On The Elephant Trail!
PROVOKE Lifestyle|April 2023
IT'S BEEN A DECADE SINCE THE BRAND ROUKA SET SAIL. FROM SUSTAINABLE FASHION TO CRAFTING NATURE INSPIRED NARRATIVES TO BEING THE EPITOME OF 'KERALA MODERN', ROUKA HAS BEEN ROOTED IN ITS PHILOSOPHIES. IT WAS ONE OF THE FIRST BRANDS FROM KERALA TO SHOWCASE AT THE LAKME FASHION WEEK HAVING BEEN CHOSEN THROUGH 'GEN NEXT' AMONG YOUNG AND PROMISING DESIGNER BRANDS. THE BRAND HAS BEEN EMBRACED BY STARS LIKE VIDYA BALAN, RIMA KALLINGAL, PARVATHY THIRUVOTH, TILLOTAMA SHOME AND NOW BY GUNEET MONGA, THE EXECUTIVE PRODUCER OF THE 2023 ACADEMY AWARD WINNING DOCUMENTARY SHORT FILM, 'THE ELEPHANT WHISPERERS'. SHE WAS SPOTTED AT THE OSCAR LUNCHEON SPORTING THE QUINTESSENTIAL IVORY COTTON ROUKA SAREE THAT HAD THE SYMBOLIC ELEPHANT MOTIF APPLIQUÉ IN GOLD AND BLACK TONES. SREEJITH JEEVAN, THE FOUNDER AND MASTER DESIGNER BEHIND THE BRAND TALKS OF HIS PERSONAL JOURNEY AS A DESIGNER AND EVOLUTION OF 'ROUKA'.
RIYA SONNY DATSON
On The Elephant Trail!

How did it feel to see Guneet Monga wear the Rouka saree to the Oscar Luncheon 2023?

It came as a pleasant surprise! We knew there was a month long promotion planned and that Guneet would be wearing our product to one of the events but to see her sporting the saree for the Oscar luncheon was heartening. The fact that she won the Academy award makes it even more special as we know how hard she has worked to get to the top. It is great to have someone like her wear Rouka as she symbolises modern day women who are intellectual, independent and empowered everything the brand stands for.

What was it like designing for Guneet Monga?

Guneet's stylist Manisha Melwani was very clear that she wanted to use our elephant motif saree in its true form so we made sure it is hand woven cotton from Kerala. It had to be symbolic and rooted in Indian tradition. Since we do nature inspired narratives, we already had a saree from our collection that fit the bill but we just needed to tweak it a bit and design the blouse to glam it up for the Oscars. The product was designed and shipped out in just three days.

Rouka is turning ten this year. What do you think has been your biggest learning?

This story is from the April 2023 edition of PROVOKE Lifestyle.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the April 2023 edition of PROVOKE Lifestyle.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM PROVOKE LIFESTYLEView All
We Drive The Coolest SUVs In India
PROVOKE Lifestyle

We Drive The Coolest SUVs In India

Style Is An Integral Aspect In Terms Of Choosing A New Car And These Days, Many New Cars Are Integrating Clever Design Touches In Their Overall Proportions. Gone Are The Days Of Over Styling Your Car As These Days It Is All About Minimalism. Hence, We Drive Two Cars That Embrace This Design Theosophy The Most.

time-read
3 mins  |
April 2024
FLAVOURSCAPE
PROVOKE Lifestyle

FLAVOURSCAPE

IRIDA SKKY LOUNGE IS FOR THOSE SPECIAL MOMENTS WHEN YOU WANT TO JUST LET GO

time-read
2 mins  |
April 2024
Checkmating Tradition: How Praggnanandhaa is Changing the Game
PROVOKE Lifestyle

Checkmating Tradition: How Praggnanandhaa is Changing the Game

MEET RAMESHBABU PRAGGNANANDHAA, A NAME SYNONYMOUS WITH BRILLIANCE BOTH ON AND OFF THE CHESSBOARD. AT JUST 18 YEARS OLD, PRAGGNANANDHAA HAS ALREADY LEFT AN INDELIBLE MARK ON THE WORLD OF CHESS, ACHIEVING THE ESTEEMED TITLE OF GRANDMASTER AT A REMARKABLY YOUNG AGE. BUT BEYOND HIS EXCEPTIONAL TALENT IN THE REALM OF CHESS LIES A MULTIFACETED INDIVIDUAL WITH A WEALTH OF INTERESTS AND EXPERIENCES. IN THIS EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW, WE DELVE INTO THE LIFE OF PRAGGNANANDHAA, EXPLORING HIS PASSIONS, REFLECTIONS ON HIS JOURNEY, AND ASPIRATIONS FOR THE FUTURE. JOIN US AS WE UNCOVER THE LAYERS OF THIS EXTRAORDINARY PRODIGY AND GAIN INSIGHT INTO THE MIND OF A TRUE CHESS PHENOMENON.

