What’s in a Name?

As she sampled the world around her through a pair of opera glasses,Charulata embodied wide eyed curiosity. Her samplings may have been limited to the goings on of her part of the world,but the spirit of Charulata was hungry for more. Such was the impact of the opening scene of Satyajit Ray’s 1964 film that it’s still hailed as one of the most important cinematic experiences of our times. Pradeep Sarkar has repeatedly tried to capture the essence of the scene in his music videos and films,Sanjay Leela Bhansali too paid his homage to the iconic scene by making a giggling Aishwarya Rai peep through her opera glasses as she hid behind gaudy stained glass windows in Devdas. Yet, when designers Dev and Nil announce that their latest collection to be showcased at the forthcoming Kolkata Fashion Week,will be called,‘Through Charulata’s Opera Glasses’,you cant help be taken aback. Especially,when you realize that the collection has nothing to do with brocade Benarasi sarees and vintage kurtas. “Our collection is about Charulata’s spirit. It is primarily a contemporary,Western collection,but the mood of it is inspired by the iconic scene from the film,” says Dev.

If the nomenclature of Dev and Nil’s collection seems a little confusing,then consider the title Varun Bahl’s collection which was showcased at the recently-concluded Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week. It’s called ‘Bitter Chocolate’,but the name of the collection,claims Bahl,has nothing to do with the generous use of the colour brown in it. “Bitter chocolate is a healthier option to plain milk chocolate,as we all know. Which is why,it’s a sensible indulgence. Through my collection,I wanted to make a potent comment on the fashion world in this recession-hit world. Fashion now should be all about sensible indulgence,” says Bahl.

Like Bahl,Kolkata designer Vivek Kumar too attaches intellectual musings to the title of his collection. The collection which he is going to showcase in the forthcoming Lakme India Fashion Week is called Ant Shastra (End of Weaponry). So,should we expect warrior princes prowling the ramp with bows and arrows in tow? “Not really. But the collection is about war. It’s an appeal for peace?” Kumar claims.

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Kallol Datta’s collection for the forthcoming Lakme India Fashion Week,Verbal Autopsy,is an appeal too. It’s an appeal for a sane voice in “what can be best defined as Babel”. “Everyone is voicing their unwanted opinion on every possible topic nowadays. It’s been a long while since everyone shut up,” claims Datta. The collection which reflects Datta’s irreverent attitude,is all about grunge. “I use my work as a front to gauge people’s mood. The title of my collection reflects that very fact,” says Datta.

Anamika Khanna,however,doesn’t care much for the name of her collection. Her creative impulses are directed towards other thing. “Putting the collection together takes away all my time. I don’t have any energy left to brainstorm on its title,” she says.