Niharika Khan

Indian cinema has proven with its recent offerings that it can confidently step up to the plate and serve style that matches the character and mood of the movie rather than cook up a half-baked stew of fashion and metre. As Verve pointed out last year, couture has found a definite place in Indian cinema, whether through a subtle pair of designer shades or through a statement handbag. The good news is high fashion isn’t being used as candy floss on the big screen – it’s playing a specific role. Costumiers are equally willing to turn to village threads for authenticity, or design garish, bordering-on-the-vulgar outfits for a real-life character, as they are to doll up their actors in an international label. While there may not be any path-breaking moves here, costume design 2011 has been authentic, stylish and character-oriented. It sets the stage to push the envelope further, away from the sensationalist and dysfunctional ensembles of the past. Verve picks out four movies that impressed with their true-to-the-grain styling, and Verve recreates these looks with young actors Sarah Jane Dias and Sahil Shroff
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With blurring boundaries between ‘fashion’ and ‘costume’ design, we have been hoping to see some spectacular sartorial statements on the silver screen. 2010 had its share of attempts, but none quite hit bullseye. The good news is that the days of the ‘conventional Bollywood’ wardrobe seem to be numbered, as chiffon and sequins lose their monopoly. Also, we appear to have stepped beyond large initials on our chests and taken to discreet brand flaunting, combining high-end and high-street, but not confusing categories. It is a good time for both cinema and fashion, and Sohiny Das seems to think that we are on to something golden in the future, though the present looks a little uncertain. She selects the films which have appealed with their distinctive costumes and styling, and also those which have had moments of impact. Verve recreates these memorable scenes with one of the most promising new faces of Bollywood, actress Sonal Chauhan
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Year 2008 witnessed notable progress in film costume and styling, which go a long way in making the characters what they are, and in turn, making cinema what it is. Bollywood Style Awards returns, to commemorate the forces behind the hangers, drapes, hues, fads and sparkles of tinsel town. Verve sifts through the previous year’s releases and picks the sartorial spectaculars – each distinct, progressive and very well done
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