It is official now — after dressing up officials in several Government offices, Khadi is now making its way to silverscreen!
Kangana Ranaut, in her lead role in ‘Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi’ would showcase the Queen’s love for country’s heritage fabric Khadi in the upcoming Indian epic biographical film.
And for promotion of this signature fabric — the attire of the lead cast of this movie is being sponsored by Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC). Expressing pride and pleasure for being a part in the renewal of India's spirit of Independence, KVIC Chairman Vinai Kumar Saxena said that since Rani laxmibai is one of the most fascinating women in terms of what she had done in her life.
“Khadi is connected to India's voice of Independence since time immemorial. We all know that in 1926, Gandhiji upheld Khadi as the symbol of Swaraj and spun the final yarn of India's fabric of Independence. But, perhaps few people know that some seven decades before Gandhiji’s tryst with Charkha, a girl born in Varanasi as Manikarnika or Manu, not only mastered reading the Vedas and Puranas, riding and sword fighting, but also learnt weaving before being the Queen of Jhansi,” said Saxena.
“It is a morale booster in terms of aggressive marketing and promotion strategy for KVIC that she (Kangana Ranaut as Rani laxmibai) would be spinning the wheel in this movie. It would once again prove that prior to British rule in India, Khadi was flourishing in our country and later it was Charkha that drove the Britishers away from India,” he further said.
Sponsored by KVIC, the costume line for the film will be designed by ace designer Neeta lulla. lulla has already picked up fabric costing around Rs26 lakh from KVIC. According to Chairman VK Saxena, the fabric being used for the film includes a mix bag of silk, cotton, muslin and some wool too. lulla is all upbeat about using Khadi for the project. Impressed by the fabric she is already making plans to use the desi fabric in her personal line too.
Kangana would also be seen using a charkha, which is also being sponsored by KVIC. Kamal Jain, the producer of the movie, said that the entire unit was proud to associate with KVIC and applauded their contribution in providing the best range of Khadi that had added immensely to the already expansive range of costumes in the film.