Enkayaar, Bollywood Trade News Network

A raging debate has been set in motion whether the gowns have replaced the sarees as the official attire at the formal functions, where the country is being represented, or where a citation is being conferred on the actor. Interestingly enough, the male of the species, who are associated with the trade never get embroiled in this kind of controversy, as for them dressing in any manner is taken as a choice of personal convenience. But this latitude is never given to the female of the species in the business of the cinema, and immediately comparisons start getting drawn. The immediate trigger for this debate was the Oscar Award Night where Frieda Pinto the SLUM DOG MILLIONAIRE star was seen adorned in a gown.

It was again brought into distinct relief when the Filmfare awards were conducted few days ago. In this award, at the one end of the spectrum were Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Kareena Kapoor, seen adorned in a saree, while the other end of the spectrum was represented by the like of Priyanka Chopra who received the award as the best female star for her role in FASHION. May be, she was advocating the spirit of fashion, but the debate has been set in motion. If there is one star that has been consistent in appearing in public in the sarees, it is Rekha, and Kareena is also following in the suit. Kareena has been appearing along with Saif in formal functions in sarees mostly. Preity Zinta has acquired another spectrum for herself by expressing her sartorial preference for the business suits.

But as a quotient of predominance, gowns have started replacing sarees slowly as the formal dress, which the female stars of the present times prefer. The purists are of the view that the platforms where awards are being distributed should be used for displaying the national dresses and therefore sarees ought to be given the preference. Even Madonna had been swooned by the magic of the saree and there are quite a lot of others of her ilk who want to try it out.

When the world is indeed going Indian with SLUM DOG MILLIONAIRE, it is the right time and the moment for the female stars to become the brand ambassadors of saree. As a matter of fact when we are running the campaign of " Atithi Dev Bhav", to inform the tourists that they are like gods in this country, why not use the services of the female stars to advertise the cause of saree as well. India is the flavour of the season, and it can get a tinge if saree is promoted as the USP of the country. As the fashion designers say, the elegance the demure that is derived when one is adorned in a saree is not to be found when one is adorning a gown. The naturalness is a part of the culture, which does not have the same connotation with the gown. Precisely, that was the reason, why when Ash had appeared in a gown at the Cannes film festival, the gown had been in news for quite a long time.

Khushwant Singh had long time ago said the sensuality and the beauty that is expressed in saree cannot be matched by any other dress for a female, and the maxim still stands true.