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SUNDAY, AUGUST 30, 2015 (PAGE-4) MOVIE-REVIEW LIFE STYLE Phantom is a misguided missile When autumn comes Saibal Chatterjee Director Kabir Khan blends fact and fantasy in search of hi-octane thrills in Phantom, a spy drama that is irretrievably undermined by a weak script and pedestrian acting. With the festive days of autumn waiting to breeze in and winter The film harks back to the festering wounds inflicted on India by the 2008 terror attacks on Mumbai and constructs a wishful scenario: each of the perpetrators of that crime is pun- not much far away, fashion designers are busy planning a ished by an intrepid agent unleashed by RAW. Kabir Khan is on a strong wicket after the runaway success of Bajrangi Bhaijaan. But Saif vibrant and contemporary design palette, Pramita Bose finds Ali Khan is in desperate need of a career-resurrecting hit. Is winter fashion merely about warm wool- usual sombre winter by streaking it with an Like his eponymous character did in Agent Vinod, his fearless spy here is an inveterate lies tumbling out of the cupboard? Wrong. The element of drama and a certain richness. "My globe-trotter who is never in one place for any length of time. cold season is not only about well-knit sweaters primary objective is to upend the common The script based on S Hussain Zaidi book Mumbai Avengers is no different - it flits about and cardigans, declare contemporary design- metaphors and imageries associated with a aimlessly as the hero goes pursues the mission of eliminating the big, bad terrorists in the ers who like to offer a choices galore to dress dull winter and make it more celebratory in neighbouring country and elsewhere. up in for the fashionistas this Fall-Winter. context," Bafna says. Echoing Kumar's line A burst of contrasting elements, drama, exu- of thought, he asserts that "the beauty around berance, unisex characteristics and a riot of us lies in that discord and slight imperfection." chromes are likely to dominate the fashion Fiddling with the concept of androgyny, scene with the onset of imminent autumn fes- tivities and the Yuletide fervour later in Decem- Since winter also hails in the ber. Abreed of forward looking, upwardly mobile and innovative couturiers have geared up to hog big fat Indian wedding season, the limelight in the forthcoming fashion weeks. the designers are also ready to Stricter silhouettes with structured looks and masculine suits for women would determine the rejuvenate the bridal trousseau fashion diktats in the impending seasons, they say. Since winter also hails in the big fat Indian and the grooms' wardrobe. wedding season, the designers are also ready There are funky designs too for to rejuvenate the bridal trousseau and the grooms' wardrobe. There are funky designs donning during red carpet too for donning during red carpet events, at events, at parties and on social parties and on social occasions as well. GenY draper Bengaluru-based Ajay occasions as well. Kumar is participating in the current year's edition of Lakme Fashion Week with his exclu- Bafna comfortably creates an array of gen- sive 'Consonance & Dissonance' theme that der-neutral pieces, thereby questioning the punctuates the eternal aspect of dichotomy in preconceived notions of both masculine and life. Print is the main essence of his collection feminine styles. He is more at home with checks (gingham prints) never go out of fash- and the style is intricately ornate. Kumar has duskier tinges like blues, greens and gold. ion. "The pattern is eternally trendy, whether in meticulously picked up Indo-Persian motifs to The silhouettes are more straight-lined with east or west, with a casual wear bend though, appear in a paradox of living and non-living; simple cuts and crafted out in distinctively chequered shirts, trousers, tees and shorts may geometric and florals; birds and beasts. His powerful yet versatile pieces. "I have used a look hot on the ramp, too depending on how we choice of an elaborate surface is deliberate banana leaf print and floral hand- embroi- as it aims to catch the eye immediately. The deries in my collection with a varied range of use them and with what," he says. silhouettes are strikingly well-structured yet fabrics including the men's suiting material, Capitalising on this effervescent palette of flowing, conventional yet contemporary, with cotton poplin, leatherite, cotton mesh and festivity are the wedding bells which are ready multiple layering; this heightens the aura of organza," he reveals. Shirts, suits, bomber- to ring soon as winter comes calling. Designer glitz and glamour around an otherwise tradi- jackets, dresses and trousers would adorn duo Sujata