The Bollywood fantasy: clothes and their characters

This course appreciates the creation of fantasy through depiction of society and clothing in Hindi Cinema.

Fantasy, fashion, stereotypes…

In eight sessions you learn to understand how clothing is used to develop characters in Bollywood cinema.

Each session looks at a specific theme, with focuses on one film as point of appreciation during a weekly online class. The relation of clothing and how it constructs the characters, uses metaphor resulting in creating a fantasy, will be analyzed.

The course introduces you to spices of- sprouting romance, bubbling dance sequences, melody of songs, sticky stereotypes, all served with tadka of melodrama. The course concludes with a finale session where you will recreate a fantasy by dressing-up and photographing yourself as one of the character from the films reviewed.

Session 4 is about ‘Interpreting the international fashion movement‘ and how this has been adopted in mainstream Hindi films

This course is developed by LOkesh Ghai: textile artist, researcher & design educator. You can sign up via thebollywoodfantasycourse@gmail.com

Session schedule

• SESSION 1: THE SILENT ERA, A NARRATIVE THROUGH CLOTHING
  Communication through clothing in the silent era would be appreciated. This is also a time prior to censorship becoming more formal; formulas are being created, rules are tested.
• SESSION 2 & 3: FASHION AND SOCIETY, IN GURU DUTT’S DIRECTION
  Guru Dutt, the Orson Welles of India Cinema brings out the nuances of characters though depiction of fashion of the times. This two-part session would analyze his usage of the masala- ingredients of popular cinema, the flavor of his film is philosophical. How does he wardrobes its characters?
• SESSION 4 & 5: AESTHETIC OF THE COURTESAN’S CULTURE
  The courtesan and their attires have been central to popular Hindi Cinema. This two parts session would illuminate the erotic and elegant depiction of clothes and their performers. The courtesan’s character emerged as the first group of single working women.

• SESSION 6: INTERPRETING INTERNATIONAL FASHION MOVEMENT
  Immerse in a fashion sub culture, clothes and music. Focus of the session would be to examine and enjoy example of an international cultural movement adopted in mainstream Hindi film.
• SESSION 7: SPICES FROM RURAL INDIA
  This session would appreciate the indigenous clothing in the rural landscape. Picture the beauty of melancholy, of a slow village life, an antithesis of mainstream cinema and fashion!
• SESSION 8: SCRIPTING AN ALTER PERSONALITY
  What happens when the story takes the title character to a different world? How does she adapt to a new lifestyle, clothes and customs?
• SESSION 9: HIDDEN DESIRES- CENSORED VOICES
  Explore hidden desires, a quest to full fill fantasy in a black comedy, a rare coming of age melodrama set in present India.
• FINALE SESSION: A HAPPY ENDING
  Dress to impress. This session would celebrate the recreation of an iconic look straight out form anyone of the film appreciated during the course.