COSTUME designer Sabitha Jayaraj’s efforts to give a natural feel to movie characters has struck a chord with many. Despite criticism from some quarters, this approach makes perfect sense to the lady who has dressed the characters for the majority of the movies directed by her husband Jayaraj.
Her latest venture was Loud Speaker, where she used vintage wear and sober shades so that the wardrobe was in tune with Mike Philippose and Menon, the lead characters.
Sabitha believes that costumes make the characters. “So far I was not provided with much opportunity to experiment with costumes.
The majority of Jayaraj’s movies that I have been associated with have dealt with themes revolving round villages and suburbs.
The `For the People’ series was an exception.
So I mainly concentrate on clothes that suit the situation and theme.
Characters can become legends for their look, but for that the canvas also needs to be very wide,” says Sabitha.
Which is her favourite among the Jayaraj movies that she has dressed? “I guess it would be Thilakkam.
The song dearest to me is “Enikkoru pennundu...” I still cherish that song where colours and shades were changed according to each stanza and the colour tones blended with the nature around. It is one movie which gave me immense satisfaction,” she adds. Sabitha is now also looking into fashion designing as she has agreed to judge the contestants participating in the Fashion Week 2010. “Be it for movies or fashion shows, the concept of costumes is the same. The basic cuts should be perfect.
The clothes should fit one’s body well and make one feel comfortable. The key is that the wearer shouldn’t feel conscious about wearing a particular costume. If subconsciously you feel uncomfortable, it will manifest itself in your behaviour. The costume designer will have to keep these points in mind when deciding the making of the garment,” says Sabitha.
In comparison with Telugu and Tamil flicks, Malayalam has less chances for experimentation, according to her. “Here the majority of the movies are hero-centric. There is no space in Malayalam cinema for hivoltage glamour shows in songs and so heroines do not get much opportunity to experiment,” she added. On the other hand, heroes enjoy more freedom to experiment with their costumes. And among them, Mammootty is awesome, in her opinion.
“He is simply superb.
I have not seen a person who has a greater sense of fashion than him in Malayalam filmdom. If ‘fashioneering’ is an art, then he is the master.
That is why he still remains the fashion icon of the youth of Kerala,” concludes Sabitha.
shibu@expressbuzz.com