India‘s first Oscar winner, Bhanu Athaiya walks down memory lane only on IBN Lokmat‘s Great Bhet

(Free Press Release) Is there anything common between Guru Dutt‘s ´Pyaasa‘, Sir Richard Attenborough‘s ´Gandhi‘ and Ashutosh Gowariker‘s ´Lagaan‘? The answer not known to all would be costume designer Bhanu Athaiya, who has won accolades for her exceptional work in these films. About three decades ago, the eighty-three year old veteran won the most coveted trophy in International Cinema the Oscars. Walking down memory lane this week will be a special episode with the experienced costume designer on Great Bhet Saturday, 28th April 2012 at 9:30 pm only on IBN-Lokmat.
Bhanu Athaiya was born in Kolhapur, Maharashtra and was the third of seven children born to her parents. She completed her education at the J.J School of Arts and went on to be a freelance fashion illustrator with various women‘s magazines in Mumbai. She was requested by one of the magazine editor‘s (who had opened a boutique) to design a few dresses for her. Finally Bhanu changed career paths and discovered her flair for designing. Soon she was asked by the legendary Guru Dutt to design clothes for his film C.I.D in 1956, after which she never looked back.
The octogenarian, who has also penned a book, Art of Creating Costumes, with an introduction by Attenborough, recalls the day she first held the Oscar trophy. She says: “I still remember that night in Los Angeles. The other nominees (costume designers of La Traviata, Sophie's Choice, Tron, Victor) were sitting next to me and said ´We don‘t stand a chance to win because your film‘s canvas was so huge.‘”
Athaiya, who dressed Ben Kingsley in Gandhi, Aamir Khan in Lagaan and Shah Rukh Khan in Swades, says: “The work on Gandhi is closest to my heart. We covered a huge span of 50 years of his life. To do that, and be a part of showing his life to the world, was a high for me.”
Having worked with noted filmmakers such as Guru Dutt, Yash Chopra, Raj Kapoor, Ashutosh Gowariker and many more the veteran is highly respected in the Indian and International cinematic world. To know more about the wonderful artist, tune in to Great Bhet on Saturday, 28th April 2012 at 9:30 pm only in IBN-Lokmat.
You can also watch this “Great Bhet” episode on Sunday i.e. 29th April 2012 @ 12:00 pm & 5:00 pm.