‘Into the Light’ has finally conjured a long brewing fantasy. From the past year, Abu Sandeep have been captivated by the possibility of creating a film that goes far beyond fashion. Much before ‘Into the Light’ manifested as reality, Sandeep had written to Joseph about the idea, knowing well in his heart that only they can bring this hypnotizing dream to fruition.
This visual work of art is the debut production of the duo’s new venture, La Filmi Compania. After expressing themselves with fashion, art and architecture, Abu Sandeep have now evolved to articulating their artistry through filmmaking. This venture marks their thirty-five-year brand anniversary and like always, they are celebrating by creating even more.
Shot at Mehboob Studio with 29 actors, the film fuses couture with the ethereal charm of White Magic. ‘The Boys’ have once again dived into their exuberant imagination and created this Four-Act wonder that celebrates fashion like never before. The featured collections are Greta, Ajrak and Mandala.
Act 1 – ‘Awakening’
“An inner awakening leads to greater pursuits. We are aware of what we live for. That is, fashion, art and of course, the bliss of creating beauty together.”
It all begins with the witches and wizards on the cusp of twilight. They enjoy the almost onset of the night, consumed by their bohemian activities.
Act 2 – ‘Ecstasy’
“The ecstasy of being inspired has a thrill of its own.
When an idea hits, it conquers our minds until we turn it into reality.”
During Act 2, the tribe rises with the full moon. Men and women break into trance inspired movements that summon the sky. They sway between the erotic and ecstatic.
Act 3 – ‘Euphoria’
“Our dreams are destined to come true and for us, that is euphoria.”
In Act 3, a divine sorceress appears. Nora Fatehi plays the part with utmost elan. As she dances, her outfit moves with a life of its own.
Act 4 – ‘Into the Light’
“Our work, to us, is a form of enlightenment. It gives us the power to dream and the desire to do more.”
Nora, the sorceress, leads the tribe of gypsies into the gushing moonlight. Their walk towards the illumined satellite symbolizes beauty, freedom and an extreme love for life.
When Abu Sandeep met Nora for the first time, they knew that they were looking at a star. And when the time came to find their scintillating sorceress for the film, it could not have been anyone else.
Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla have created a massive collection of sixty garments that are showcased across these four acts. From pastels to bright earthy colours, to jewel tones and pristine whites, every garment is an ode to their many artistic fantasies. The featured collections are Greta, Ajrak and Mandala. Like always, they reflect Abu Sandeep’s mastery over embroidery, Chikankari, Zardozi and beadwork. Along with the clothes, they have also designed the film’s set and it spells pure splendour.
‘Into the Light’ marks wedding photographer Joseph Radhik’s debut as a fashion film director. The visuals blossom with original music composed by Nishant Walimbe and Anup Bhat.
Joseph muses, “Abu Sandeep have trusted me with my (sometimes) quirky yet honest portraiture. It helps that the weddings we’ve worked together on have looked like psychedelic dreams from a different realm – whether its infinite mirrored tunnels of lights, or candle-lit boulevards – where I’ve had the freedom to create my best work. All this has culminated in this film, a true collaboration borne out of trust, creative freedom, and a great working relationship.”
In Nora’s words “What a joy it is to be a part of ‘Into the Light’! Abu Sandeep are masters of their craft and the glory of their vision shows in everything they do.”
Sharing his experience, Nishant adds “It’s always exciting to work with Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla. They are a powerhouse of fashion and they know what they want and how to achieve it! Anup Bhat and I started building the music for this campaign a few months ago and it has been an absolute pleasure to see the whole thing come together so beautifully.”
Tyaani Jewellery by Karan Johar has partnered with Abu Sandeep for this ambitious project. The brand’s handcrafted contemporary polki designs sparkle delightfully with the Autumn/Winter collection.
The cast is all-inclusive, featuring models and non-models alike. On entering the set for the first time, the actors learned that they will not be walking the ramp. They soon realised that Abu Sandeep weren’t looking to only reveal a collection, but also to tell a surreal story.
A mammoth hair and makeup team led by Namrata Soni transformed the actors into gypsies. Namrata left no stone unturned while expressing Abu Sandeep’s love for gold. Right from gold-foiled lids to gilded braids, she invoked the metallic hue into every dreamy detail.
Namrata comments “I love the coming together of our spirits. I cannot add more to Abu Sandeep’s signature craftsmanship, but the messaging of togetherness in the times we live in is my biggest takeaway from ‘Into the Light’.”
The inspiration is as dazzling as the creation itself. Abu Sandeep’s lifelong fascination with gypsies and their extraordinary way of life have taken form in this film. They have also been inspired by the timeless classic, One Thousand and One Nights.
Says Sandeep, “Apart from challenging ourselves, we also encourage all those working with us. ‘Into the Light’ is not just a film about fashion, it is an enchanting state of mind. It is a metaphor for everything we believe in. Our philosophy is to love with all our heart, create with all our might and live with all our light.”
