Samantha Ruth Prabhu in director Gunasekhar’s ‘Shakuntalam’ | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
It took Neeta Lulla and her team around eight months of planning and creation to design over 3,000 outfits for the entire cast of the mythological drama. Shakuntalam. Directed by Gunasekhar, it stars Samantha Ruth Prabhu in the title role. The Telugu film is an adaptation of Kalidasa’s play Abhijnanasakuntalam and is scheduled to hit the theaters on 14th April in multiple languages.
For Neeta, who has been designing since the mid-1980s and has over 300 films to her credit, shakuntalam prompted him to delve into childhood memories. “We had a few paintings, five feet tall, depicting the story of Shakuntala in our house while she was growing up. I clearly remember ethereal images of Shakuntala and another image of the fish and the ring from the story,” she says.
feeling ethereal
Neetha worked with director Gunasekhar for his 2015 Telugu period drama Rudramadevi Starring Anushka Shetty and was familiar with his penchant for larger-than-life period and historical dramas. since shakuntalam It has its roots in mythology, she mentioned versions Chandamama And Amar Chitra Katha, “It was tempting to translate those fairytale-like scenes on screen for a romance drama. Unlike a period-specific historical drama, the research was not difficult.
Samantha Ruth Prabhu in director Gunasekhar’s ‘Shakuntalam’ | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Period dramas for which Neeta has designed costumes include Devdas, Jodha Akbar And Thalaivi. work for him Devdas And Jodha Akbar In 2002 and 2008 she received the National Award for Best Costume Design. shakuntalam Assured her to keep things simple yet classy.
For the parts unfolding in the forests, Neeta sourced flow fine count organic cotton and mal from weaver clusters near Visakhapatnam, Pochampally and Kanchipuram. Preference was given to clothes using vegetable dyes. “We wanted to recreate the look of a bygone era while still making it appealing to contemporary audiences. We have designed in such a way that the silhouette adds to the sensuality of Shakuntala for the portions where she meets King Dushyant (Dev Mohan) in the jungles. “For Samantha, Dev and everyone else, we did not use any fabric dyed in factory-made chemical dyes as it would have been too attention-grabbing and flashy for that era. We still used vegetable dye when we wanted vibrant, jewel-toned outfits.
Samantha Ruth Prabhu and Dev Mohan in ‘Shakuntalam’ | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
floral accessories
Neeta’s team kept sketching the different looks of Samantha and Dev both in the jungle and on the court. A factory-like production was conducted to check the fitting of the outfits for each member of the cast. Also, a team was involved in making floral jewelery for Shakuntala and her friends. “Fresh flowers would arrive around 5.30 am and a team would make flower jewellery-garlands, flowers for hair, armlets and other accessories. I used to make some intricate patterns myself,” adds Neeta.
Neeta coordinated with Vasundhara Jewelers based in Hyderabad for the jewellery. “For Dev’s outfit, we wanted lion motifs on his shoulders and jewelery that looked like a body harness. The clothes were studded with pearls and gems along with hand embroidery. The jewelery team came up with sketches and prototypes to which modifications were made. Neck pieces, hair accessories, jeweled blouse buttons, pendants, armlets, bangles with motifs of animals and birds were designed. “It required technical expertise and the team was very receptive to suggestions,” says Nita.
Designer Neeta Lulla | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Neetha’s association with the Telugu film industry dates back to the time she designed for Sridevi for the fantasy drama Jagadeka Veerudu Athilok Sundari The heist thriller co-starring Chiranjeevi and Ram Gopal Varma moment by moment Starring Sridevi and Venkatesh. “The directors are very aware of what they want from the costume department and there is a seamless coordination at the visualization stage. This is an industry that respects its technicians,” she says.
In recent years, Neeta also designed for Krish Jagarlamudi’s Telugu period drama Gautamiputra Satakarni, She is now working on Pawan Kalyan’s new Telugu film directed by Samuthirakani.
Simultaneously, he and his team are busy coordinating the film starring Kangana Ranaut. Chandramukhi 2 in Tamil. Lets discuss that topic and Neeta says its too early to discuss it now.
Ask her how she has designed for over 300 films and if there is any way to choose her work, she laughs and says, “I am a greedy technician who wants more work, and fortunately there are challenging projects. Which is research worthy. Kept coming my way.