The second installment of Ponniyin Selvan is running successfully in the theatres and the love it is receiving is immense. Directed by Mani Ratnam, PS2 or Ponniyin Selvan 2 is a sequel to the hit Ponniyin Selvan: 1 based on the novel by Kalki Krishnamurthy. While the breathtaking visuals, glorious background score, regal costumes and the stellar cast of Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Jayam Ravi, Karthi, Vikram, Trisha, Aishwarya Lekshmi, Sobhita Dhulipala certainly take the cake, the film’s promotion looks were equally talked about.
From serene sarees and anarkalis donned by the ladies and suave sits and spunky travel gears sported by dapper men, all the looks flaunted by the actors were distinct, yet in sync with their film’s characters. Peepingmoon.com got in touch with the film’s costume designer and off-screen stylist Eka Lakhani, who decoded the style statements made by the actors during promotions.
Excerpts from the interview:
Q. You have been both an on-screen costume designer and an off-screen stylist for the cast’s looks for both PS1 and PS2. Did you make a conscious effort to inculcate every actor’s character persona in their promotional looks?
When it comes to on-screen film designing, we were just playing by the characters. You keep the actor’s body type in mind, what suits them and mold it into the characters they are playing. So when it was for the film, we only went with what the character required. Whereas, I absolutely enjoyed styling the off-screen looks for PS1 and PS2 promotions. For the promotional looks, we kept the mood of the film intact which was speaking of our culture and bringing our heritage to life. So for off-screen we still use the essence of the film but for styling we incorporated their persona, what works with them, and what they would like to wear on a daily basis. But we’ve molded them close to what they would be in the modern-day versions of the characters. And we did with most of the characters. The best part was when the styling of the promotions received so much attention, it was a bonus for us that we not only cracked the film looks but also managed to crack the promotion looks very well.
Q. How would you differentiate the styling between the promotional looks of both films?
I think the styling for PS1 was more traditional, rooted and Indian. In PS2 we got a little lighter and experimented. The men from wearing only Kurtas and bundis moved on to jackets and blazers. The women as well, we’ve not only kept them in suits or sarees. We experimented with Western silhouettes. So I feel even though we have tried western clothes we still kept the essence, the classiness very intact. So while the styling was very different – PS1 was an introduction to the world we were entering into, PS2 was the world we now knew and just wanted to have fun.
Q. We all know that curating one look takes a village. How did you manage styling not two but five lead members of the cast?
I feel I have a wonderful team. We denoted different assistants to each actor. We worked on the whole schedule of the promotions beforehand. We did the fittings, and tentatively locked the looks we like, then our jewellery designer Pratiskha from Kishandas comes into play. We send her the images we liked and we put together the jewellery. Once the jewellery and the outfits are together, we show them to the actors. In spite of trying to do our prep in advance, there is always chaos and last minute additions-subtractions on the day of promotions. Promotions are known to be hectic and this one was as hectic as it can get. But I think we have created some memorable looks and I am very happy with the outcome.
Q. How would you describe your experience of working with Aishwarya Rai Bachchan?
My work experience with Ash Ma’am started way back in 2008-2009 when I was a costume intern at Mani Sir’s Raavan. Since then, I have learned a lot about her. She is a perfectionist, she wants everything to be done to perfection and she expects that from her team and that’s what we had in mind every single day when we styled her for the promotions. My journey with her in PS was a complete circle of my work life I feel- starting with her and 10-12 years later coming back with her and Mani Sir on another film, it was just a beautiful journey.
Q. Which of the 5- Aishwarya, Sobhita, Trisha, Jayam Ravi or Vikram, has been more open to experimentation?
I think Vikram sir came in with the mood of experimentation. His mood board was experimenting with different silhouettes. He wanted to try boho looks. He has long hair and beard right now so we wanted to work something that went with it. We wanted to do some boho chic and fun looks for his airport gears and for the events we wanted to do a lot of suits, waistcoats, and double-breasted jackets. So I think we experimented a lot with Vikram Sir and it was a lot of fun.
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