Wednesday, November 29, 2006

Fashion Smorgasbord

One of my all-time favorite Bollywood films is Main Khiladi Tu Anari (1994). It's just got it ALL - genuine AND unintentional comedy, some good songs, Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan... I find it delightful. And it has got some of the most excessive fashion ever seen on screen - too much of everything.

The backup dancers were particularly ill-dressed in this film. Note the ankle boots and black leggings paired with the be-sequined and be-feathered tutus.

Here in a closeup we can see the overall design confusion - Too Much Of Everything. Simplicity and one overarching theme is not in this designer's playbook.

From a distance, it appears the girls are wearing cheerleader costumes; they have just discarded the pom-poms and twirling batons they entered with. The skirts are sequined, they are wearing visors, and playing flutes. Like all cheerleaders do.

Not content with an actual cheerleader costume, our designer has chosen to give the girls ruched tube tops with spaghetti straps, and hoop earrings with wide choker necklaces.

What has to be the most embarrassing male backup dancer costume in the history of Bollywood. Gentlemen, I am so very sorry.

It's difficult to get a clear shot of the jacket Saif is wearing in this number, but the sleeves are hung with chains, and the front of the jacket is covered with medallions, crosses, and other large silver pendants.

Here we have Akshay and Shilpa Shetty in the "Churake Dil Mera" number. Shilpa wears a different animal for each location; red Leopard for making out on the beach...

...Zebra for frolicking dockside...

...Tiger for rolling around in the grass...

...and the most endangered of them all, Linoleum for boating. Note that with Akshay, we get not only the gold chain and open shirt of the 70s, but also the Miami Vice pastel jacket with the pushed-up sleeves.

I may need to create an entire post just for Shakti Kapoor's wardrobe.

5 comments:

DesiDancer said...

overwhelming fug!

I actually uttered "GAH!" outloud at the horrid male backup dancer shrug get-ups.

Beth Loves Bollywood said...

WOW. Spectacular. Those silver shrugs are godawful. They have rocked to the short list for Worst Backup Dancer Outfits in Bollywood (Male) (the award for costumes shared by both genders has of course already been claimed by Disco Dancer); only time will tell if we find something worse.

Also thank you for the closeup of the woman in yellow - god is in the details.

t-HYPE said...

Um, Shannon Doherty's people shouldn't have let them put her cousin in the "Big Bird meets cabaret" outfit.

Anonymous said...

spectafugular!!

www.granada-3d.com said...

Goodness, there is really much worthwhile information above!