“Our culture has not just survived, but thrived, over thousands of years. We are one of the oldest living civilisations of the world. Also, the most diverse. And at the same time, we have one of the world’s youngest populations”. These were the words of Nita Ambani on the inaugural ceremony of NMACC which clearly depicted the motto of the centre.
This indeed an era of re establishment of identity for Indian art, and cinema in particular. With song Naatu Naatu from RRR making it to Oscars to cinemas like Kantara, KGF have left the global audience awestruck. Inauguration of Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre (NMACC) with global artistes taking part in the inaugural ceremony showcase the Indian’s initiation in showcasing India globally.
Indian’s are the flag bearers of Indianism with curated art and craft exhibition Swadesh’, blockbuster shows: a musical theatrical called ‘The Great Indian Musical: Civilization to Nation’, a costume art exhibition called ‘India in Fashion’, and a visual art display called ‘Sangam/Confluence’, and a food served on a silver platter gave a spice of Indian roots to the western guests at NMACC. The major centre of attraction at NMACC were celebrities belonging to Indian film industry. To the common man of the country who may never make his/her visit possible to the cultural centre look at the venue through the eyes of an admired celebrity. The matter difficult to digest in fact in the ceremony came out to be the “attires” our celebrities chose to wear. Major Indian actors appeared at the cultural centre with western attire, while the guests from western world made their way with the touch of Indianness with it.
It indeed is a choice of an individual to chose between what to wear and what not. But westernisation over powering the indigenousness within stood a fitting example of a deep-rooted cultural hegemony of the west.
Lack of knowledge about the theme of an event, prioritisation of one form of dress over the other, may all be the probabilities for our home celebrities making a wrong choice in a particular day’s attire. But with passing time when Indian cinemas are looked upon by the world, the actors by default become the ambassadors of their indigenous culture. When the major part of fashion industry is run on the way one dress up and the way they make up, it slightly becomes the duty of actors to be aware and on the impression they give out to public, as their life is no theirs alone anymore.