Heeramandi — Episode 7 “Bibbojaan – Long Live Revolution” Recap & Review

Bibbojaan – Long Live Revolution

Episode 7 of Heeramandi starts with Bibbojaan pleading with Mallikajaan, asking her to free Alamzeb from prison. Mallikajaan tells Bibbojaan that she will go to the station to save Alamzeb but mocks her for trying to chase love. Fareedan tries to convince Cartwright to make up false evidence to incriminate Mallikajaan for Rehana’s murder.

Meanwhile, Mallikajaan is at the police station to free Alamzeb but Cartright leaves her waiting for hours before he shows up. Her servants tell Mallikajaan that Cartwright is hooking up with Fareedan. She is upset with Nawab Zulfikar for not doing anything about his daughter being arrested by the cops.

Cartwright shows up hours later and tries to embarrass Mallikajaan and asks her to dance in front of him at the police station. The cops whistle and hoot at Mallikajaan dances to free her daughter. Cartwright goes a step ahead and asks Mallikajaan to undress and threatens to rape her. Mallikajaan tells Cartwright that she was willing to let him use her body if it meant the freedom of her daughter.

The cops from the British Army rape Mallikajaan in exchange for Alamzeb’s freedom. That night, Cartwright brags about raping Mallikajaan in front of Fareedan. Fareedan is shaken by the comment and gets upset with Cartwright for stooping so low. Mallikajaan is sick after the assault but she sits under the fountain in the Shahi Mahal to wash away the memories of the assault.

The courtesans and servants blame Fareedan for what happened to her but Bibbojaan states that it was the British cop – Cartwright who was to be blamed. That night, Alamzeb tells Bibbojaan that she is pregnant with Tajdar’s child. She tells her sister that she is worried Tajdar would not accept the child but isn’t upset with him for betraying her. Alamzeb reveals that she will give birth to the child and raise it on her own.

Waheeda overhears the conversation and tells Mallikajaan all about it. The next day, Tajdar asked Bibbojaan how Alamzeb was doing. Bibbojaan mocks Tajdar for betraying her sister and reveals that Alamzeb was pregnant with his child. Tajdar tells Mr Baloch that he is going to marry Alamzeb and takes his grandmother to Heeramandi, asking Mallikajaan for Alamzeb’s hand in marriage.

Mallikajaan refuses to give Alamzeb’s hand to Tajdar. Daadijaan apologises to Mallikajaan but the latter tries to embarrass Daadijaan and asks her to bend and apologise to her. Mallikajaan tells Daadijaan that she does not trust Tajdar as he has already betrayed her once in front of the cops. Tajdar promises to never betray Alamzeb again.

Mallikajaan gives Tajdar one last chance and asks him to show up on the next full moon night if he wishes to marry Alamzeb. Meanwhile, Ustaadji brings information about Saima to the Shahi Mahal. Ustaadji states that Saima had married someone rich and was now a singer. Iqbal is shattered to learn how Mallikajaan had betrayed him and had him arrested.

Ustaadji also adds that Saima had no option but to sleep with Wajid to prevent Alamzeb from turning into a courtesan. Iqbal is heartbroken that his boss, the woman he was so loyal to had betrayed her. Bibbojaan invites Fareedan to Alamzeb’s wedding. Daadijaan asks Mr Baloch to stop sulking and accept the fact that Tajdar is going to marry Alamzeb. An angry Mr Baloch calls Cartwright to talk to him.

The courtesans at the Shahi Mahal prepare for Alamzeb’s wedding. Tajdar gets dressed to go to the Shahi Mahal but Cartwright shows up there to arrest him. Tajdar begs his father to let him marry Alamzeb but Mr Baloch is adamant about preventing his son from marrying a courtesan. Mr Baloch promises to shut down Heeramandi but Tajdar mocks his father for hooking up with courtesans despite being noblemen.

As Tajdar does not make it to the Shahi Mahal in time, Mallikajaan tells Alamzeb how she has lost her best. Ustaadji tells Fareedan that Tajdar was arrested by Cartwright. Fareedan shows up at the police station where the cops are beating Tajdar up. Fareedan tries to get Cartwright to free Tajdar but Cartwright is adamant. Fareedan tries to convince Tajdar to betray the freedom fighters but Tajdar still sings praises of revolution.

The cops end up killing Tajdar in prison. At the same time, Alamzeb makes her debut as a courtesan and dances in the Shahi Mahal. The freedom fighters start a new protest at the same time and Fareedan comes to the Shahi Mahal and informs Bibbojan about Tajdar’s demise. Daadijaan is shocked to learn about Tajdar’s death.

Bibbojan relays the news of Tajdar’s death to the court. The episode ends with an emotionless Alamzeb going to her room after hearing that her lover was no more.

The Episode Review

While one could predict Alamzeb’s fate from the beginning of this episode, the sexual assault of Mallikajaan was an unexpected plot twist. It was an emotional moment for Bibbojaan and Waheeda, as well as her servants who took Mallikajaan to be a cruel and cunning head courtesan. However, what happened to her was completely the British cop’s fault as Bibbojaan mentions. 

I do not understand the title of this episode as we hardly see Bibbojaan doing anything to be a part of the revolution in this episode. Perhaps Tajdar’s death and Alamzeb’s plight would force her to join hands with the freedom fighters and take part in the protests actively as we saw in the trailer. With only one episode left in this one, I am keen to see how Heeramandi, one of Netflix India’s most expensive show ends.