BCR NEWS (New Delhi): 'Country of Blind,' a movie based on H.G. Wells'
short story and directed by Rahhat Shah Kazmi, is captivating audiences with
its remarkable storyline, costumes, and cinematic development. Shot in Kashmir,
this movie is leaving a lasting impression with its unique outfits designed by
'The Queen of Costume,' the prominent TV and film designer, Zeba Sajid.
Zeba Sajid is no stranger to the industry, having
previously astounded audiences with her remarkable work in 'Lihaaf' (2019).
Whether it was the Zardozi work for Begum Jaan (portrayed by Sonal Sehgal) or
the brocade fabric creations for Nawab Sahib (Mir Sarwar), Zeba's costumes were
the talk of the town. Now, with 'Country of Blind' (COB), she is poised to once
again capture the hearts of the masses.
Designing costumes for COB characters wasn't a
cakewalk for Zeba. Thus, she experimented with something that hadn't been done
in the industry before. She conducted extensive research about the people of
that era and watched numerous movies based on blind people to understand the
essence of their daily lives and the struggles they faced while performing
basic chores. The intricacies of her designs, creativity, and imagination can
be observed only if one watches the movie.
Zeba explains that the outfits she designed for
each character were neither tailor-made nor machine-made. Everything was
crafted from scratch, starting with arranging the raw materials, chemically
washing them, and adding a thick layer of cotton lining to prevent skin rashes
and allergies. She goes on to mention that she instructed her team to cut the
garments in an asymmetrical manner, with their eyes closed, to achieve a
realistic look, keeping in mind the perspective of a blind person doing the
cutting. This attention to detail is evident in the film, as none of the
characters wear properly cut dresses, and the colors vary. Hina Khan's
character, Gosha, even wears slippers of two different colors to create a
natural appearance.
Zeba Sajid added that Director Rahhat Shah Kazmi
played a crucial role in giving the characters an authentic look and feel
through their unique attire. Recalling their pre-shoot discussions, she
explains how they envisioned the characters as individuals living in forests
with visual impairments. These characters would either wear minimal clothing
or, if necessary, utilize whatever was available in their environment, such as
grasses for slippers obtained from the resources they gathered for food. Zeba
Sajid's team, including young interns from diverse backgrounds across the
country, spared no effort in ensuring the costumes conveyed a natural look and
essence.
It's quite surprising that a costume designer,
whose saree collections became a household name in 2006 soon after the popular
Zee TV show 'Ghar ki Lakshmi Betiyann' became a huge hit, doesn't want to seek
copyright protection for her remarkable designs in COB. Zeba Sajid is of the
view that she feels content when she sees people liking, appreciating, and
following her work. She hasn't considered obtaining a copyright or a designer
label for her creative designs yet.
Written by Rahhat Shah
Kazmi, the film is produced by him, along with Zeba Sajid, Tariq Khan, and
Namita Lal. It is co-produced by Jayant Jaiswal, Jitendra Rai, and Ahmer
Haider. The cast includes Shoib Nikash Shah and Hina Khan in lead roles,
supported by Anushka Sen, Mir Sarwar, Inaamulhaq, Hussein Khan, and Pradhuman
Singh in major roles.
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