ALL THE WORLD'S A STAGE... BUT WHAT ABOUT BACKSTAGE?
Feroze Gujral

The first thing that strikes you when you enter backstage is the almost military precision at an event which is associated with something as glamorous as fashion. There is order and form to everything, be it something as complicated as deciding the look for a sequence or something as simple as zipping up a dress.

So here I am, in this black-walled room ironically called the ‘green room’, observing Lakmé expert Cory Walia and his hi-powered team weave their magic wand on the assembled Greek gods and gorgeous beauties. As I sit here, Cory gives the models the look that has been pre-decided with Rocky S, the designer for the concluding show of the day.

Make-up is the first thing that is taken care of to create a movie star-meets-bohemian yet sleekly clubby look! Cory starts by applying a base which gives the models a tanned look. Then moving to the eyes, which he lines deeply with kohl extending at the outer eyes. He then applies an interesting mix of peach and brown eye shadow on the eyelid and socket for a smoky effect, giving the eyes a classical goddess look. He gives them the finishing stroke of brilliance to the eyes with a flourish, applying a strong gold highlight under the brows and the upper cheeks-bones to give a perfectly sculpted look. He uses peach on the lips too and glosses it with sheer gold. Finally, the crowning glory is accomplished by doing the model’s hair in a ‘just-out-of-the-shower’ wet look and accessorising it with leather bands.

Cory and his team try their level best to work efficiently while at the same time soothing the frayed nerves of the models who are experiencing pangs of anxiety.

While all this is happening, the actual king-makers of the show – the backstage managers and helpers – are trying to get their act together. These invisible but indispensable hands are making sure that everything functions like clockwork. Though the helpers are NIFT students, their professionalism is admirable.

Make-up and hair done, the models rush off for their briefing – with barely 15 minutes left for the show to kick off. Now Lubna Adams, the choreographer for the show, takes centrestage and briefs the models on the sequence. As Lubna is briefing them, there is a perceptible rise in the tension. Briefing done, Lubna runs off to ensure that the technical details are in place. Rocky S. takes over to ensure that the models sport the right kind of look from head to toe.

With the briefing over, the models rush off to their greenroom to don their designer rags and do last minute preparations to psyche themselves for the show.

While the male models get their adrenaline running by pumping iron, the females are busy bronzing their bodies to get that sun-kissed look. Rocky monitors the final look making last minute changes with each model, even doing a mock run for the show.
And then comes the backstage manager to give the final call. The music starts rolling, the light comes on... and the models are all set to sashay on to the ramp with dramatic brilliance.