and Sanjay unwraps their bridal One commendable aspect of Phantom is its matter-of-fact approach that it adopts to its tional garment. his festive oeuvre, this autumn-winter. collection 'Apsarasa' aka Apsara - The Ethere- portrayal of the fight against terror. It keeps chauvinistic chest-thumping to the bare minimum. Kumar predicts the autumnal tones as the As to the colour-code this end of season, al Beauty. Keeping the needs of new-age brides While it does not conceal the identities of the men who plotted the 26/11 attack, it does 'in-thing' for the near future. "These hues will he sees "earthy pigments reigning supreme in mind who now look for fuss-free silhouettes, not blame Pakistan as a nation or any particular community for that dastardly act. ripen, mature and grow more intense in the with a nature-themed palette unveiled on the where cut and style are given more promi- In fact, Phantom projects the people of Pakistan as victims too, introducing a Lahore moth- shape of a luxuriant lotus pink, cranberry and ramp.Gold will be integral to the haute cou- nence, the elegant line doles out a casket of er who has lost her son to the Lashkar-e-Taiba. parrot green with a dash of lipstick red to cre- ture," as per his analysis. "There will be a trait floor kissing, breezy gowns and placement RAW plucks tainted soldier Daniyal (Saif Ali Khan) out of thin year and sends him on an ate a vivid, bold and concentrated Indian of fun, fantasy and spunk on the fashion- thread embroideries mixed with daring cuts. impossible mission. The man has nothing to lose for he has lost all interest in life since being shade card," he foresees. For example, scape in the upcoming months. Also, the "Our garments speak the language of dismissed from the army for allegedly deserting his men in a bunker. green would progress into khaki green while return of the retro era with 1960s' inspired today's bride," speak the designers in unison. He is introduced to Nawaz (Katrina Kaif), a former RAW agent who, too, has a personal other darker shades of chestnut tints would dresses and coats would rule the roost."Ker- The luxurious collection thrives on a broad reason to go after the terror masterminds. Chicago, London, Beirut, Amman, Lahore - the be accentuated with radiant rays. The autum- alite Jebin Johny dubs gingham as a classic spectrum of influences ranging from western duo hops from one location to another looking for their quarries in dangerous places. nal range is specially developed and con- print and permanently in vogue. "Black checks Much of this is rather dreary and mechanical. It is not until Daniyal lands in Pakistan that vintage to Indian heritage - be it the hand-craft- structed with 100 hundred percent cotton, on white base or vice-versa is the numero uno ed brocades of Varanasi or the fine French Phantom perks up a bit. The climax is passable, but Phantom takes two-and-a-half hours to linen, silk and digitally printed fabric with a combo for me. It looks best both on men and Chantilly lace. "We design to compliment the get there, by which time the action has turned too predictable and humdrum to kindle gen- finished uber-cool look. women," he feels. Celebs like David Beckham, innate beauty of every woman and believe in uine interest of what is unfolding on the screen. Delhi's Charchit Bafna is another rookie Imran Khan, Hollywood star Jake Gyllenhaal, Saif Ali Khan wears an inscrutable facial expression all through Phantom. It is difficult to on the ramp who declares his debut with a French actress Lea Seydoux, Chinese actress celebrating life as an expression of fashion. Our tell whether the lack of animation is a reflection of the character's state of mind or the current vibrant set of designs. He is inspired by the and fashion icon Fan Bingbing, and India's very clothes are embellished with mirror work, fine state of the actor's career. kind of winter that India usually experiences. own Kangana Ranaut, he feels, should fit the zardosi, resham (silk) and enhanced with Katrina Kaif is a misguided missile in this drama - she does not know what she is sup- His work evokes a playful mood and the gingham to the tee and carry it off with a fault- sequins and diamantes. We have used soft posed to be doing here. And neither does the audience. palette turns unexpectedly zesty and flirty, less panache. shimmering fabrics mixed with delicate laces Phantom has its moments, especially in the second half, but that isn't enough to sustain keeping the season of shedding in mind. Seconding Johny, Kumar also feels that and intricate needlework, thus giving the output the film all through its running time. Titled 'Elakka Ice', the idea is to spice up the a very celestial grace," the duo inform.