Comfortable and fun, traditional with a touch of the contemporary, festive yet subtle and stylish enough to turn heads in the crowd— if this is what you have in mind for your Puja lookbook this year, reach out for Bengal’s very own taant (handloom). The varied designs, motifs and weaves offer options aplenty for the five days of celebrations.
For this shoot with Arpita Chatterjee, we have gone beyond a taant sari alone and looked at different silhouettes that make for comfy chic styles.
Post shoot we caught up with Arpita for a quick chat. Your sari love is no secret. How would you describe your love affair with saris?
I’m a traditional person but very contemporary in my way of thinking, so I feel sari is such an outfit which has a very traditional touch yet can be presented in a contemporary way. That’s why I love this outfit. If you see my Instagram posts, my saris are mostly always traditional. I wear handlooms, which is timeless, and with proper styling can be presented in a contemporary way too. I love the original weaves because they never go out of style.
A Bengali wardrobe will have taant sari for sure. Do you have a favourite one?
No, there is nothing specific. More or less, all my saris are my favourites. Any sari which is comfortable and easy to wear becomes my favourite!
What do you love about handloom outfits?
A lot of developments are happening in India with regard to handlooms. The skills of our handloom weavers are unmatched, so I really support and love handlooms because that represents the tradition of our Indian culture. There’s a huge industry that is working in the handwoven sector. The main reason for loving a handloom outfit is that it’s very comfortable, it’s rooted and made out of natural fabrics.
Do you like sporting taant fabric in traditional styles or in contemporary styles like we tried for your lookbook?
(l-r) While you keep the regal shades for Navami night, go for this bright blue for the Navami morning adda and Insta clicks with friends. Abhisek draped this broad-border Parama cotton sari in a dhoti style with a polka-dotted blouse. The blouse comes with a blazer-style neckline and has been styled like a bow for a playful vibe. A pair of long geometric earrings and glasses adds further cool to the look, Just like a black dress is a must for a stylista, so is a Jamdani for a Bengali. Marry the two together and you have a fabulous look. The trendy copper zari design and the useful pockets on both sides makes this one from Bhomra a show-stealer!
I don’t mind sporting a taant in either way, whether it is draped in a traditional way or made contemporary. I’m comfortable in both. I style it as per the ocassion.
Are you coming to Calcutta for Durga Puja?
As a Bengali, there’s always some excitement for Durga Puja, but since I stay mostly in Delhi now for my work, I don’t get the opportunity for a weeklong celebration.
Does the Puja madness of the city still appeal to you or are you fond of Pujas spent at home with friends and family?
Puja madness is something I’ve left behind… in the past. During childhood, I used to go pandal-hopping with friends. But now, as I said, I’ll have to work during the first few days of Durga Puja being in Delhi. But needless to say, wherever I am, I would never miss Ashtami anjali and I’d definitely grab some bhog!
What are you looking forward to most during this Puja?
The thing I look forward to during Durga Puja is that I can go for cheat diets like bhog, luchi, aloo’r dum and biryani… which I rarely eat. So, I allow myself to indulge as much as I can.
(left) Durga Puja is always incomplete without a touch of white and red in the Puja wardrobe. This bright red sari from Parama paired with the white Dhakai blouse is for the Ashtami-r ‘Baangali saaj’. Smokey eyes, the jhumkas and the sleek neckpiece complete the look.
(middle) Bohurupi Santiniketan dressed Arpita in this elegant Dhanekhali asymmetric dress for a Saptami morning look. The signature khejur chori work in yellow and black on the basic white makes this an easy-breezy outfit. The large pair of jhumkas, Arpita’s side-parted hair and the nude make-up add to the overall charm of this simple look.
(right) This Jamdani suit worn teamed with a Jamdani corset is from Bohurupi Santiniketan. Perfect for immersing in the festive fun straight from work.
What is your Puja wish for this year?
I have been noticing everyone around me is falling sick because of viral fever or dengue so my wish is for everyone to have a healthy and happy Puja!
One of your earliest films Utsab was centred around Durga Puja. Since then till now it has been over two decades for you in the industry in various roles. How do you look back at your journey?
I think the journey was influenced by the way my life spanned out according to the circumstances around me. Like I took a sabbatical from acting, while I had six movies signed and waiting to go on the floors.... The sabbatical continued after my childbirth and lasted for about seven years. So you see, the prime period of an actress’s life was traded off for the sake of the family. Post that, I was not keen to continue with acting as my prime focus. So, I placed myself behind the camera as a producer first and now as a director. But for the past 13 years or so my career has been all about my business.
Goddess Durga is considered as the epitome of power. Apart from that charming smile, what do you consider your superpower?
My superpower is that I never got dominated whether by any adversity or by life around me. I live life on my own terms and face every challenge that life fairly or unfairly throws at me. And I go to bed every night, thinking that I have not compromised my self-respect and I have been able to live another day with my head held high. For a woman, there is no bigger superpower than this. If every woman of our country realises this superpower which they have, our country will certainly reach the pinnacle again.
HAIR AND MAKE-UP NOTES:
“The make-up for this lookbook is very fresh and light. We have gone a little heavier on the eyes. For most of the shots, I used eyeliner to line out the eyes, but in the spectacle shots, the eyes are a little smokey. We have not used kajal because the make-up is a little heavy on the upper lids. The base is very fresh with blush and mostly with pink lips. Arpita’s hair is short, so we styled it differently for some shots,” said Aniruddha Chakladar, hair and make-up pro.
STYLIST SPEAK:
“Handloom is comfortable to wear and can be tried on by styling it in different ways. It has a traditional appeal, but can be fun at the same time. The different patterns and designs on handloom allows one to create different looks for all five festive days while keeping the looks comfortable at the same time,” said Roy Abhisek.
Jewellery: Earthaments
Styling: Roy Abhisek
Hair and make-up: Aniruddha Chakladar
Location: Ecohub, Newtown