Category Archives: Romance

The Love Post

Madanotsav or Kamotsav was probably today. The Gujarati inscription on top of the painting: જનમ જનમ કે હમ સાથી (Janam Janam ke hum saathi aka lovers/partners forever). Pic Source: Jyoti Bhatt, 1967.

Posted in 1960s, 20th century, fashion, Illustration, in Colour, Indian Aesthetics, indian art, Indian Dress, indian festivals, Indian Illustrators, Indian men, Indian Women, Love, Paintings, retro, retro fashion, Romance, vintage art, Vintage Dress, Vintage Illustration, vintage illustrations | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Ashadh ka ek din

आषाढस्य प्रथमदिवसे मेघमाश्लिष्टसानुं वप्रक्रीडापरिणतगजप्रेक्षणीयं ददर्श॥१.२॥ Ashar has come, filling the southern sky with A cloud, frolicksome as an elephant About to charge, he seems to lower his tusks. (translation of lines from the Meghadoot from here). The month of Ashadh … Continue reading

Posted in 1950s, 4th century AD, Ancient India, costume design, Costumes in Cinema, Culture, film costumes, Film Costuming, Hairstyles, historical costume, historical dress, historical fashions, historical hairstyles, Indian Aesthetics, Indian Cinema, Indian Costume, Indian Literature, Indian men, Indian Theatre, Indian Women, Romance, Sanskrit Drama, Sanskrit Literature, sari drape, Theatre | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

The costumes of Devdas (1936)

Devdas may well be summarised by these three screen captures:) Saratchandra was 17 when he wrote Devdas, it is likely the author himself thought the novel an immature work in later age.  Despite it being a “youth novel” and  despite the … Continue reading

Posted in 1910s, 1930s, 20th century, Accessories, Actor, Bengal, Bengali cinema, Cinema, Colonial, Costume, costume design, Courtesan, Culture, Dancer, Early 20th Century, fashion, film costumes, Film Costuming, Hairstyles, Indian Cinema, Indian Costume, Indian fashion, Indian men, Indian Women, regional styles, Romance, Sari, Sari Blouse, sari history, Vintage, vintage costume | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Comics Post

For a lot of us in India at one time Comic = Amar Chitra Katha. My nieces are Australian so their book cupboard is wash with princess stories, fairy stories, Peppa Pig, Horrid Henry and the like.  The Indian comics … Continue reading

Posted in 1970s, 1980s, Ancient India, Art, Comics, Costume, Culture, fashion, Girls, Hinduism, historical fashions, History, Illustration, indian art, Indian Dress, Indian fashion, Indian History, Indian Illustrators, Indian men, Indian Women, Jaina Literature, regional styles, Romance, Royalty, Sanskrit Drama, Sari, sari drape, sari history, Sets, tamil Literature | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

The Love Post

MADANA, a name of Kama, the hindu god of love. In the hindu religion, festivals are held on the 13th and 14th of the month Cheyth*, in honour of Kama, the god of love. Madana, he who intoxicates, with desire, … Continue reading

Posted in 1610s, 18th century, Ancient India, Contemporary, early 18th century, indian art, indian festivals, Indian men, Indian Women, miniature paintings, Romance | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Roop and Baz

At first love seemed easy but after hard. [X] For a couple whose legendary relationship was built on a love of poetry and music, Baz Bahadur and Rani Roopmati appear an awful lot in hunting scenes in miniature paintings. Their … Continue reading

Posted in 16th Century, Art, Asia, churidar kameez, Costume, Culture, Deccan, fashion, historical art, historical costume, historical dress, History, hunt, indian art, Indian Dress, Indian History, Indian men, Indian Singers, Indian Women, Mughal, Music, Paintings, Poetry, Romance, Royalty, Women | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Plucky Girl

Sanskrit poetry is so often full of lovelorn ladies unable to bear separation from the hero (Virahotkanthita Nayika). And this recurs often in those Radha-Krishna paintings. And of course Hindi cinema is full of “viraha” songs.  But none of that … Continue reading

Posted in 7th century, 8th century, Ancient India, Feminism, Girls, Indian Women, Literature, Love, Poetry, Romance, Sanskrit, Women | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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 Tamil Historical Post

The illustrations for Tamil periodicals have a long history and some illustrators are nearly as well known as the writers. A number of serialised stories are historical romances (think Chola empire, Pallavas) and the drawings are fairly vivid in recreating an era, albeit … Continue reading

Posted in 20th century, Ancient India, Costume, Early 20th Century, fashion, Hair, History, Illustration, India, Indian Cinema, Indian Dress, Indian fashion, Indian History, Indian men, Indian Women, Jewellery, Love, Novels, Period Drama, Romance, Royalty, Sari, Sari Blouse, Tamil, Tamil Cinema, Vintage, Women | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Weekend

I do not know what you think of me, but I think you are the most wonderful man on earth. Shakuntala*, Amar Chitra Katha. Its the weekend. Wear your best kanchuki (bodice). Shower some love on the pet deer. And write a … Continue reading

Posted in Ancient India, Comics, Costume, Illustration, Indian Dress, Mythology, Romance, Sanskrit Drama, Sari, Women | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments