The grand success of Sanjay Leela Bhansali's ' Heeramandi ' has brought the intriguing and the lesser-known lives of courtesans in the spotlight, yet agian. And now, a new book titled ' Ganika ' exploring the intriguing lives of tawaifs (courtesans) who played significant roles in the 19th and 20th centuries was launched on August 2, 2024, at The Park New Delhi. Edited by art historian Dr.
Seema Bhalla , 'Ganika' offers a detailed and refined understanding of these women, showing that they were far more than just performers. Talking about the new book, Dr. Bhalla said that it "challenges the typical images of tawaifs often seen in popular culture.
" She explained that the book provides a more realistic, honest portrayal of these women, who are frequently misrepresented in films. "This book explores different sides of these women, from their origins as devadasis to their roles in post-independence Hindi cinema," she added. The event began with a warm welcome from Rohit Arora, Vice President of The Park Hotels, North.
This was followed by an engaging panel discussion featuring prominent figures such as Priya Paul, Chairperson of Apeejay Surrendra Park Hotels; renowned filmmaker Muzaffar Ali , known for his classic ' Umrao Jaan ' (1981); Nawab Kazim Ali of Rampur; and Siddhartha Tagore, Founder of Art and Deal magazine. Each speaker shared their insights and perspectives on the cultural and historical significance of tawaifs in India. A notable topic of discussion was how modern .