Madhubala’s classic anarkali in Mughal-e-Azam. Kajol’s tomboy chic in Kuch Kuch Hota Hai. Kareena Kapoor’s game-changing Patialas in Jab We Met. Certain looks from Bollywood’s leading ladies have forever shaped the way millions of Indians now view style.
100 Iconic Bollywood Costumes is a definitive guide to these outfits and more, as well as to the magic behind them. Studded with beautiful illustrations of India’s most enduring item girls, vamps and style icons, and packed with insider know-how from Bollywood fashion legends like Manish Malhotra, each page is a celebration of clothes, cinema and culture like you’ve never seen before. By looking back at the most important costumes to have emerged in Hindi cinema since the 1950s, it turns the spotlight on the evolution of the modern Indian woman – and, more importantly, on what she wanted to wear.
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The book was launched at Mustard in Atria on Wednesday, September 4. The unveiling of the book by Manish Malhotra was followed by an engaging discussion between the panellists Anaita Shroff Adajania, Manish Malhotra and the authors, moderated by Priya Tanna.
Speaking at the occasion, Priya Kapoor, Director at Roli Books, said, “At Roli, we are passionate about documenting our history, traditions and way of life. This book is an incredible and much-needed resource on costume and film history and I’m certain it will be received well by both the general audience and the specialist.”
On being asked about key trends she enjoyed illustrating, illustrator Aparna Ram said, “Madhuri’s flowing salwar kameez’s from Dil Toh Pagal hai was one I was impacted by back when I was young. It was the first time I saw that Indian clothing didn’t have to be OTT to be fashionable. The pared-down look was soft and elegant and I along with many others wanted to copy. Another look I picked is from the previous generation - the tight Churidars Sadhna wore in Waqt. In fact, this is still one I prefer today. I’d much rather wear a tighter fit than a looser salwar bottom. I think it suits me more.”
“Growing up in London, it was Bollywood that connected to India. My family would gather together to watch a film every week, and it was an important bonding time for us. When I moved to India in my 20s, I was mesmerized by Madhuri Dixit Nene’s costumes in Hum Aapke Hain Koun (1994), and even though I was a business journalist at the time, one of my first interviews was with Anna Singh, the designer behind the purple sari the actor wore in ‘Didi Tera Devar Deewana’. On my next trip to London, I rushed to South hall to buy a purple charmeuse satin sari”, said author Sujata Assomull.
Some of the eminent personalities who attended the launch are Tina Tahiliani Parikh, Sheena Sippy, Priya Nathani, costume designer Gavin Miguel, Malini and Rahul Akerkar, Lascelles Symons, Sunhil Sippy, Ashok Advani, Pratima Bhatia among others.
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