Category Archives: Period Drama

The Period Drama Post

Posted on 04/11/2012 by Anu M

The movie adaptation of Maitreyi starred Hugh Grant and Supriya Pathak and is a listless Jean-Claude Carriere adaptation in which the costuming is the least of its troubles. But it is as uncertain as Hugh Grant’s French accented English in the film, … Continue reading →

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The Period Drama Post

Posted on 03/11/2012 by Anu M

C Costumes from Shatranj Ke Khiladi set in the Awadh of 1856/7.  Those seriously wide trousers were apparently all the go at the time.  As was gauzy wraps, paisley prints, shawls. And dance. And hookahs. And…..chess.

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The Period Drama Post

Posted on 01/11/2012 by Anu M

Sahib, Bibi aur Ghulam is set in 19th century Calcutta.  The women who appear in the film belong to different classes.  Of the two main characters Choti Bahu (Meena Kumari) belongs to the feudal, zamindari class who are presumably Orthodox Hindus.  Jaba (Waheeda … Continue reading →

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The Period Drama Post

Posted on 30/10/2012 by Anu M

And a bit on Raima Sen, whose attire in these pictures have varying degrees of fidelity to the period they are set in (Chokher Bali: 1903, Naukadubi: 1920s,The Japanese Wife: uncertain) and who must surely hold some kind of record for … Continue reading →

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The Muslim Wedding Post

Posted on 21/10/2012 by Anu M

The Saif-Kareena wedding….here is the posed studio photo and the wedding dress. Which has similarities in style with Attia Hossain’s wedding dress of 1933. Though described as a saree, it’s more likely a “wedding joda” with a heavy skirt.  Also I think I … Continue reading →

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The Epic Post – Shakuntala

Posted on 13/10/2012 by Anu M

byeloriszanianka: July, 1957 issue of the China Pictorial (Ren Min Hua Bao) shows a still of China’s National Youth Theatre’s performance of dramatist Kalidasa’s Shakuntala to commemorate the 5th anniversary of the founding of the China-India Friendship Association. Shakuntala is … Continue reading →

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The Epic Post – Shakuntala

Posted on 13/10/2012 by Anu M

And last an interesting peek into the making of the dress of ancient heroines, including  Shakuntala, in the Amar Chitra Katha comics. No doubt a Shakuntala of the 21st century would again be quite different (though we can perhaps skip this soap opera … Continue reading →

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The Epic Post – Shakunatala

Posted on 13/10/2012 by Anu M

Shakuntala has also been filmed a fair bit. Surprisingly MS Subbulakshmi dispensed with a blouse in the Tamil movie Sakunthalai (directed by the American, Ellis R Dungan).  Other film depictions like V Shantaram’s also discard the blouse. All employ a number of flower garlands … Continue reading →

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The Epic Post – Shakuntala

Posted on 13/10/2012 by Anu M

  Sacontala says goodbye to Madhavi. Illustration for La Civilizacion by Don Pelegrin Casabo Y Pages (Mir, Tarradas, Comas, 1881-82). Shakuntala first appeared in the West in a William Jones translation and its not surprising the German romantics loved the drama. Subsequently Theophile … Continue reading →

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The Adaptation Post

Posted on 01/09/2012 by Anu M

  Not many period dramas in India get their period details right.  I am not sure a leg of mutton sleeve blouse was the way to go in 1942 but its the evoked emotion rather than authenticity that matters in … Continue reading →

Posted in 1940s, Indian Cinema, Period Drama, Sari, Sari Blouse, Vintage | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment