Roopsangam

For those who subsist only on salwar-kameezes and nothing else, Roopsangam is the mega-store with the latest and the greatest. A 1000 sq. ft. store shaped like a basic square, it follows the "stack on and upto the ceiling" method to cram about 4,000 salwar kameez pieces inside at any particular time. Apart from this, it has readymade salwar kameezes and ghagra choli material. That's it. Within these three garment classes varies the huge stock of Roopsangam. So you can rest assured you won't miss any freaky style you've had in mind, if you come here.

And what are these freaky styles we are talking about? Well, as we write this in August 2005, it's Bunty Aur Babli (pronounced as one quick garbled word by the shopkeepers) and Veer Zaara that are flying off the shelves. Bunty Aur Babli are the eponymous collared kameez suits that Rani Mukherji showed off in the movie. As cute and bouncy as Mukherjee herself, they come in citrus limes, oranges and powder pinks, and are priced between Rs. 1,200 and Rs. 1,600. The fabric names sound like NASA designed high-tech space wear: Laser Chiffon, for one!

Beadwork, kundan work, mirrors, spangles and sequins abound. Veer Zaara is the other movie-inspired style that's selling like hot cakes. It is extremely charming Karachi embroidery work on light, floaty and feminine colors. The 2?m dupatta has a four-sided broad border, like some of Zinta's dresses did in the movie. It promises to have a light, yet ample waterfall look when draped. The fabric this time is "summer cold georgette", and prices range between Rs. 1,460 and Rs. 2,500.

Roopsangam's entr饬 though, is its pure crepe silk range. It has Jaipuri crepes in near-fluorescent citrus colors with dazzling mirror work and a refulgent sheen. The overall look is as tangy, fizzy and sparkling as a bottle of soft drink!

In silks, the store has syrupy pinks and magentas with a respectable amount of zardosi, kundan and jaali work for the most dressy of weddings. Banaras chiffons with brocade work are also available.

Finally, there are the Karachi salwar kameezes with doria and shadow work - adventurous thread embroidery, bunched up sometimes to look like little nests of pink thread eggs.

The ranges are:

Cottons: Rs. 260 - Rs. 2,000
Synthetics: Rs. 295 - Rs. 1,000
Georgettes: Rs. 680 - Rs. 1,500
Chiffon: Rs. 680 - Rs. 2,900
Silks: Rs. 3,000 - Rs. 5,000
Ghagra choli material: Rs. 3,000 - Rs. 10,000