Tag Archives: ancient india

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 →

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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 →

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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 Mythology Post

Posted on 16/08/2012 by Anu M

Though I have posted a lot on blouse “borrowings” from the West, one thing that differentiates the Indian version is that the midriff is normally exposed.  There is a long history to the choli/kanchuki and modern representations of historical attire often … Continue reading →

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