This project seeks to understand to what extent the music videos of the show Heeramandi: The Diamond
Bazaar subvert historical narratives of courtesans in India. For some context, this series is based on the
lives of courtesans in the red-light district Heera Mandi located in modern day Pakistan. A common
stereotype of these courtesans is that they are of low social status and have loose morals; however, that is
not the case. In this show, we see them as complex characters with many ambitions and fears as well as
accomplished singers and dancers. I hypothesize that through the use of traditional musical compositions,
intricate choreography, and symbolic visual aesthetics, the show elevates the courtesans’ role, portraying
them as powerful women with autonomy in artistic, social, and political spheres. My methodology will
consist of coding the nine music videos and identifying common themes. I will then make a table and
assess the prevalence of each theme, considering the number of occurrences.