If we were to hit ‘rewind’ and ‘replay’, we’d find that there were seldom any moments in Hindi Cinema that didn’t make history or contributed to Indian fashion evolution. The Golden Age of Bollywood and the new-age that followed saw several roles that struck a chord with us all. Among them, the one other thing that never failed to impress was the quintessential Indian masterpiece – the Saree.
Costume designers of the 60s to the 80s made it possible for us to reimagine the drape beyond its glorious 6-yards. The saree was not just a piece of clothing anymore but marked the identity of the wearer. It was strung into the character sketch of the on-screen icons. This led us to associate not just the songs or dialogues but also the costume to our favourite stars. Here, we take a look at some of the most memorable saree moments on the silver screen! Read on to know how the saree has made its way into new-age glam (while remaining a classic!)
Mumtaz in the song Tere Mere Pyar Ke Charche
Hopping out of our seats and breaking into a dance every time Aaj Kal Tere Mere Pyaar Ke Charche starts playing is a highlight of almost every Indian family party! Mumtaz though was the highlight of Bollywood fashion in the 60s. What the world now knows as a ‘saree gown’, was first done by her in a sensual yet playful orange masterpiece! The iconic pre-pleated, low-waist saree adorned with golden gota borders and a frilled hemline redefined the traditional 6-yards. The song demanded a lot of movement from Mumtaz, who was known for her effervescence. Hence, costume designer Bhanu Athaiya designed this pre-draped saree with a zip on the side for ease & convenience. The look inspired a lot of Bollywood actresses and led them to recreate it for years, breaking the charts even today.
Hema Malini in Johnny Mera Naam
Before Katrina Kaif did it in Teri Ore, Hema Malini did it in Johnny Mera Naam! Yes, we’re talking about the sheer black saree bordered with bright blue lace that was as bewitching as the actress herself. The playfully perfect styling of the saree with a beaded necklace and supersized ear-studs in the same pop-blue hue was a trend followed by many women after that! This look also did absolute justice to her character – that of a bubbly lover. If you’re wondering what according to us was the perfect finishing touch, we’d say it was most definitely her million-dollar smile.
Nirupa Roy in the movie Deewar
For as long as we can remember, Bollywood’s portrayal of mothers has been on-point. Showcasing unconditional love for her children, getting teary-eyed with pain & rage if anything threatened to hurt her little ones, and keeping them out of harm’s way – these are the attributes of the mother figures we know & adore immensely! But there’s only one OG Maa of Bollywood, and that is Nirupa Roy. Even if you haven’t grown up watching vintage Hindi movies, there’s no way you haven’t heard the infamous line, “Mere paas Maa hai.” The image that accompanies the dialogue is Nirupa Roy in her iconic white saree and a striking red bindi, playing the role of a mother to Amitabh Bachchan and Shashi Kapoor. The all-white, classic drape with a printed border set the tone for the Bollywood mother who is fierce in the face of adversity.
Sridevi in the song Mitwa
The legendary actress is remembered for endless things! Her notable roles, cheery smile, and dialogue delivery never failed to keep us all hooked. Although, her iconic yellow saree adorned with chikankari embroidery in the 1989 film Chandni tops the list. The look, finished off with pearls, a sleeveless blouse and a matching yellow bindi, can be best described as ‘breathtaking’! The saree was a rage! In fact, there are even stories about women in India queuing outside local chikan boutiques for the ‘Chandni’ look. In 2019, Sridevi’s daughter Janhvi Kapoor recreated the yellow saree look & brought with it a wave of nostalgia. (It’s safe to say that we’ll never stop being caught up in it.)
Madhuri Dixit in Hum Aapke Hain Kaun
21 years ago, Bollywood’s Dhak Dhak Girl was seen in a beautiful purple saree in the iconic film Hum Aapke Hain Kaun. We want to say, “And the rest is history…,” but we can’t, ’cause it’s not. Even today, the traditional yet new-age drape is either on everyone’s mind or in their wardrobe. Why did it gain popularity? Well, for one, it perfectly married culture to modern trends. The backless blouse was a hit, along with the 3/4th sleeves that accompanied it in the film’s baby shower scene . The intricate golden work on the saree shone bright, and so did Madhuri Dixit . The Anna Singh designed saree cost – wait for it – a whopping 1.5 million rupees!
Aishwarya Rai & Madhuri Dixit in the song Dola Re Dola
When the iconic movie Devdas comes to mind, the first picture is that of the duo Aishwarya-Madhuri in the song Dola Re Dola. We saw them in breathtaking & elaborate red & white sarees, with heavy jewellery that they pulled off effortlessly. Designed to dance in by Reza Sharifi, the sarees were a remarkable sight. There’s nothing that transcends classics, and there never will be. The red & white Bengali drape reinstates the same fact each time the video for the song is played. Adorned with Alta and ghungroo, everything about the styling & the dance moves screamed power, elegance, and royalty.
Kareena Kapoor in Chameli
Bebo has graced the silver screen with several memorable roles. But there’s one that seemed exceptional. It wasn’t just because of its peculiar storyline but also because of the role that she carried impeccably. Seen playing a sex worker in the 2003 film Chameli, there’s nothing you can ignore about the bold red saree she chose to don. With a bright red lip, tiny & contrasting blouse, and the low-slung waist, she made even sensual look stunning! Despite the loud makeup that Kareena’s character was required to wear, in reality, it’s the saree that caught our attention.
Priyanka Chopra in the song Desi Girl
Now, coming to the current day & time, there’s one song & one saree that remains admirable to all of us. Not just the boys, but us gals too were smitten with Priyanka Chopra’s slinky drape in Dostana’s chart-topping dance number Desi Girl. Played at every party, every festival and every celebration, it crept into our minds and never really left. Women of all ages, couldn’t help themselves from perfecting the hook step, and we’re guilty as charged too. Talking about the metallic saree that stole all our hearts – well, that was a thing of absolute beauty! So fluid, so glam and just so diva-esque; there’s nothing we didn’t love about the Manish Malhotra saree, and let’s not forget the dazzling bikini blouse!
We love seeing the saree take centre stage in our favourite movies! So if this throwback makes you want to go on a Bollywood binge, you’re not alone. If it makes you want to recreate the looks on the list, again, you’re not the only one!
Image Credits: Pinterest