Besides, love between siblings, particularly between the elder brother and younger sister, has become a specific marker of Tamil culture, mainly due to the impact of canonical Tamil films like En Thangai (My Sister, dir. M.K.R. Nambiar and Ch. Narayanamurthy, 1952) and Paasamalar (the Flower of Love, dir. A. Bhimsingh, 1961). [X]

Add to that the landmark 1952 film, Parasakthi which examines post-independence Tamil society through the story of a brother’s search for his younger sister.

The whole look on the actress Sriranjani is classic 1950s, specifically South Indian, but also seen elsewhere. This is a half-saree and the skirt in this decade was quite gathered and full. See also this costume from the same movie.

The female lead played by Pandari Bai is a sort of idealistic pudhumai pen (new woman).

Very 50s in that stripey blouse. And like many 50s davanis, the upper part is a diaphonous piece of cloth. I also kind of like the low bun with flowers which persisted into the early 60s.

Sivaji is in a “jibba” (kurta) and chudidar.  As for that first pic, that is our heroine’s first sighting of the hero:)

Now that I come to think of, this movie has a lot of davanis (half-saree). Most of them feature the very fitted blouses of the 50s with gold thread detail or checks, diaphanous upper part and a gathered skirt. There are minor variations as in these two dance numbers – Kumari Kamala’s skirt has details which seem made for the skirt (as does the blouse) and is akin to a ghaghra versus the striped zari pavadai (skirt) and blouse on Subbulakshmi in the classical performance in the film. I quite like the difference in the zari pattern of the body and the sleeve in Subbulakshmi’s blouse. Also Kamala’s plaits are a youthful stylish look for this period.