Desi Wrap

Jasmine Singh

Balkaur Singh, an employee of the Punjab state government, used to attend top-level official meetings in traditional Punjabi attire - chadra and kurta. On the day of his retirement, Balkaur Singh wore the same dress - chadra, kurta and tiledar jutti.

Cut to the present moment, many singer-actors are donning chadra and kurta in Punjabi films and songs, which are religiously being followed by the young men of Punjab (The older ones don’t see any news in this!). Actor Diljit Dosanjh has donned a single attire throughout his film Sardaarji 2 - a check chadar and kurta, paired with sneakers.

With no improvisations whatsoever to this traditional Punjabi attire, it is now creating a wide space for itself on the modern fashion street. A decent amount of credit goes to the Punjabi singer-actors, who are reviving the chadra back in its checked and plain form.

Check it on screen

It is a known fact that actors in a film dress up according to their characters. Nevertheless, many make a special request to slip into one, in a song, dance or fight sequence. Puneet Sandhu who designs clothes for Punjabi films and music albums says, “Even if the character is based in a modern set-up, actors still request me to add a chadra and kurta in at least one song and dance sequence.” Puneet can count 8 single music tracks where she dressed up the singers in chadra; “mostly in black,” she quickly adds.

Desi style, modern take

Many Punjabi fashion-centric websites are promoting the chadra and kurta look. Manpreet Sidhu, a fashion designer with Urban Touch, sees this as a traditional attire that is going to flood the market. “Punjabi men are basically tall and lean, so chadra and kurta looks great on them. Those who are short in height can also wear it, but with a short kurta or a tee-shirt, instead of a long kurta.”

Diljit Dosanjh who has become a fashion icon for the youth in Punjab, carries this traditional attire with a cool confidence in real life as well. He, in fact, gives a slight spin to it by pairing the chadra with a cotton-collared kurta and teaming it with branded sneakers. Sometimes, it is chadra, kurta and a denim jacket or a waist-coat on it; it gives the same chic look.

Fashion designer Anupreet Ahluwalia calls chadra and kurta a regal attire. “I don’t think, boys can wear a chadar to college or university, but it definitely makes for a very good party or wedding outfit. At the same time, Anupreert also throws in some basic tips. “If you are keeping the entire attire chadra and kurta monochrome, then wear juttis or moccasins of a different colour. With checked chadar it is better to wear a plain long shirt or kurta. I know of a police officer who got a chadra and kurta stitched for his college reunion.”

At the local level

You wouldn’t find boys in Chandigarh sporting a chadar, but an evening stroll in Mohali would ideally get you many young boys wearing the same. Simranjeet Singh Hundal, a software developer in Mohali has been wearing this attire throughout his university days in Chandigarh, “I get compliments whenever I wear it, even in the office. On one occasion or the other, I wear this. At home, you will find me in this only,” says this 26- year-old.Harman Sanga, a government employee, Patiala, wears a chadra to work. “People at my office say Sardarji ghar ton uth ke sidhey office aa gye, kapde nahi badle. I just smile back, and then, after a while, someone from the office comes and compliments me... jach rahe ho sardaarji chadra vich.”

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