MUMBAI: Sarees are quite famous, both in India and the rest of the world, and have become a hallmark of Indian culture. They also feature prominently in Indian cinema and pop culture, securing their place among the hallmarks of cultural wear that have lasted for centuries.
Many non-Indian viewers might not tell one saree from the other, but for Indians it is a whole other realm of knowledge. Among the many sarees that are increasingly featured in cinema are the Nauvari sarees, which also happen to be quite popular even in formal occasions and celebrities donning them frequently. They also feature in numerous movies as well, as we will discuss in this article covering four movies. If you are in need of some fashion inspiration as well, this is a great place to start.
Why Nauvari sarees are quite popular in cinema
The Nauvari saree is unlike any other in terms of its simplicity and elegance. Even though it takes on a traditional approach, it is still graceful and beautiful, and that is why it has continued to survive hundreds of years without the risk of losing its popularity. This has eventually spread its wings to the Bollywood industry, as many actresses wear it for their roles.
It originally came from the women of Maharashtra, also known as Marathi women, and comes mainly in cotton for a comfortable feel, you can check out one of the best Nauvari sarees online. Unlike other sarees though, one can wear it without a petticoat, as the origins go back to war times when women wanted to assist fellow male warriors.
Nauvari sarees in popular Indian movies
Panipat – Kriti Sanon
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Kriti Sanon made her acting debut back in 2014, thanks to Heropanti where she co-starred alongside Tiger Shroff, and she went on to do more movies over the years, becoming one of the best actresses in the country.
Panipat was among her biggest challenges she did because of the physically demanding nature of the role. Since it was a period drama, she needed to do plenty of physical sequences in order to capture the feeling of the historical setting – and she did a good job at that.
Nauvari sarees were a big part of that role, in addition to her picking up of sword fighting skills due to her role as a wife of a commander-in-chief. The movie itself is about the Maratha Empire and its grip on 1700s Hindustan and surrounding regions.
The actress also stated that performing all her tasks while wearing the saree was a challenge, which she eventually learnt to overcome, as she had to constantly carry a dhal and heavy sword while maintaining correct posture. However, the experience has taught her plenty of things, and the work she had done in previous films such as Raabta gave her an advantage because of knowing how to carry herself.
Tanaji – Kajol
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Tanaji is among the most anticipated films of 2020 in the Indian biographical genre, and set in the 17th century – giving it the perfect background for Nauvari sarees to make their mark. The main actress in the production, Kajol, has a major role in ensuring this comes to life, and these costumes make a mark.
The film is set to be released in early 2020, so there is not much information on the saree looks that feature. However, due to its setting and high anticipation from the trailer alone, we can be sure that it will be a treat for saree enthusiasts everywhere.
Mankarnika – Kangana Ranawat & Ankita Lokhande
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Landing its spot among the highest grossing Indian films of the past five years, it lived up to its reputation as one of the most captivating Indian films portraying historical pieces in the 1700s. In particular, Kangana Ranawat’s main actress role and Ankita Lokhande’s supporting roles have many people excited due to the elegant costumes and performances they have done in the past as well.
Ankita was set to play the role of a Dalit woman, and her photos were leaked earlier from the set – even months before the film was released. Pictures show that aside from her green Nauvari saree, she also wore traditional jewellery, although it was not as heavy – in order to emphasize the beauty of her saree. She can pull off any looks she has, and even during promotional activities for the film, she changed into different sarees throughout these events.
Ankita Lokhande’s look was equally as impressive, and her stunning royal looks made many fall in love with her. Among her many looks from the film, she wore a Nauvari saree along with a traditionally-styled waist belt andsimple jewellery to balance out the look.
Bajirao Mastani – Priyanka Chopra & Deepika Padukone
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Bajirao Mastani holds a special place in the hearts of numerous Indian cinema enthusiasts – not just because of the story and setting, but also for the people involved in it production and the costumes featured in it. telling the story of a warrior that falls in love, the performance s from everyone involved were really good – even from Deepika Padukone and Priyanka Chopra.
Priyanka played the role of Kashibai, the first wife of Peshwa Bajirao. Since her character was a Brahmin woman in the Peshwa era of Indian society, she wore plenty of beautifully designed Paithani sarees. However, some of her best looks from the production include her assortment of Nauvari sarees, which she wore with crescent moon bindi, Maharashtrian jewellery nath, and golden jhumkis – all which are very special to every Marathi woman. To make her character look more authentic, she had minimal jewellery and a little colour on her lips.
In fact, Priyanka had an assortment of 85 Nauvari sarees for this production alone, while Deepika Padukone looked stunning in her outfits as well. Deepika took on the role of Bajirao’s second wife, which meant that she also had plenty of Nauvari sarees in her collection too.
Deepika took on the regal look with her own collection, such as in certain scenes when she wears a red Nauvari saree along with a red velvet blouse. The look is quite traditional in its approach, but pairs well with her gold jewellery that she wore in these scenes.
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