Designer clothes for Tollywood

The earlier ill-fitting clothes and mismatched wardrobes have now been revamped with designer dish outs
If you have it, flaunt it. And following the adage to the T are Tollywood���������s commercial churn-outs. The once ill-fitting clothes, mismatched and thoughtless wardrobes have been revamped and rightfully replaced with designer dish outs. Bolo Na Tumi Amar, Amanush, Challenge, Dujone, Wanted, Ley Chakka, to name a few, are cases in point.
This change, however, never came about in a day. Starting off at a painstakingly slow rate, the effort has now gained momentum. All this is thanks to the conscious and combined initiatives of actors, film-makers, producers and designers alike.
Tollywood���������s current heartthrob, Dev, points out that a well-coordinated wardrobe caters to creating a craze about a film, which to a certain extent, garners its BO innings. ���������I am very finicky about my clothes. I believe that clothes are second skin and unless an actor is comfortable in his attire, the shot cannot be perfect,��������� Dev elaborates.
Echoing Dev���������s sentiments is his Dujone co-star, Srabanti: ���������For me, it���������s not just about clothes, but the entire look I am supposed to flaunt in a film. I make no compromises on that front. I schedule a meeting with my director and costume designer after each day���������s shoot to check whether all���������s in place for my next day���������s schedule. There is detailed planning of my next day���������s look.���������
Looking perfect on-screen is half the battle won, feel directors. ���������Today, a film isn���������t just about the script. It���������s more a visual treat. With songs contributing hugely to a film���������s success, it is essential that a visually attractive song sequence is supported by a well-thought out look throughout the film,��������� says film-maker Rajib, adding how he discarded 25 ready outfits of Soham-Srabanti for his Amanush after there were some changes in the script. ���������We never compromised on the look. It is at such times that the producer���������s support becomes imperative,��������� Rajib reasons.
Raj Chakrabarty too points out that the wardrobe must be at par with ���������the tone of the film���������. The director adds, ���������It���������s no longer about placing bulk orders for costumes to a dresser. The entire process has now become much more personalised. For example, I start visualising the outfits right from the script-reading sessions. Since tastes are subtle, they reflect on my directorial ventures too. The costumes have to be in sync with the mood, backdrop and even the co-artistes��������� outfits.���������
This execution is perfected with a little help from designers. Says Pooja Chatterjee, whose designs have been seen in Amanush, Bolo Na Tumi Amar and the yet-to-be-released, Autograph, Dui Prithibi and Mon Je Kore Uru Uru, ���������It is essential that there is freedom right from conceiving to designing. More than clothes, it is the styling, grooming and get-up that matter.
After all, the right accessories and attitude make a statement.��������� With Bengali commercial films now catering to the multiplex audience, it is obvious that there���������s a general level of consciousness in fashion among viewers. ���������Hence it���������s essential that films are taken a few notches above the general level so that there���������s a process of growth,��������� Pooja stresses.
Jaya Misra, who has designed for Wanted and Dujone, feels that actors today, have become much more aware of what suits them. ���������They are breaking away from the mould. That apart, there���������s a refreshing element in today���������s commercial ventures in terms of fresh faces and experimental storylines. I keep in mind the cast and storyline before deciding the wardrobe,��������� says Misra.
But it���������s only when the directors and designers are given that freedom to execute by producers that dreams turn into reality. ���������We have an in-house designer and also buy clothes from Mumbai apart from the local city shops. Whether or not we need help from outside designers will depend on a film,��������� says producer Shrikant Mohta, adding, ���������The budget for costumes has gone up nearly five times.���������
Since the product now caters to urban and rural masses, the parity in wardrobe too has to be evident, feels Abhishek Dutta, who has designed for a couple of ventures.
When looks do matter, Challenge nibi na sala!
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