let's discuss Rekha, the eternal icon💎

Hey guys! 👋
On 3rd July 2023, Vogue Arabia released the cover for their July/ Aug 2023 issue & the internet collectively gasped! The Bollywood legend Rekha graced the cover, with photographs that were stylish, regal, and mesmerizing.

After researching articles & watching her older interviews for this video essay, i was not surprised. Rekha has been - for most of her life - a purveyor of style in her films, life, and photoshoots.

I wanted to put together a video essay on Rekha for a really long time in order to discuss her immense impact on South Asian pop culture, her personal style evolution and the costumes in her films that will forever be iconic - and here it is!

In unpacking this, I read the biography on Rekha: The Untold Story by Yasser Usman and 100 ICONIC Bollywood costumes by S Assomull.

I also highlight many of the films that were significant for Rekha's career, incl: Umrao Jaan, Ijaazat, Khoobsurat, and her most iconic looks from these films.

Let me know your favourite Rekha outfit or film in the comments!

#rekha #umraojaan

CHAPTERS

00:00 - Intro & Vogue Arabia cover discussion
04:09 - Book: Rekha The Untold Story by Yasser Usman
04:54 - BANUREKHA, the child star
07:35 - Rekha in her later teens
09:02 - The media & Rekha
10:46 - Rekha’s films & iconic costumes
15:12 - Umrao Jaan
18:19 - Silsila
21:27 - Rekha in her 30s
24:34 - Rekha & Photoshoots
25:35 - Rekha in her 50s (Parineeta)
26:21 - Rekha & Tawaif Characters
28:38 - Rekha's personal style
30:53 - my 6 fav Rekha looks


SOURCES:

BOOKS
1.     REKHA THE UNTOLD STORY BY YASSER USMAN
2.     100 ICONIC BOLLYWOOD COSTUMES BY SUJATA ASSOMULL AND APARNA RAM

ONLINE ARTICLES
1.     Tracing Rekha’s most iconico onscreen fashion from signature Kanjeevaram saris to silk anarkalis by H Jeelani [28 September 2022] -VOGUE INDIA ONLINE

2.     10 TIMES Rekha wowed us with her onscreen avatars by D SINGH [10 October 2021] – VOGUE INDIA ONLINE

3.     18 Pictures that take you inside Rekha’s SARI COLLECTION by P Raniwala [ 5 March 2020] – VOGUE INDIA ONLINE

4.     “There’s a lot more to Rekha than Amitabh Bachan” Yasser Usman reveals the untold story by S Siganporia [5 September 2016] – VOGUE INDIA ONLINE

5.     Versatile actress Rekha honoured with Padma Shri [ 27 January 2010] – TIMES OF INDIA ONLINE

6.      Let’s Talk About Women | How Ijaazat subverted the established trope of the ideal wife by S Bengani [14 July 2022] - FIRSTPOST.COM

7.     Rekha's top 20 roles (filmfare.com)

8.     WHAT DID REKHA WEAR TO SONAM KAPOORS WEDDING RECEPTION? A CHASTOGHI by A Khateeb for The Quint.com


ONLINE INTERVIEWS:

1.     Rendezvous with Simi Garewal – Rekha Intervire [2004] via Youtube

2.     “A Womans world” interview by Simi  Garewal with Rekha – 1984 via Youtube