Netflix’s Heeramandi isn’t just about the courtesans; it also throws light into the lives of royal nawabs, zamindars, British officers, and the revolutionaries who raised a rebellion against the British empire. Among these characters is Tajdar Baloch, Nawab Asfaq Baloch’s son, who hails from a royal business man family that owns a lavish hotel in the heart of Lahore city. Tajdar crosses paths with Alamzeb, a courtesan (or tawaif) from Heeramandi. As the story moves further, Tajdar finds himself in a really difficult situation. He is forced to make a choice between his love for Alamzeb and his loyalty to his nation. Through Tajdar’s character transformation, we can’t help but empathize with the young Nawab as he struggles with love, and duty. Let’s dive into Tajdar’s character, portrayed by Taha Shah Badussha, and explore his journey in more depth together.
Spoilers Ahead
How Did Tajdar and Alamzeb Meet?
As we meet Tajdar, he seems like quite the charmer, who can steal any woman’s heart with his handsome looks. His grandmother, Qudsia Begum, and his father, Nawab Asfaq Baloch, are both proud of him, believing he’ll bring honor to their family name. But Tajdar isn’t interested in the family hotel business. After six years of studying at Oxford, he wants to work for a law firm in Bombay. He’s ambitious and career-oriented, preferring to choose his own path rather than working for British officers like his father. He feels nawabs like his father are controlled by the East India Company, forced to do their bidding. Obviously, his father isn’t thrilled about this, but you can sense Tajdar’s strong dislike for British officials. His hatred doesn’t stop there. He also despises the famous courtesans of Heeramandi in Lahore. He believes the place disrespects women, exploiting their circumstances for male pleasure. So when his grandmother suggests he visit there to learn the art of love, he refuses, thinking it’s not a place meant for people like him. Until he meets Alamzeb, the youngest daughter of Mallikajaan, a famous courtesan of Heeramandi.
It’s a classic love-at-first-sight situation when they cross paths at his house while she’s listening to her favorite poet’s verses. Their chemistry is palpable, evident even from the screen. The problem? He doesn’t know her true identity or that she’s from Heeramandi, the place he detests most. When Alamzeb is forced into marriage to fulfill Mallikajaan’s wishes, she can’t bear to be apart from Tajdar. So, she turns to Fareedan, Mallikajaan’s rival, hoping she will understand her situation. And Fareedaan was there to seek revenge by tricking Alamzeb into running away from her wedding. Fareedan writes a fake letter, pretending it’s from Tajdar, convincing Alamzeb to flee and be with him. When she goes to him, Tajdar doesn’t know about Alamzeb’s ties to Heeramandi and that she is going to become a courtesan there. So at first, he is hesitant for a moment, but he chooses love over everything else. He loved Alamzeb for who she was, not her family background. So, he decided to take her to Amrood Kothi, another one of his mansions, where she could live peacefully. He understood the trust Alamzeb had in him, and he couldn’t break that bond. He proved himself to be a true lover, prioritizing Alamzeb’s happiness above all else.
Why did Tajdar betray Alamzeb?
It wasn’t just Alamzeb that Tajdar loved; he had a deep love for his country too. He was committed to bringing about change in Lahore and all of India by rebelling against British rule, ready to sacrifice his life for the cause. Under the supervision of Hamid Sahab, he transformed himself into a patriotic soldier, outfitting Amrood Kothi as a secret hideout for weapons and bomb assembly, ready for any attack. When news came that the northern gates would be attacked by British police officials, they knew they had to fight back. As they planned for the attack, Tajdar thought it was the perfect time to marry Alamzeb so that the police wouldn’t put a finger on their planning. Everyone, including Fareedan, was invited to the ceremony. However, Fareedan, seeing the plans for the attack, decided to use them to her advantage by luring British official Cartwright into her grasp, hoping to solidify an alliance with him. When the British officials raided the place, they didn’t find Tajdar or any of his comrades, but they took Alamzeb away for questioning. Tajdar was devastated, and he knew he had to save her. But a big question arose: whom did he love more, his country or his lover? For the country, he would have to sacrifice everyone, including Alamzeb. His patriotism and rage were so strong that when Cartwright questioned him along with his father, Nawab Asfaq Baloch, he had no choice but to lie and distance himself from Alamzeb and any women from Heeramandi, even though it pained him deeply. He was willing to betray her for the sake of his country, a sacrifice he found heartbreaking but necessary.
How Did Tajdar Die?
Tajdar felt deeply ashamed of the situation, but he soon discovered that Alamzeb was pregnant with his child. He couldn’t escape his responsibility. Despite being a son of the nawabs, he didn’t want to follow their example of neglecting their illegitimate sons in Heeramandi without proper love and care. He was determined to give Alamzeb and their future child a secure future. Although he knew Mallikajaan and his father wouldn’t approve, he tried to convince them, even taking help from his grandmother. Mallikajaan was somewhat willing to give him a last chance, but his father was ashamed of the idea. He couldn’t accept the thought of his son, a nawab, marrying a courtesan from Heeramandi. It was beyond his understanding. As Tajdar was about to marry Alamzeb, his father called the British officials and had him arrested. To his father, being questioned and possibly killed by the British officers was preferable to allowing his son to marry a courtesan and dishonor the family name. This behavior puzzled Tajdar; he couldn’t believe his father would do such a thing. Despite his father’s actions, Tajdar was relieved that he didn’t inherit his father’s false sense of pride. He begged his father to give him some time to marry Alamzeb, showing how much he loved her and how he was willing to fulfill his responsibilities.
Among all the deeply flawed characters in Heeramandi, especially the portrayal of men, Tajdar’s character truly stands out among them all. As luck would have it, Tajdar was dragged to the station for questioning by Officer Cartwright about their plans against the British officials and their rebellions, as well as the identities of his comrades. But until his last breath, he refused to give any names. He kept shouting “inquilab” (revolution), expressing his dying wish for the freedom of his country, for which he was willing to sacrifice his life, which ultimately he did.
