Although the costumes in Bollywood movies differ in style, they all share one factor: rich, vibrant colors. While in India, I noticed the fashion on the street was similarly colorful--a bright purple sari was more common than a dull brown one. Though Bollywood and street fashion definitely influence each other, the colors in Bollywood costumes have more significance than just looking pretty. Many colors symbolize different aspects of the character's personality or even hint at that character's future.
Of course, the use of colors as symbols is not unique to Bollywood costumes. The costumes of Western theater use colors for added meaning as well--pastels for the love-struck ingenue, dark reds and blacks for the villain. Though some colors and their associations are shared in both Western theater and Bollywood, many colors have entirely different meanings in India.
The color white is often used in Western theater to symbolize youth and purity. Alternatively, it can symbolize wealth and high status. In India, white symbolizes peace. However, it is also the color used in mourning. For example, the Indian movie Water, which documents the life of a widow, has the main character wearing a white sari for movie. The reason for white is because white is devoid of color, and therefore a widow wearing white is disconnected from the luxuries of life around her.
Below is the poster art for the film Water:
_cover_art.jpg)
Of course, the use of colors as symbols is not unique to Bollywood costumes. The costumes of Western theater use colors for added meaning as well--pastels for the love-struck ingenue, dark reds and blacks for the villain. Though some colors and their associations are shared in both Western theater and Bollywood, many colors have entirely different meanings in India.
The color white is often used in Western theater to symbolize youth and purity. Alternatively, it can symbolize wealth and high status. In India, white symbolizes peace. However, it is also the color used in mourning. For example, the Indian movie Water, which documents the life of a widow, has the main character wearing a white sari for movie. The reason for white is because white is devoid of color, and therefore a widow wearing white is disconnected from the luxuries of life around her.
Below is the poster art for the film Water:
_cover_art.jpg)
In the 2009 revival of the musical Ragtime, costume designer Santo Loquasto has the people of New Rochelle--the upper class, rich, white family--all wear completely white costumes.
In the 2010 revival of A Little Night Music, Anne, the young, innocent new wife, is dressed in all white.
These differences in how costume designers use the color white are interesting to study, as they are based in the country's culture and the preconceived associations with these colors. Next time, I'll look at red!
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