Ruth Prawer Jhabvala (d 3 April 2013) is probably better known for her collaboration with Merchant-Ivory on their period dramas.  But early on the trio made a number of movies set in India based on Jhabvala’s books/scripts. A few pics from the 1960s.

1) The Householder (1963) starring (the very genetically blessed) Leela Naidu and Shashi Kapoor.  The couple in the novel are conservative and middle-class, I think the sari is tied UP aka Gujarati style.

2) Shakespeare Wallah (1965) again with Shashi Kapoor. And Madhur Jaffrey as a Hindi movie star.

3. Bombay Talkie (1970) also with Shashi Kapoor. Aparna Sen (in the orange sari – the bun, the earring pinned to it, so late 60s) is the film star wife.   And you know you want to listen to Typewriter Tip Tip Tip.

The author (apparently the only person to win a Booker and an Oscar – make that two) in a sari.