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The Slice of Life Podcast
The Slice of Life Podcast

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Heeramandi S1 Episode 1 FULL REACTION!

Hey everyone! We are trying out the Web series Heeramandi! Depending on how well the response is to our reaction we may continue watching this show! We are focused on watching through Family Man right now but if there is enough demand to continue this show we will do that!

We used the Netflix version of this show with a total runtime of 1hr 8min for the episode. We also added some clips in to make it easier to match up. At 1:38 into the video we had an audio issue so there's a clip to match up again. Let us know if there are any issues! Thanks!

Heeramandi S1 Episode 1 FULL REACTION!

Comments

Sweet! OKay, please continue watching but on 2-3 conditions. 1. Sweetly, I think it may be time to get over the noserings. Women in India have worn them historically, different sizes. Quite commonplace. If you are reacting to Indian cinema, you will see noserings and nosepins all the time. But try to remember in a scene with noserings that there are also dialogues, emotions, costumes, set design and the plot itself. 2. Read an article or two on the Tawaif culture of India pre-independence. Tawaifs were not just prostitutes or sex workers. Far more complex. They were somewhat like Geishas of Japan. They were usually sold into these houses ("kothas)supervised by madams who had been tawaifs in their time. They became patrons of classical arts- music, dance, poetry, embroidery work and fashion. They were revered artists who were taught arts since they were kids and performed only for a select few at the madam's will. As they became masters of these arts, nawabs (Muslim noblemen) and rich/privileged folks would send their children to learn the arts from these women. They would also teach people the art of conversation, witticism, debate and banter. Also nawabs, small time kings, the British officers and other rich folks attended their performances and gave money. That's why Mallikajaan was invited to a Nawab's house for a poetry reading and the famous poet reiterated a couplet as an ode to her presence. Nobody was shocked that a tawaif was present there. It was an acceptable practice albeit some people were very conservative about mixing with them. A Tawaif is not a prostitute. There is a madam and also a pimp kind of a man who finds rich patrons for the tawaifs. But a tawaif would usually get intimate with only 1-2 people with whom she would remain in a monogamous relationship for several years or her entire youth. If the nawab is killed, finds a new paramour or moves, she'd have to find her next sugar daddy. In turn, the Nawab/nobleman would gift her a lot of wealth, sometimes even some land. Which tawaif was with which Nawab was public knowledge. Tawaifs were told to conduct themselves with absolute grace with a hint of seduction in such a way that men would desire them but wouldn't have the gall to jump at them unless the tawaif had given prior consent. To provide sex work, there must be more lowly courtesans who weren't as skilled in the arts. It also depended on the madam who managed them. The more respected and higher up you were as a courtesan, the more choosy and exclusive you were. Remember, before the 50s, 60's, women were largely not educated into high school and were expected to be wives with no hobbies or literacy/professional skills. They had no financial independence and were expected to be wives and mothers. Tawaifs were working women with money. You could say the most successful tawaifs were some of the most independent women of that time but then again, they had been bought/sold at some point and worked with other women who also depended on rich men to keep paying for them. But at least they made some money of their own, which most wives and daughters also didnt in those days. Now understand further- how must this have originated? a. At some point, some sex workers realised that if they wanted more power, they had to keep a man hooked and seduce him for life/decades. The allure of a one night stand cant keep a customer loyal to you. Personality, intellect and artistic qualities are the way to do that. So they trained themselves to entice men for years, make their presence more respectable by being excellent dancers and singers and gain respect from society. b. Homely women were not respected as artists and men did not like women in their families singing and dancing in front of other people. So imagine the plight of women artists. They must have performed these classical dances and songs and invited the rich to pay. Rich women and wives were not really allowed to view or take part in such activities for leisure. So the audience was mostly men. What are men like? The men must have insisted that they would pay only if the courtesan also dated them or slept with them. So these women must have given into that. Consequences: 1. Tawaifs were invited to public events, art functions and parties as interesting people, good conversationalists and eye candy. A mixture of all. 2. Several tawaifs went on to gain fame as they received nationwide or statewide attention as masters of singing through records. People would travel large distances to see them perform with grace. 3. Many tawaifs fell in love with the Nawabs, kings or rich men they spent time with. They even accompanied them on business and hunting expeditions. 4. Rarely, a Nawab would take a tawaif as a junior wife too. But very rarely. 5. Rich/privileged women often consulted tawaifs on the latest fashion, trends and things like how to keep men interested, how to drape certain clothes, etc. 6. Tawaifs knew all kinds of odd and interesting skills: how to write an evocative letter, how to create an aura of romance and seduction through perfumes and lighting, how to negotiate with jewellers and merchants, the art of recognising gems and precious stones, braiding hair, decorating oneself, walking with an alluring gait. They were all-rounders.

Sharanya Misra Sharma

it gets really interesting as well

Dilpreet Kaur

yes guys pleasw keep uploading i got the subscription just for heeramandi

Dilpreet Kaur

Guys I subbed back to the highest tier ONLY to watch HEERAMANDI 😍πŸ”₯ Don't stop uploading the episodes for this show. It's FABULOUS. Gets even better post episode 3 πŸ’• You NEED to complete it !!!

TW


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