Snehalta Vasaikar’s sarees were customized and were a blend of Maharashtrian khun fabric along with lace, silk and brocade – reveals the costume designer of TV show

Mumbai. Sony Entertainment Television’s upcoming magnum opus, Punyashlok Ahilyabai is all set to hit the tube on January 4th marking an inspiring start to the New Year. The show celebrates the life of one of the most legendary women in the Indian history – Ahilyabai Holkar. Ahilyabai with her grit, determination and courageous personality battled the societal norms in the 18th century with tenacious support of her father-in-law, Malhar Rao Holkar.

Period dramas have always been big hit amongst the audience as they showcase an era in all its glory. However, needless to say, there are a few elements of these productions that are more immersive than others. For historical shows, the costume design is one of the most critical aspects. It is a reflection of that era and the rich cultural heritage of the time.

The show stars popular Marathi actress Snehlata Vasaikar, who will be seen essaying the character of Gautamabai, wife of Malhar Rao Holkar and Ahilyabai’s mother-in-law. Gautamabai was a strong-willed woman who was very proud of her rituals and traditions.

In order to portray her powerful persona on screen, the costume designers focused on royalty back in the 18th century. The inspiration was drawn heavily from the era of Maharashtrian Malwa culture of the period between 15-18th century to produce authentic costume designs that look like they are directly out of the pages of history.

Throwing more light on the costume choices for Snehalta Vasaikar, the head costume designer for the show, Rohini Hemant Tandel said, “We were given an extensive brief about Gautamabai, which gave us a tremendous landscape to work on. Since Gautamabai was a traditional woman, we made sure to use the jewellery and costumes that were authentic and accurate to her caste – ‘Dhangar’.

Also, we thoughtfully integrated ‘Lakshmi’ in all her ornaments because she thought of herself as the Lakshmi of her house. Snehalta’s sarees were customized and were a blend of Maharashtrian khun fabric along with lace, silk and brocade. We used bright colours for her as it complimented the character she portrays in the show. I think the overall outcome was impressive as Snehalta’s look turned out to be quite exquisite.”