time-read
3 mins  |
April 2024
Chennai's Number One
PROVOKE Lifestyle

Chennai's Number One

EXPLORING BLADE SHANKAR’S JOURNEY OF TURNING ORDINARY SITUATIONS INTO COMEDIC GOLD

time-read
2 mins  |
April 2024
RHYTHMS, RHYMES & THE RISING STAR
PROVOKE Lifestyle

RHYTHMS, RHYMES & THE RISING STAR

TÊTE-À-TÊTE WITH NAVZ-47, TRACING HER JOURNEY FROM HER ROOTS IN COLOMBO TO BECOMING A RISING STAR IN THE GLOBAL RAP SCENE, SHOWCASING HER RESILIENCE, PASSION FOR MUSIC, AND DEEP CONNECTION TO TAMIL CULTURE ALONG THE WAY

time-read
4 mins  |
April 2024
The Rise of Female Rap in India
PROVOKE Lifestyle

The Rise of Female Rap in India

MEET IRFANA HAMEED, THE GROUNDBREAKING RAPPER AND SINGER FROM KODAIKANAL, WHO HAS MADE HISTORY AS THE FIRST FEMALE ARTIST SIGNED BY DEF JAM RECORDINGS INDIA LABEL. WITH HER INFECTIOUS TUNES AND CHARMING STAGE PRESENCE, SHE ADDRESSES VITAL ISSUES SUCH AS TAMIL AND MUSLIM CULTURE, AND WOMEN’S EMPOWERMENT THROUGH HER MUSIC. HER DISCOGRAPHY EXPLORES INTO THOUGHTPROVOKING THEMES, INCLUDING ANTI-FASCISM AND FEMININITY, RESONATING WITH AUDIENCES WORLDWIDE. LEARN MORE ABOUT HER JOURNEY AND ASPIRATIONS IN OUR EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW.

time-read
3 mins  |
April 2024
The Queen of Comedy Unveiled
PROVOKE Lifestyle

The Queen of Comedy Unveiled

DEVADARSHINI, A SEASONED VETERAN OF THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY, BOASTS AN IMPRESSIVE RESUME ADORNED WITH ACCOLADES SUCH AS THE PRESTIGIOUS KALAIMAMANI AWARD AND THE TAMIL NADU STATE FILM AWARDS FOR BEST COMEDIAN, A REMARKABLE FEAT ACHIEVED THRICE. WITH A CAREER SPANNING 27 ILLUSTRIOUS YEARS, SHE HAS LEFT AN INDELIBLE MARK ON CINEMA, HAVING GRACED THE SCREENS IN OVER 120 FILMS ACROSS MULTIPLE LANGUAGES INCLUDING TAMIL, TELUGU, KANNADA, MALAYALAM, AND HINDI. BEYOND HER PROWESS ON SCREEN, DEVADARSHINI BRINGS DEPTH TO HER PERSONA WITH THREE YEARS OF EXPERIENCE AS A COUNSELLOR AND THERAPIST. HER HOLISTIC APPROACH TO HEALING EXTENDS TO HER PRACTICE OF REIKI AND BACH FLOWER THERAPY, WITH A DECADE OF DEDICATED EXPERTISE. FROM HER RIBTICKLING PERFORMANCES IN THE ICONIC RAMANY VS RAMANY” SERIAL TO HER UPROARIOUS ANTICS IN THE BLOCKBUSTER KANCHANA,” DEVADARSHINI HAS ENDEARED HERSELF TO AUDIENCES, LEAVING THEM IN STITCHES WITH HER SIGNATURE SLAPSTICK COMEDY. LET’S GET TO KNOW MORE ABOUT HER IN AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW FOR PROVOKE LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

time-read
4 mins  |
April 2024
COPS, CATASTROPHES 2 CHAOS
PROVOKE Lifestyle

COPS, CATASTROPHES 2 CHAOS

A COP'S MASALA MEMOIR OF MADNESS

time-read
8 mins  |
April 2024
TAMIL CINEMA'S COMIC GEM
PROVOKE Lifestyle

TAMIL CINEMA'S COMIC GEM

LET’S DISCOVER DELHI GANESH’S UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE ON HUMOUR IN TAMIL CINEMA AND UNRAVEL THE LAYERS OF HIS ILLUSTRIOUS CAREER

time-read
4 mins  |
April 2024
PARENTING Cultural Exchange
PROVOKE Lifestyle

PARENTING Cultural Exchange

WE ARE LUCKY TO LIVE IN A TIME WHEN WE CAN CHERRY-PICK THE BEST PRACTICES FROM VARIOUS CULTURES TO CREATE OUR IDEAL LIFE. WHAT BETTER AREA TO APPLY THIS TO THAN PARENTING? READ ON FOR THE BEST PARENTING HABITS THAT INDIANS AND AMERICANS CAN EXCHANGE WITH EACH OTHER!

time-read
6 mins  |
April 2024