Category Archives: India

The 1960s in India.

In no specific order: The decade started with Jawaharlal Nehru as Prime Minister and ended with Indira Gandhi as the PM.  From 1964-1966, we had Lal Bahadur Shastri (pictured here in 1964) as the Prime Minister. In 1961 Goa was annexed … Continue reading

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The 1960s in Film – Love in Tokyo (1966)

Love in Tokyo (1966) hardly needs any introduction. It’s the kind of frothy romance set in an exotic foreign locale (or at the very least Kashmir) that the 1960s specialised in. Naturally the leads are in their 60s best. With … Continue reading

Posted in 1960s, Actor, Asia, Bollywood, churidar kameez, Cinema, East Asia, Film Costuming, India, Indian Cinema, Indian Dress, Indian fashion, Indian History, Indian men, Indian Women, Japan, Movies, Old Bollywood, Romance, Sari, Sari Blouse, sari history, Vintage, Vintage Blouse, vintage sari, Women | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

The 1960s in Film – Kadhalikka Neramillai (1964)

Kadhalikka Neramillai (is a 1964 Tamil film. Given that it’s heroines are a pair of wealthy young girls you get plenty of 1960s fashions with a dash of the 1950s. Saris, salwars, slacks and half-saris all make an appearance. The … Continue reading

Posted in 1960s, 20th century, Actor, Cinema, India, Indian Cinema, Indian Dress, Indian fashion, Indian men, Indian Women, Movies, salwar, Salwar Kameez, Sari, Sari Blouse, sari history, Sets, South India, South Indian Cinema, Tamil, Tamil Cinema, Vintage, Vintage Blouse, vintage fashion, vintage sari, Women | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Modern Times

I love all those illustrations back in the day (largely the 20s) that have men terrified of the forthcoming emancipation of women.  More often than not, the women in the illustrations look so nonchalant and cool. Pic 1 from Korea … Continue reading

Posted in 1910s, 1920s, Asia, Comics, Early 20th Century, Feminism, Flapper, Illustration, India, Magazine, Vintage, vintage art | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

The 1950s in India

The 1950s was the first decade of India as an independent, sovereign country.  After the excitement of the 30s and 40s, it is a decade in which the excitement lies in nation-building.  This was a decade of nationalisation in which … Continue reading

Posted in 1950s, 20th century, History, Independence, India, Indian Dress, Indian fashion, Indian History, vintage fashion, Women | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Lootera Deconstructed

There is nothing as much of its time as the period film – see successive Jane Austen adaptations for e.g.  I am therefore not terribly fussed about authenticity in period films, though it is always pleasurable if filmmakers do their homework … Continue reading

Posted in 1950s, 20th century, 21st century, Actor, Bengal, Bollywood, Cinema, Contemporary, Costume, Early 20th Century, fashion, Hair, India, Indian Cinema, Indian Dress, Indian fashion, Indian men, Indian Women, Movies, Old Bollywood, Period Drama, Sari, Sari Blouse, Sets, Tumblr, Vintage, Vintage Blouse, vintage fashion, vintage sari, Women | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 24 Comments

À La Mode in Lahore – Khazanchi (1941)

Khazanchi (Cashier) is a 1941 movie which is significant for several reasons (for the full movie X). First, it was amongst a clutch of popular movies made in Lahore that brought in new modes of movie making, until then the … Continue reading

Posted in 1940s, Asia, Cinema, Culture, cycling, Dress Reform, Early 20th Century, fashion, India, Indian Cinema, Indian Dress, Indian fashion, Islamic Dress, Movies, Pakistan, Salwar Kameez, Vintage Dress, vintage fashion | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

The Diaspora Post

The heavy silver jewellery and skirts of Indian communities from Central and Western India are reflected in early photographs of immigrants to the West Indies. Early immigrants were often indentured labour from the then United Provinces and Eastern India. [X] … Continue reading

Posted in 1880s, 1890s, 1900s, 1910s, 19th century, British Raj, Colonial, Costume, Culture, Diaspora, fashion, History, Immigration, India, Indian Dress, Indian fashion, Indian History, Late 19th century, Vintage, Vintage Dress, Women | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Midweek Post- 3

In the closing decades of the nineteenth century in a land already thronging with all manner of gods and goddesses there surfaced a novel deity of nation and country who at some moments in the subsequent years seemed to tower … Continue reading

Posted in 1910s, 1920s, Art, British Raj, Colonial, Early 20th Century, Flapper, Goddess, History, Illustration, Independence, India, Indian History, Sari, Sari Blouse, vintage art, Women | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Midweek Post-2

Women in blue saris playing cards, B Prabha George Keyt‘s cubist work, Woman in a Blue Sari, mid 1940s

Posted in 1940s, 20th century, Art, Early 20th Century, India, Indian Dress, Indian Women, Paintings, Sari, Sari Blouse, Sri Lanka, vintage art, vintage fashion, Women | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment