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Journalism of Courage
I don’t think an item of clothing has garnered as much newsprint space and television airtime as Salman Khans ripping shirt in Dabangg. Its a scene so typical in movies of yore,the beaten up hero is reminded how the goon killed his mother and lo and behold,he turns into Popeye. His biceps and pectorals tear open his shirt. We dont mean buttons popping or seams opening,the shirt is tattered as if it were sent through an exhaust fan.
Eat your hear out Sonam Kapoor,you thought you made a fashion statement or two in Aisha. Meet Salman Khan,whose every twitch is emulated by a nation of one billion,who makes craziness and corniness so cool,whose movies are hyper hits and who exists despite logic. Theres another fashion faux pas thats soon to be all the rage with the street-style of the taporis: hanging your sunglasses off your back collar. In his inimitable humour,Salman offers the worst cliché when asked why: he says so he can see whats going on behind him. From the ridiculous to the roguish.
Films and fashion have been a tag-team even before we were ready to admit it. The influence of cinema and its reach into the consciousness of masses have made anything that comes out of filmdom highly powerful.
While we in fashion have made fun of the tastelessness that cinema promotes,theres no belying the sour grapes. In fact,never before have more models turned actors in the history of Indian cinema until now. And most designers,even the top-end ones,wish for a star-laden front row or at least one on the runway. In the same way,actors are aching for a nod from the fashion world too. An actor,even if you have the mighty talent of Vidya Balan,isnt forgiven her sartorial errors. Madhuri Dixit and her triangular tips would have never survived today.
But much before fashion magazines and blogs became the all-in-one destination for that kind of window shopping,we got our styling tips from the eccentric actors of our favourite flicks: like Amitabh Bachchans knotted shirts. Fashion in films hasnt always been an eyesore. Amitabh Bachchan wore delicious safari suits in many films,including Kabhi Kabhi. Neetu Singhs wardrobe in the same film is a personal favourite. The omni-elegant Simi Garewals wardrobe in Karz seemed as if it inspired Fendi itself. Sadhanas fringe,Waheeda Rahmans bouffant,Asha Parekhs body-hug kurtas inspired an entire populace.
There have been several films made recently that have label-pushed to a point of senselessness: Aisha and Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna are two,as is that godawful Sex in the City. None are anywhere close to Madhur Bhandarkars Fashion,Ben Stillers Zoolander or the Meryl Streep-starrer The Devil Wears Prada.
Salmans shirtlessness is more than him exhibiting his,well,exhibitionist tendencies. Its also a slap in the face of pretentious fashion. What Salman says and every true-blue fashionista must agree: real style comes from within. Even if he means it a little too literally.
(namratanow@gmail.com)
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