Tag Archives: Hindi cinema

Knits in Detective Byomkesh Bakshy!

I must confess I was a little lukewarm towards DBB when it released but meant to do a review of its vintage vibe all the same. A second viewing awhile ago made me appreciate the film, its attention to detail … Continue reading

Posted in 1940s, Actor, Bengal, Bengali, Bollywood, Cinema, costume design, Costumes in Cinema, film costumes, Film Costuming, Indian Actors, Indian Aesthetics, Indian Cinema, Indian Dress, Indian men, indian style, Indian Women, Period Drama, retro fashion, Sari, Vintage, Vintage Dress, winterwear | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Polka Dot Post

Today let’s look at Rekha’s commitment to the polka dot – with a side serving of leheria (diagonal stripes or literally waves)! As with Vijeta, the look is very consistent, bar a “dream sequence” and a wedding. The movie: 1982’s … Continue reading

Posted in 1980s, 20th century, Accessories, Actor, Cinema, clothing, colour, costume design, Costumes in Cinema, fashion, film costumes, Film Costuming, Hindi cinema, Indian Actors, Indian Cinema, Indian Costume, Indian fashion, indian style, Indian Women, late 20th century, retro cinema, retro fashion, Sari, Sari Blouse, Vintage, Vintage Blouse, vintage fashion, vintage sari, Working Women | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Sparsh (1980) deconstructed

Just 4 years separate Kadambari and Sparsh but the former is firmly rooted in 70s styles while Sparsh gives a glimpse of the styles of the early 80s with barely a hint of the 70s.  So let’s look at what … Continue reading

Posted in 1980s, 2017 posts, Actor, arthouse, Cinema, Costumes in Cinema, fashion, film costumes, Film Costuming, Hairstyles, handlooms, Indian Actors, Indian Aesthetics, Indian Cinema, Indian fashion, Indian Textiles, Indian Women, late 20th century, Men, retro cinema, retro fashion, Salwar Kameez, Sari, Sari Blouse, sari history, Sets, Vintage, vintage cinema, vintage costume, vintage sari, vintage style, winterwear, Working Women | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Everything that Shabana Azmi wore in Kadambari (1976)

With a side helping of her co-stars. Screencaps from the uploaded youtube film. Few actresses carry the 70s/80s look better than Shabana Azmi.  Plus she (and the costume designer) create a consistent look for the entire film, a costume capsule … Continue reading

Posted in 1970s, 2017 posts, Accessories, Actor, bindi, Cinema, Indian Dress, Indian fashion, Indian Tales, Indian Textiles, Indian Women, late 20th century, Movies, Prints, retro, retro cinema, retro fashion, retro hair, Salwar Kameez, Sari, Sari Blouse, Vintage, Vintage Blouse, vintage cinema, vintage fashion, vintage sari, vintage style, Working Women | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

The 80s cinema post

Trikon ka Chautha Kon aka The Fourth Angle of a Triangle (1986) is kind of quasi arthouse 80s cinema and more than a little regressive when it comes to it’s women protagonists who dominate much of the film. The film … Continue reading

Posted in 1980s, 20th century, Actor, bindi, Bollywood, Children, churidar kameez, churidar kurta, Cinema, Costumes in Cinema, dupatta, fashion, Feminism, film costumes, Film Costuming, Hair, Hairstyles, Indian Aesthetics, Indian Cinema, Indian Costume, Indian Dress, Indian fashion, Indian men, Indian Textiles, Indian Women, late 20th century, Movies, retro cinema, retro fashion, Salwar Kameez, Sari, Sari Blouse, sari history, Vintage Blouse, vintage cinema, vintage fashion, vintage sari | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The costumes of Bazaar (1982)

80s arthouse aesthetic in Bazaar (1982). The movie deals with the poorer Muslim communities of Hyderabad and the financial compulsions that lay behind many an unequal and unwanted marriage contract.  Some parts of the costuming reflect the milieu. With Shabnam … Continue reading

Posted in 1980s, 20th century, Actor, churidar kameez, churidar kurta, Cinema, Costumes in Cinema, film costumes, Film Costuming, Flowers, Hair, Hairstyles, Indian Aesthetics, Indian Cinema, Indian Costume, Indian Women, Islamic style, late 20th century, retro cinema, retro fashion, retro hair, Salwar Kameez, South India, Vintage, vintage cinema, vintage costume, vintage style | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Bombay Stars

We returned from abroad via Bombay. I admit to the ostentatious glamour of the film world there and the intoxication and heady glamour that accompanies it. I also admit to the dearth of deeper imagination or an ascetic dedication to … Continue reading

Posted in 1930s, 1950s, Bengal, Bengali cinema, Bollywood, Cinema, Early 20th Century, fashion, India, Indian Cinema, Indian Singers, Indian Women, Regional cinema, retro cinema, vintage cinema, vintage sari, 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

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

Stunt Queens of the 1930s

Next evening we too saw her as she sat in front of the Well of Death, looking bored, chain smoking Scissors cigarettes.  She wore a “birjis”* of shining blue satin, and her heavily painted face looked weirdly blue in the … Continue reading

Posted in 1930s, Actor, Cinema, Early 20th Century, Feminism, Indian Cinema, Indian Women, Old Bollywood, Vintage Dress, Women | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments