historical Context
At the time of writing, there has been no indication that there will be a season 2 of Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar and there may be concrete reasons as to why. The series takes place against the backdrop of real historical events, and the story wraps up everything by the finale. With finance being a significant factor in the production of the series, if it does not manage to draw in decent watch-hour numbers, it is not likely to be renewed. However, it does seem season 2 was never in the works in the first place.
By the end of episode 8, we are given a voice-over that explains that the characters’ roles in the show would help the Indian Independence Movement and that their fight would continue in a post-colonial India, too.
The courtesans’ fight for their rights in society could be the premise for another season, but it would be telling a different story, and would probably be a separate series entirely. Everything points to the show being a one-and-done, with the plot reaching a conclusion.
Critical Response
The show has garnered some mixed reviews, and it seems that despite the lavish sets and production values, it may have missed the mark. Decider urges its readers to skip the show, while Bollywood Life is full of praise. Here at Ready Steady Cut, the show only manages to grab 2.5 stars out of 5, stipulating that the series gets dragged down by pacing issues, with the creator spending too much time indulging in the aesthetics.
IMDB has the show sitting at 6.0/10, with some reviewers again echoing the style over substance nature of the production. The Hindu site also seems to pick up on the fantastic production values of the show saying that it “thrives on opulent otherworldliness from beginning to end.”
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