2024-05-07 10:20:42
Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s web series ‘Hiramandi: The Diamond Bazaar’. In which the area of Lahore was shown, where courtesans ruled before independence. It is said that prostitutes used to rule there like queens. Even in Bhansali’s 8 episode show, the world of courtesans has been shown as beautiful and full of decency, but if you look through the eyes of National Award winning director Srijit Mukherjee, you will find that their life was not beautiful but full of thorns, where every moment It was difficult to even make ends meet. And when the time of independence came, it had become hell. This film will actually show you how the courtesans lived in that house and even sacrificed their lives to save that house.
Srijit Mukherjee had made ‘Rajkahini’ in Bengali language 6 years before this web series of Sanjay Leela Bhansali. There were neither glittering mansions nor courtesans laden with jewels. In fact, it was a view opposite to ‘Hiramandi’, which seemed more real. It was August 1947. By the order of Lord Mountbatten, the last Viceroy of India, an important responsibility was entrusted to the top British officer Sir Cyril Radcliffe. Responsibility of dividing one India into two. He took out the map of India, drew two lines, one in Bengal and the other in Punjab, and in four weeks divided the country into two parts on the tip of his newfound lotus. India and Pakistan.
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fight for freedom
After this everything got divided. Fields, barns, streets, villages, cities, rivers, Himalayas, animals, men, children, old people… everything. Lakhs of people became homeless. Thousands of people were killed without any reason. The coming generations were uprooted by this ‘Radcliffe Line’. This line also emerged from the middle of a house, but could not divide anything. This was the brothel of Rajkahini, where there was no discrimination between religions. Rajkahini is an example. An example of the plight and courage of women in a male-dominated society.
Truth vs Fantasy!
‘Hiramandi’ and ‘Rajkahini’ are completely different from each other, but there is a similarity. ‘Heeramandi’ stars Mallikajaan, who is cunning, cruel and a scheming person, but she knows her world well. These same qualities are also seen in Vidya Balan in ‘Begum Jaan’. She has sharp and alert eyes and the ability to withstand every kind of trouble. Beauty mixed with violence, courage mixed with heartache, a ray of hope amid the cloud of despair, can be seen in both the stories. While Bhansali is fascinated by beauty, Srijit Mukherjee is fascinated by the idea of mortality. ‘Rajkahini’ scratches those wounds which are buried in the ground, but her wounds will always remain fresh.
Mallika Jaan vs Begum Jaan
‘Rajkahini’ was made in Hindi by National Award winning director Srijit Mukherjee two years after its release. It was released with the name ‘Begum Jaan’. Vidya Balan was seen in the lead role in the film.
Where can you watch this movie?
If you want to watch the Bengali film ‘Rajkahini’ on OTT, then you will get this movie on Prime Video. This is in Bengali language. You will have to take separate subscription of Hoichoi. Apart from this, if you want to watch Vidya Balan’s Hindi film ‘Begum Jaan’ then it will be available on Disney Plus Hotstar.