Actor Prateik Babbar managed to turn heads during his appearance at the Manthan screening at the recently concluded 77th Cannes Film Festival by fashioning a suit-pant combo made from his late mother Smita Patil’s Kanjeevaram sarees. The screening, a part of the Cannes’ Classics Section, showcased the 1976 film, resorted by the Film Heritage Foundation.
Designed by Rahul Vijay, the outfit was a masterpiece, blending tradition with contemporary style. Sharing insights into the outfit’s creation process, Rahul, in a long social media post, expressed gratitude to Prateik for entrusting him with his late mother’s wardrobe. The challenge lay in merging feminine pieces with Babbar’s masculine aesthetic. “When Prateik called me up asking me to dress him up for the Indian premiere of #Manthan… I knew I had to bring in elements of Smita Patil’s style into his look. Now this was challenging because we were getting womenswear pieces & moreover we didn’t know what we would end up finding from Smita Patil’s wardrobe that would match Prateik’s style,” he wrote.
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With help from Prateik’s aunt, they selected two exquisite silk Kanjeevaram sarees, meticulously preserved over the years. The design journey was marked by innovation and collaboration, as Rahul sought to marry Indian textiles with modern silhouettes. Consulting with Monica Shah of Jade by MK, they devised a cropped double-breasted tuxedo in plain black silk, accented with the pinstripe pattern from one saree fashioned into wide-legged pants. The red border of the second saree adorned the sleeves, adding a touch of elegance and continuity to the ensemble.
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This unique creation not only exemplified sustainable fashion but also carried profound emotional significance. It showcased the timeless beauty of Indian textiles while honouring Smita’s enduring legacy. “We wanted to keep the silhouette very, very modern considering we were recycling Indian sarees. I always like the juxtaposition of Indian textiles with modern silhouettes. And finally, we decided on a cropped double-breasted tuxedo in plain black silk & we recycled the second pinstriped saree into wide-legged pants and used the red border of the saree as trims on the sleeves ( the design was lifted from a recent look that the brand did for their couture collection). Sustainable fashion with an emotional connection, this look has it all!” Rahul penned.
According to DietSabya, the the Jaane Tu… Ya Jaane Na actor, for another look, styled his tuxedo with his mother’s black and white scarf, completing the look with a pair of black wayfarers and hair neatly tied in a man bun, at Cannes.
Naseeruddin Shah, along with his wife Ratna Pathak Shah, Prateik, Dr Kurien’s daughter Nirmala Kurien, and Amul MD Jayen Mehta, attended the screening. Shivendra Singh Dungarpur, founder of Film Heritage Foundation, the not-for-profit organisation behind the restored print, also attended the film’s screening. Prateik, the son of actor-politician Raj Babbar and Smita Patil, also styled his tuxedo with his mother’s black and white scarf, completing the look with a pair of black wayfarers and hair neatly tied in a man bun, DietSabya reported.
Manthan (The Churning), directed by venerated filmmaker Shyam Benegal, was the country’s first crowd-funded film. After its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival 2024, the restored film was re-released in 100 cinemas across India on June 1 and June 2.
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