Swati Bhise`s biopic on Rani of Jhansi |
When a film is a labor of love, a passionate filmmaker gets into the soul and even the saris of her characters! That`s what director Swati Bhise, who recently wrapped principal photography of “Swords and Sceptres,” a biopic on the Rani of Jhansi, had to do to prepare for this historical magnum opus. The project demanded meticulous and multi-lingual research on the life of Rani Lakshmibai to ensure the complete authenticity of her character and the cultural milieu of the subject. The character of the Rani had more than 50 made-to-order `nauvari` (the traditional nine-yard Maharashtrian) saris. Bhise designed and custom-made the costumes for the Rani and the character of Nanasaheb (played by Deepal Doshi) with her friend Vidhi Singhania. They researched the patterns prevalent in the era and wove each costume in a process that took over a year. Singhania also created custom shoes to match the outfits. This was supplemented by Riyaz Ali Merchant, who also created costumes and riding boots for the principal and secondary cast, including the characters of Jhalkaribai (Auroshika Dey), Mandar (Siyaa Patil), Sundar (Mangal Sanap), Kashi Kunbin (Pallavi Patil) and Motibai (Naina Sareen).
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