Will Bollywood's Saga Of 'Sarees In Snow-Clad Mountains' End?

Imagine being a girl who's dreamt of this scene: wearing a simple saree, hair flowing, doing slow-motion shots against a snowy backdrop. Let's be real, we've all had this fantasy at some point! But hold on, did anyone actually think, How on earth is this even practical? Who came up with this illogical yet captivating idea, and why does it make no sense but still seem so dreamy?

Not long ago, Anushka Sharma in Ae Dil Hai Mushkil became a representative of many such women and revealed how tough pulling off that scene could be. 

It was Karan Johar's directorial, and he kind of burst the bubble for all of us. In reality, scenes like these seem weird because wearing a saree in the freezing cold just doesn't seem practical or real. And, actors wearing sarees in super cold weather has never made any sense. But somehow, for Yash Chopra, it has proven to be one of the best creative ideas!

Many famous actors have made a lasting impression by wearing sarees in the scenery. Sridevi was one who made chiffon sarees famous by wearing a yellow one across the green meadows of the Swiss Alps in Yash Chopra's movie Chandni. Her flowy style, long hair, and simple makeup made everyone instantly fall for her.

Yash Chopra talking about his vision once said, "Women are beautiful, and it's my job to show that beauty." It is said that the late director used clothes to express emotions without needing words. Though Sridevi would've looked great in that saree even with a leather jacket, a woollen sweater, or a shawl, it was Yash Chopra's idea that turned this into a big trend later on.

Moreover, Johar recently paid homage to Chopra in his latest movie Rocky aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani. He shared that the song Tum Kya Mile, featuring Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt, was his way of honouring Chopra's style—capturing romance in snowy landscapes with sarees.

Johar even revealed that this was Alia Bhatt's first shoot after her daughter Raha Kapoor's birth, and expressed regret for making her shoot in the snowy Kashmir in a saree. Speaking about this particular scene, Bhatt mentioned, "Putting a puffer jacket over that chiffon saree would have spoiled the look." But she also shared, "What often goes unnoticed is the team's effort in taking care of the actor on set. You don't see the heaters around or the leg warmers I had on."

Back in the past, unlike today's considerations for comfort on sets, Rani Mukerji shared how such concerns weren't prevalent. Recalling her experience, she mentioned the challenges faced during the filming of a song, saying, "I was wearing a red saree in that song (Tumhi Dekho Naa), and I actually froze. I couldn’t walk. And one of my cousins, who was also AD-ing him, Ayan (Mukerji), had to literally carry me to my car because I had frozen… If you see the song, in the lip-sync, my lips are frozen. I’m trying to sing it, and it looks sensuous, but it’s not sensuous actually."

Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna's Tumhi Dekho Naa featured six colour-themed sequences, each adorned with a matching saree and mini choli designed by Manish Malhotra. While these outfits delighted our fashion senses, they left Mukerji feeling quite the opposite. Seems like while directors focus on their vision, they might miss the discomfort behind the scenes!

Will Bollywood Move Past Old Conventions?

Not only do actors undergo physical and emotional strain to fulfil the demands of the scene or the director's vision, but these unrealistic scenes, featuring impractical clothing in extreme conditions, also sparked a desire in viewers to replicate the movie's aesthetic. However, in the present era of storytelling, there's a prevailing emphasis on authenticity and connections that viewers can genuinely relate to. Directors prioritise crafting narratives, characters, and plots that resonate with the audience's experiences and emotions. This shift toward relatability appears to have led to a decline in the prevalence of exaggerated or unrealistic displays.

However, this recent example from Animal once again demonstrated the same. Who have you witnessed donning a saree alone at the renowned Kedarnath Temple in Uttarakhand, nestled amidst the mountains as Rashmika Mandanna did?

Views expressed are the author's own.