The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Period jewellery evokes a great deal of interest

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Monday, May 26, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Period jewellery evokes a great deal of interest

G.V.R. Subba Rao

Princess Jodhaa’s head-to-toe set is eye-catching

Unbelievable: A young visitor is dazzled by the ‘Jodhaa Akbar’ collection on display at an exhibition in Vijayawada.

VIJAYAWADA: It’s a recreation of the 16th century jewellery.

The visitors were awestruck by the seamlessly blended traditional motifs and techniques used in the making of the jewellery, which speaks loads about the connoisseurship, glamour and allure of Mughals and Rajputs.

A dazzling array of precious ornaments, ranging from elaborate neckwear, rings, bangles, earrings to chains, were displayed at the two-day exhibition of ‘Jodhaa Akbar’ collection at Fortune Murali Park, which ended on Sunday.

King Bharmal set, Jodhaa’s tourmaline set, wedding set, navartna set, Akbar’s durbar set and wedding set were a few to name.

Princess Jodhaa’s 12-piece head-to-toe jewellery set that includes jhumkis, naths, hath phools, rings and pendants were the most eye-catching.

One would be thoroughly mistaken to regard ‘vaddanam’ or waist belt as a thing of the past.

The organisers said an order for jewellery placed at the exhibition included vaddanam as well.

Order

“A visitor, impressed by the Jodhaa’s peacock Hansli set, placed an order for the same,” said Jogu Prasad, local franchisee of Tanishq, the jewellery brand of the Tata group that manufactured the jewellery for the film and organised the exhibition of the same here.

It was not just the good old Vaddanam that the organisers were asked to make and supply.

About 7 to 8 orders that included the entire navartna set costing around Rs. 14 lakhs were also placed.

“The entire collection is amazing. But, I particularly liked Emperor Akbar’s sword very much,” said K. Viswanath of First Source, a BPO.

“This is no ordinary sword. The best kaarigars of the country toiled for nearly a year to create the magnificent ceremonial three-and-a-half foot and 20-kg sword,” pointed out Ms. Prasad.

“The jewellery, definitely, reflects the extensive field research done by the makers in Rajasthan and Gujarat to understand the nuances of the art form,” said G. Saudamini, a visitor who saw the movie three times.

The collection was put together by design and production teams and more than 200 kaarigars.

Tanishq worked in collaboration with Chitrakala Parishad for six months and did in-depth research on Mughal and Rajput history, tradition, culture and jewellery, explained Ms. Prasad.

“Wow! It’s opulent jewellery, very impressive, indeed,” said Namitha, a student of Siddhartha Public School, while her brother Bhargav felt that the jewellery looked lovelier in the film than in the exhibition.

Vijayawada, incidentally, was chosen as one of the five cities to organise the exhibition.

The collection included nearly 200 pieces of jewellery that were intricately crafted in pure gold, and brilliantly embossed with precious and semi precious stones in Kundan and Meenakari techniques.

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