After a long hiatus, I decided to give a new show a shot, but I was sorely disappointed. The show in question, "Heeramandi" by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, promised much but delivered little beyond its visual appeal. Known for his lavish sets and intricate costumes, Bhansali's skills in these areas were unmistakable and truly commendable. Unfortunately, that's where the positives ended for me.
Describing this show as "all style and no substance" feels almost too kind. It's a perfect example of a series that looks beautiful on the surface but lacks depth. The first episode was torturously slow, so much so that I found myself fast-forwarding through parts of it, which I rarely do if I'm trying to give a show a fair chance.
As the superficial allure of the stunning sets and costumes wore off, I tried to focus on the plot, only to find myself overwhelmed. The narrative introduced around 20 characters in what felt like a rapid-fire, haphazard fashion, moving forwards and backwards with little regard for coherence. It felt like a bad LSD trip, and even Confucius would forgive me for being utterly confused and confounded.
In essence, while Bhansali's "Heeramandi" might be a feast for the eyes, it's a famine for the mind. Despite its visual mastery, the series is shallow, lacking the compelling storytelling needed to make the aesthetic elements worthwhile.
Describing this show as "all style and no substance" feels almost too kind. It's a perfect example of a series that looks beautiful on the surface but lacks depth. The first episode was torturously slow, so much so that I found myself fast-forwarding through parts of it, which I rarely do if I'm trying to give a show a fair chance.
As the superficial allure of the stunning sets and costumes wore off, I tried to focus on the plot, only to find myself overwhelmed. The narrative introduced around 20 characters in what felt like a rapid-fire, haphazard fashion, moving forwards and backwards with little regard for coherence. It felt like a bad LSD trip, and even Confucius would forgive me for being utterly confused and confounded.
In essence, while Bhansali's "Heeramandi" might be a feast for the eyes, it's a famine for the mind. Despite its visual mastery, the series is shallow, lacking the compelling storytelling needed to make the aesthetic elements worthwhile.