Category Archives: Sari Blouse

The Theatre Post – Mahabharata

Posted on 27/11/2012 by Anu M

In the evening of the last day of war Deep gloom is spread all around A desolate lane of Kaurava’s palace Only two guards on sentry duty.  The stylized costumes of Ebrahim Alkazi’s open air staging of Dharmavir Bharti’s Andha Yug (A Blind … Continue reading →

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The Historical Drama – Manthiri Kumari

Posted on 27/11/2012 by Anu M

The full Madras cinema treatment (i.e. also not very accurate) for a film adaptation (Manthiri Kumari) of the Tamil Buddhist classic, Kundalakesi. The attire includes a short embellished tunic (with a good degree of frills) and a jewelled belt for the leading lady. And … Continue reading →

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The Historical Drama – Chitralekha

Posted on 27/11/2012 by Anu M

A few more posts on modern interpretations of Ancient Indian Costume where the productions depart from fidelity to historical costume, either because the production follows the norms of popular Indian cinema or modern theatre. The full Bollywood treatment (i.e. vaguely accurate) … Continue reading →

Posted in Ancient India, Bollywood, Hinduism, Indian Cinema, Old Bollywood, Period Drama, Sari Blouse | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Ancient Indian Costume

Posted on 24/11/2012 by Anu M

The main garment was the antariya of white cotton, linen or flowered muslin, sometimes embroidered in gold and precious stones. The antariya was secured at the waist by a sash or kayabandh, often tied in a looped knot at the center front of the waist. … Continue reading →

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The Light of Asia/Prem Sanyas

Posted on 24/11/2012 by Anu M

mudwerks: Seeta Devi, 1925 (by pictosh) You can see an example of the breast band in The Light of Asia/Prem Sanyas. The film is about the life of Gautama Buddha with Seeta Devi playing the Buddha’s wife. There are a number of stills at memsaab’s site, … Continue reading →

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Amrapali

Posted on 24/11/2012 by Anu M

Vyjayanthimala in the film on the life of Amrapali, the Licchavi courtesan who converted to Buddhism. Bhanu Athaiya (who also designed for Sahib, Bibi aur Ghulam and later won an Oscar for Gandhi) apparently based the costumes on Buddhist frescoes, though in the frescoes (as in the statues … Continue reading →

Posted in Ancient India, Buddhism, Costume, Indian Cinema, Old Bollywood, Period Drama, Sari Blouse | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Conrad Rooks’ Siddhartha

Posted on 24/11/2012 by Anu M

Under black hair, which made to tower high on her head, he saw a very fair, very delicate, very smart face, a brightly red mouth, like a freshly cracked fig, eyebrows which were well tended and painted in a high … Continue reading →

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Utsav/Mṛcchakaṭika

Posted on 24/11/2012 by Anu M

Your garment’s border, red and fair, Is all a-shiver in the air; Another courtesan, this time the fabulous Rekha playing Vasantasena in the film adaptation of Mṛcchakaṭika (The Little Clay Cart). The garment is in fact red in the movie and given Vasantasena’s wealth, she wears … Continue reading →

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Santosh Sivan’s Asoka

Posted on 24/11/2012 by Anu M

Santosh Sivan’s epic film of the Mauryan King, Asoka, surprisingly sticks to a simple, subdued palette and body decoration for the princess Kaurwaki. Again not quite the choli but perhaps a sewn breast band. And the film it appears is fairly authentic in terms of plot.

Posted in Ancient India, India, Indian Cinema, Indian History, Period Drama, Romance, Sari Blouse | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Amrita Sher-Gil Post

Posted on 21/11/2012 by Anu M

There are so many wonderful Amrita Sher-Gil photographs (and paintings) around that she deserves a tumblr of her own. The ones I am posting today have been around for a bit but I felt like posting some 1930s fashion. I am still a little … Continue reading →

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