Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar

"Wrapped around a forbidden love story, this eight episode first season Hindi series about a historical house of courtesans is amazing to behold. That being said, there are no sex scenes or any nudity to beware of. There is only subtle innuendo and understanding stares. We view the women's emotional lives, and the power that holds sway among the madam, and those loyal to her. The first four episodes show the lavish lifestyle of the bittersweet life of women who grow up in the most powerful politically connected brothel. The setting is India, 1947, just before the Indian rebellion against British rule. The first four episodes show us the lives of these women: The bitter truths, the broken hearts, yet unerring annoyalty to the Madam. The last four episodes show the reality of the tense relations growing British dominance and the Indian people. You can feel the tension mount every moment underlying in each episode. The forbidden love story gives us viewers a soft backdrop to watch safely from, being slowly drawn into the struggle. During the series, we witness people who find their true strength. The acting from the entire cast is mesmerizing, sensual, and sometimes brutal. I definitely enjoyed watching pieces of history play out in a way that was palatable, but this is one of those stories that leaves an impression that stays in your memory. I most likely won't watch it again, but I still highly recommend it for the excellent storytelling, quality of the production, locations, costumes, score, acting and direction. Hindi audio. "