Indian Fashion: On Screen and Behind the Scenes
Most people are familiar with Bollywood, the vibrant and captivating film industry consisting of unique song and dance numbers, dazzling costumes, and an escape into a world of fantasy. The Indian film industry produces significantly more movies annually than Europe and the United States, with around two thousand films gaining popularity worldwide each year. If you have ever watched an Indian movie or TV series, you might have questions: How are the vivid images and costumes created for the actors, and how do they correspond to real life in India? At the recent BRICS+ Fashion Summit in Moscow, famous Indian actresses addressed this issue at length with stylists.
The World’s Largest Film Industry
The first full-length Indian film, “Raja Harishchandra” by Jundiraj Govind Phalke, was released in 1913. With the goal of replicating the theatrical qualities of local Indian culture, Phalke adapted a legend from an ancient Indian epic. It marked the rapid development of Indian cinema, known for its exaggerated imagery and musicality.
Modern-day Bollywood is just one of many film production regions in India, including Mollywood, two Tollywoods, and Costalwood. This global fascination with Indian cinema stems from Bollywood films’ ability to transport viewers to a fantastical world with happy endings, providing a temporary escape from their problems and worries. Traditional Indian dances, an integral part of every Bollywood movie, pay homage to deep-rooted Indian cultural traditions.
Bridging Local Traditions and Global Success
Although the majority of India has yet to experience widespread fashion development, the past 20 years have seen considerable growth in fashion, both within India and on the global stage. Initiatives like the AADHAR CARD, a comprehensive state population database, and UPI, a single payment interface for instant, commission-free transfers, have played significant roles in India’s rapid development.
Indian designers now have the opportunity to showcase their collections both domestically and internationally. For example, four Indian brands— riteshkumar, KHANIJO, Naushad Ali, Shruti Sancheti —recently participated in Russia’s BRICS+ Fashion Summit. These designers presented diverse collections that conveyed the spirit and culture of India, complete with live vocal performances and Indian national motifs.
Fashion Meets Cinema: The Stylist-Actor Collaboration
To create the vivid images that appear in Indian films, experienced stylists and designers are crucial. They must craft outfits that convey the national essence, the film’s concept, and the character’s personality. Bollywood actress and TV presenter Pavleen Gujral recently discussed this topic at the BRICS+ Fashion Summit in Moscow. She participated in a public talk on “Star Style in the Frame and Behind the Scenes,” where experts discussed the interaction between cinema stylists and screen stars, as well as the influence of fashion and cinema on one another. Pavleen Gujral is a TV presenter and actress, known for the films Angry Indian Goddesses, Gehraiyaan and Sukhee.
Pavleen Gujral described Bollywood as a dreamlike fantasy that contrasts sharply with real life: “Bollywood is the only industry where fantastic images are created. Everything is very exaggerated, including the costumes. Each actor has their own stylist, because reality is very different from what is depicted on the screen, and real fashion is not transferred to the frame.”
The Indian film industry is closely intertwined with fashion, as locals closely follow films and TV series. It is common to see people on the streets inspired by and emulating the styles from new movies, according to Gujral: “If an actor in a film appears in something bright, with all the colors of the rainbow, many young people will dress similarly.”
Final Words
Indian fashion is undoubtedly evolving, as evidenced by designers presenting collections in various countries and global forums, as well as the film industry showcasing not only bright outfits but fashion-forward designs curated by experienced stylists.
