MUMBAI: It was a very fashionable year for the Hindi film industry which witnessed the unfurling of vivacious fashion statements in its several flicks.
2010 began with ‘Pyaar Impossible’ and its sensuous thigh-length shorts or skirts and ended with layered gowns in the November-release ‘Guzarish’.
The year, which experienced a plethora of styling, also produced India's first complete fashion flick in the Sonam Kapoor-starrer ‘Aisha’.
‘Aisha's stylist Pernia Qureshi and costume designer Kunal Rawal have created a whole new aesthetics for the film. They not only managed to give an opulent look to the characters, but have also fleshed out characters evidently through their dressing styles.
Be it the lavishness of Sonam Kapoor, simplicity of debutante Amrita Puri or the flamboyance of Ira Dubey, the stylists have successfully flourished each character with its own fashion statement, which forms the oomph factor of Anil Kapoor's Romcom.
"I am really happy with the way Sonam Kapoor has dressed up in 'Aisha'. She has tried to grab the look of Julia Roberts in 'Pretty Woman.' If all the Hindi films start carrying such a fashion statement, which also goes parallel to their character, it would be really good for the Hindi film industry," says fashion designer Renu Tandon.
Calling ‘Aisha’ a truly fashion-centric movie, designer Alpana Mittal says, "‘Aisha’ is the real time reflection of the city fashion. It has fluttered a fashion statement of modern times, something that everybody is wearing today. The styling of the film is totally with the time."
From sizzling Vidya Balan's somber look in ‘Ishqiya’ in her three-fourth sleeves, deep U-neck blouses and front-draped vibrant colored saris to the 80s full-sleeves, puffed shirts of Aishwarya Rai paired with bell-bottom pants and skinny short skirts, the year gave B-town several fashion statements that created a niche among the viewers.
Costume designer Payal Saluja has portrayed Vidya Balan in a simple yet sexy look with the use of printed saris in light pastels and bright colours.
With a minimal make-up, use of very simple accessories - just a nose stud and a pair of round ear-dangling or hoops along with coloured glass bangles to create the charm of a village woman - have given enough space to the audience to focus more on the characters and still take home a fashion statement from the movie.
"Vidya Balan's look in ‘Ishqiya’ is more of an Indian traditional look, but what Sonam has carried in ‘Aisha’ is the fashion statement at Hollywood level. There can be no comparison, but both the style patterns were truly fantastic," says Tandon.
Period cinema during the past year such as Abhishek Bachchan-Deepika Padukone starrer ‘Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Se’ and ‘Veer’ featuring Salman Khan which did not impress with their story lines instead created an impression through their fashion statement.
Also, Salman-starrer ‘Dabangg’ released in September was a hit not only at the box office but also created a fascination among Indian youth for moustaches. The well-trimmed moustache look given to the superstar by fashion designer and stylist Ashley Rebello became quite a rage.
As cine buffs plan to bid adieu to year 2010, Sanjay Leela Bhansali amused them with his yet another presentation of beauty and colours in ‘Guzaarish’.
Sabyasachi Mukherjee has designed costumes with layering for the leading lady Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. In the lack of joy in her life, she tends to derive comfort from over-dressing and her surreal hairdo.
Not just the leading pair, but all the characters in Bhansali's latest are seen fluttering their own style-mantra.
Crumpled tuxedo with flappy trousers for Aditya Roy Kapoor, stiff suits for the doctor, Suhel Seth and cotton saris and three-quarter blouses for Shernaz Patel to give her a Gandhian look.
"Fashion is all about being real and carrying a style that reflects truthfulness. This definition of fashion has been personified in ‘Guzaarish’. All the characters reflect a fashion statement that is very near to the real life.
Aishwarya has dressed beautifully in the movie. Her looks and that Hrithik brings life to the flick," says fashion designer Leena Singh.
However, as all is set to roll into the beginning of year 2011, fashion designers have already predicted what is going to rule next on the fashion parameters in the glitzy world of tinsel town.
"In 2011, Bollywood should follow what rest of the world is doing. The global fashion trends should be adapted by the Hindi film industry," says designer Manoviraj Khosla.
In the same line, Tandon says, "Glam safari look is going to be the statement for both ramp and Bollywood in the year 2011."