Heroic moments in spotlight

It was an inter-play of sound, dance, light and designs and an ethereal one at that. Every element was in perfect sync with the other and the total experience was elevating. Streaks of Light and Shadows in the Dark, both an ode to 26/11, showcased Deepika Govind’s exclusive collection of Indian and evening wear. It had the best of the designer’s creativity, imagination and insight.

The trigger for the designs were the events of 26/11. It’s not the grim, dark side that Deepika has sought to portray but the brighter side of the event, of hope, of people who risked their lives to save others from the brink of death. “There were extraordinary moments brought out by extraordinary people who stood out as streaks of light amidst the shadows. It reflects the philosophy of an individual, of contradictions that exist within oneself,” Deepika said.

The two-sequence show was woven together with sound, light and dance with a dramatic effect. With water depicting endless, uninterrupted movement in the backdrop, the dancers from Nrithyarutya, with their fast-paced, flawless steps added that extra zing to the evening.

And Manoj George on the violin, strummed away to create a sort of awakening. His powerful notes simply tugged at your heart strings.

Models sashayed down the ramp in two phases. The evening began with, Streaks of Light, which portrayed a contemporary Indian weave. Fit and flared, cut and slash, with street styling details, the collection showcased the kurta in a new avatar. Ikat, blended with silk- this line was a play of layers and intricate handwork detailing. It came in various colours including palette of coffee, orchid, twilight pink, aurora red, carribean blue, teal and dahlia. The designs were flared and ruffled, signifying lazy luxury. The garments, that came in bright colours were vibrant and lively.

   The ‘Shadows of the Dark’ was tailored and crafted to suit contemporary times. The play of drapes and ruffles, transparency and opacity, flowing yet sculpted, set the tone for a perfect evening wear. The garments were sewn in bright colours such as liquid gold, pale tangerine, pink, cherry red and shades of mint.
     The makeup, set in British era, was in sync with the designs. The hair was pinned up in a slight puff and the lips were made up in shades of bright red and orange. The idea was to go soft on the eye and highlight the lips.
 Actress Mugdha Godse was the show stopper for the evening.