#like i didn't understand if she had a habit of sightseeing when she went overseas for filming or she went overseas even when she was filming

[bittergloss]

“(in Tamil) The sari I wore in the song in Puthiya Paravai belongs to me. Originally, they had a costume made for me similar to the ones the background dancers wore, but in a different colour. I tried it on with the full styling done and looked in the mirror, but it didn’t feel right to me. I told Sivaji sir “Sir, I don’t feel like my character [a Singaporean crooner] in this. If you could give me some time, I’ll go home and bring something else to wear.” He wondered how I could bring something appropriate in that limited amount of time and I reassured him that I could. In those days, even if I had shooting, I had a habit of sightseeing overseas. Once in Hong Kong, at a place called India Palace House, not exclusively for the purpose of being used in a film, I bought this sari as it looked very attractive and extraordinary.(in English) So I went home and I brought the sari, and I had a beautiful hairdresser, Josephine, and my assistant. I told, “Lakshmi and Josephine I don’t know what you’re going to do, It should not look like a sari when I drape it. You’ll pin it. Tuck it somewhere and stitch it over(?) my body I said. It was just...pinned everywhere and the way I walked on set...[ she continues to talk about her dissatisfaction with the director as he lacked confidence that she was right for the role of Chitra. He believed there was a level of sophistication required for it and that she looked more suited for ‘village girl/ homely’ roles] It was Sivaji’s insistence that I had to do that role, and when I came it was just, oh god, it was stunning when I come in and stand with the mircrophone in the black dress. That is my own sari and I kept it for so many years because [initially] I was afraid because it was a negative role[...], but to my surprise I had gotten so many accolades for a negative role which I had performed in that film. And that was a turning point in my life.” -Sowcar Janaki at an event

SOWCAR JANAKI in PUTHIYA PARAVAI (1964) dir. by Dada Mirasi

#puthiya paravai #sowcar janaki #kollywood #the way i killed myself trying to find a good quality of this movie and this is the best i could find #i wanted to gif it from other sides too but there was a logo blocking it so i just made what i could #also idk i paraphrased a litte for the text and the part of her going abroad was a bit confusing to translate #like i didn't understand if she had a habit of sightseeing when she went overseas for filming or she went overseas even when she was filming #locally. so i just literally translated. so anyways #loved this little story behind the dress its like the stars aligned. #film costume #mygif