<p>The churidar and long-sleeved kameez Aishwarya wore as a dance teacher who gets kidnapped in the modern-day version of the "Ramayana" are a hit among women shoppers.<br /><br />Both the Tamil ("Raavanan") and Hindi versions ("Raavan") released here, while the Aishwarya-starrer "Robot" with megastar Rajnikant was a huge hit.</p>.<p>The traditional dresses - called masakali - have been in the market since early this year. But sales have peaked as Deepavali approaches.<br /><br />The salwar-kameez also come with transparent long sleeves and chudidar pants, the New Straits Times reported Monday.<br /><br />Malaysia is home to 2.1 million ethnic Indians, a bulk of them Tamils who throng to Chennai-made films. But craze for Bollywood films transcends racial lines. The Bachchans - Amitabh, Jaya, Abhishek and Aishwarya - and the Khans - Shah Rukh, Aamir, Salman and Saif Ali - are immensely popular here.<br /><br />Thiyananthan Bathumalai, managing director of Harekrishna Silk, said most of the masakali dresses in the market were inspired by movie stars.<br /><br />"For example, we now have 'Robot masakali', which was inspired from the movie 'Endhiran' ('Robot') and 'Raavan masakali', which was inspired by 'Raavan'," he said.<br /><br />Thiyananthan said many customers ask for masakali suits on entering his shop.<br /><br />"People still ask for 'Anarkali suits' or 'Patiala suits' which were the craze some time ago. But this year, it looks like Aishwarya Rai is leading," he said.<br /><br />In Kuala Lumpur, trader M. Maniam said many people ask for Punjabi suits or saris worn in particular movies.<br /><br />"Every year, we have customers asking for a particular sari or suit that was worn by an actress in a movie. This year, everyone is asking for masakali suits which were worn by Aishwarya Rai."<br /><br />The trader, who operates at the KL Sentral car park, said most of his dresses came from India.<br /><br />Meanwhile, a resolution taken by Indian shopkeepers in Malaysia to keep the prices reasonable has won praises from the government.<br /><br />The government has imposed a price ceiling on essential commodities. But some Indian shops are selling well below the ceiling price.<br /><br />One shop in George Town was found selling imported Australian lentils at a big discount from the stipulated ceiling price.<br /><br />This caught Deputy Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Minister Tan Lian Hoe by surprise during her visit here.<br /><br />Tan lauded the trader, saying: "It is a sensible move by traders not to charge customers at the maximum price during festivities.</p>
<p>The churidar and long-sleeved kameez Aishwarya wore as a dance teacher who gets kidnapped in the modern-day version of the "Ramayana" are a hit among women shoppers.<br /><br />Both the Tamil ("Raavanan") and Hindi versions ("Raavan") released here, while the Aishwarya-starrer "Robot" with megastar Rajnikant was a huge hit.</p>.<p>The traditional dresses - called masakali - have been in the market since early this year. But sales have peaked as Deepavali approaches.<br /><br />The salwar-kameez also come with transparent long sleeves and chudidar pants, the New Straits Times reported Monday.<br /><br />Malaysia is home to 2.1 million ethnic Indians, a bulk of them Tamils who throng to Chennai-made films. But craze for Bollywood films transcends racial lines. The Bachchans - Amitabh, Jaya, Abhishek and Aishwarya - and the Khans - Shah Rukh, Aamir, Salman and Saif Ali - are immensely popular here.<br /><br />Thiyananthan Bathumalai, managing director of Harekrishna Silk, said most of the masakali dresses in the market were inspired by movie stars.<br /><br />"For example, we now have 'Robot masakali', which was inspired from the movie 'Endhiran' ('Robot') and 'Raavan masakali', which was inspired by 'Raavan'," he said.<br /><br />Thiyananthan said many customers ask for masakali suits on entering his shop.<br /><br />"People still ask for 'Anarkali suits' or 'Patiala suits' which were the craze some time ago. But this year, it looks like Aishwarya Rai is leading," he said.<br /><br />In Kuala Lumpur, trader M. Maniam said many people ask for Punjabi suits or saris worn in particular movies.<br /><br />"Every year, we have customers asking for a particular sari or suit that was worn by an actress in a movie. This year, everyone is asking for masakali suits which were worn by Aishwarya Rai."<br /><br />The trader, who operates at the KL Sentral car park, said most of his dresses came from India.<br /><br />Meanwhile, a resolution taken by Indian shopkeepers in Malaysia to keep the prices reasonable has won praises from the government.<br /><br />The government has imposed a price ceiling on essential commodities. But some Indian shops are selling well below the ceiling price.<br /><br />One shop in George Town was found selling imported Australian lentils at a big discount from the stipulated ceiling price.<br /><br />This caught Deputy Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Minister Tan Lian Hoe by surprise during her visit here.<br /><br />Tan lauded the trader, saying: "It is a sensible move by traders not to charge customers at the maximum price during festivities.</p>
