Anuradha, who has designed for Sonam Kapoor and Rani Mukherji, states she could emotionally connect to the story the minute she read the script. And then onwards she began to see the characters through Bhansali's eyes.
"Sanjayji described his characters with great intensity, giving me an idea of the complete emotional landscape. He would tell me about the vulnerability and innocence in the character of Sakina, which is played by Sonam Kapoor. He would describe in great detail the turmoil she goes through. He would talk about Gulab (Rani Mukherji), the prostitute's character with as much zest and passion."
The common chord that binds Bhansali and Anuradha is their profound passion for kathak and thumris. The duo share deep appreciation for Islamic arts too. "Somewhere these elements have also influenced the look. The costumes are artistic and more importantly quiet. They add to the character without distracting, subtly enhancing the visual beauty without overpowering the frame. There is a quality of timelessness in the narrative which has naturally reflected in the costumes. Silhouettes are inspired by classical costumes which have stood the test of time. The colour palette came totally from the colours of the film which were predetermined, essentially blacks and blues," reveals Anuradha.
"Indigenous techniques like hand appliqué, ikat weaving and rarest forms of embroidery like marori and kalabattun are used to create unusual and immensely beautiful pieces," she adds.
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