Catwalk at Cannes

It is almost the same story every year. While film festivals anywhere in the world are actually showcases for movies, actors and, of course, the business of entertainment, what is seen and heard about most of all is the fashion.

As with the Academy Awards, the BAFTAs or any Indian event of this kind, all eyes are on the red carpet and what who is wearing, how and when. The 69th annual Cannes Film Festival, on until tomorrow, May 22, 2016, is no different. What has occupied headlines over the past week or so is the outfit that Aishwarya Rai Bachchan wore on her first appearance, the wardrobe malfunction that Bella Hadid suffered and the fact that Julia Roberts went barefoot (oh my!) to thumb her oh-so-often-photographed nose at the rule that high heels are mandatory for ‘the walk’. But this in itself is entertainment, far more amusing and absorbing than the films themselves, since most of those who look for such information will not have access to what is being screened or discussed in the various sessions scheduled. 

Perhaps the most anticipated appearance, especially this year, was that of former beauty queen and Sarbjit actor Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. After a great many less than successful appearances, she presented a fabulous image in 2015, wearing Sabyasachi, Elie Saab (a favourite with her at that stage), Oscar de la Renta, Ralph and Russo and Georges Chakra, opting for Stella McCartney for the more casual photo-ops. She stunned with her slimmed-down figure, finally shedding the adipose she had accumulated post having her baby some years before. This year, with a wonderfully curvy shape that many have called ‘womanly’ or ‘statuesque’, she managed to make a lot of noise, some good, some questionable — and greatly discussed on social media — but all firm statements. She began with an Ali Younes glittery-embellished gown with a voluminous yet ethereal cape in a gentle nude, her lovely eyes swathed in peacock blue shadow. It was dramatic, it was glamorous, it was not her finest hour, leaving onlookers wondering if baby2 was on the way. She more than made up for it with her scarlet Naeem Khan gown, the elaborate dress worn simply with hair let down, red lips and nails and that big Aishwarya smile designed to woo the media and stun her fans. Elie Saab’s fitted gown with an pouffy over-skirt was a rather pinker shade than the first nude tinted outfit, but seemed much of a muchness, even though the star looked good. 

Ms Rai-Bachchan shone in Rohit Bal, the classic black and gold anarkali outfit perfect for the promotions of her new film. A trifle excessive for a daytime event, perhaps, especially in contrast to her co-star Richa Chaddha’s far simpler and much more apropos and elegant Neil Barrett white shirt and Hermes skirt. And then came the slap in the fashion face moment for both these actors. For the Mal de Pierres premiere, the Sarbjit crew clocked in with the cameras and set the wires back home buzzing madly. Richa chose a gold Sabyasachi sari and jewellery by Amrapali, but added a downside with a stark white blouse that looked like she had dressed in a hurry. Aishwarya picked a floral Rami Kadi off-the-shoulder gown and put her hair up, and then allowed her makeup person to go a little wild and give her a glittery purple mouth that set the wags on Twitter going crazy. As the star said about fashion in general, “It works for some and it doesn’t work for some, but that’s what all the fun is about.” Obviously it worked for her fond husband Abhishek Bachchan, since his reaction to his wife’s lavender lip was “I think she looked fantastic. She always does.”

And then there was Sonam Kapoor, the Bollywoodian known for her fashionista avatar more than for her thespian talent. While she took home all the applause with her debut on the Cannes 2011 red carpet in Jean Paul Gaultier, she has had more hits than misses since, mixing it up with Indian (usually Anamika Khanna) and western designers, all carefully curated by her sister Rhea, she says. This year, she seemed to have decided to stick with Ralph and Russo, choosing gowns by the design duo for all her major appearances. But what made all fashion watchers happiest was the Rimzim Dadu sari that she chose for an interview session — black with a blue metal-woven pallu; it was classic yet experimental, futuristic and beyond elegant. And then it was Ralph and Russo all the way — a double-caped one-sleeved white gown embellished with gold that needed two escorts to keep it in fine form; a feathery-caped column gown in a pale shade; a full-skirted black and white Grace Kelly-ish peplum frock for the day look and a lacy black window-pane gown for the night; and as a fitting finale during the amFAR gala she attended this year instead of Aishwarya, a very pale sky-blue dress with a wrapped off-shoulder bodice and dramatic gold embroidery, this one worn with enormous gold jhumkas that added a delightfully desi flavour. 

The one who surprised was Mallika Sherawat, the starlet who manages to make it count at Cannes even though her acting repertoire is admittedly limited. Her image permanently coloured by her first appearance as a rather tarty Indian princess for the premiere of The Myth, with superstar Jackie Chan as her escort, this year she has either changed her stylist or learned something about public appearances. She was actually elegant in her slim-lined black and silver-blue Pucci, a red Dolce and Gabbana, silver Georges Hobeika and flower embellished Alexis Mabille. But she reverted to type with the see-through cut-outs on her purple Georges Hobeika gown and messy hairdo for the amFAR gala. Frieda Pinto, with her access to fashion and styling experts, managed a gaffe with a too-wide blue belt worn on a gorgeously floral-embroidered Elie Saab short frock, but made up for it with a summery Prabal Gurung creation during a press meet for her new film We Do It Together. 

There have, of course, been more from India at the festival, from Amy Jackson and Saumya Tandon to Nawazuddin Siddiqui and many who don’t make the fashion radar. But those unnamed others are not stars, they are merely actors who are known for their talent.