THE SWIRLING ANARKALI

I fell in love with the anarkali ensemble when I saw Musafar Ali's Umrao Jaan.

Whatever the movie did, or did not, do in the history of films -- yes, yes, it had great music by Khayyam, an award-winning performance, old-world visuals, honey-coated Urdu poetry, etc., etc., -- is another story. But it did one BIG thing for sure: it resurrected the anarkali.

The anrkali was seen in historical movies and period dramas. And, yes, even in modern films in the odd kotha number. It had it's moment of fame (Pakeezah, Razia Sultan) and notoriety (plunging-neckline-khota-numbers-by-vamps), only to fade away into obscurity.

But Musafar's Umrao Jaan breathed new life into this old robe. Musafar is not only the director of the movie, but is also a gifted couturier. When I met him at a fashion show (years after the movie and years before this blog), the first question I asked him was: what happened to the outfits in the movie! I was assured that all was well with them.