Ananya Shanbhag shines at the Oscars in Pranaah’s handwoven elegance
Kerala’s very own fashion label, ‘Pranaah’ by Poornima Indrajith, has once again made waves on the global stage by dressing Ananya Shanbhag for the Oscars 2025 red carpet. Known for blending Kerala’s traditional handloom with a modern aesthetic, Pranaah has established itself as a go-to brand for Indian fashion at international events.
Over the years, the brand has designed outfits for several well-known artists and technicians at prestigious platforms, including Divya Prabha at the Cannes Film Festival 2024 and the Locarno International Film Festival 2022, Nimisha Sajayan at the Venice International Film Festival 2019, Geetu Mohandas and Shanthy Balachandran at the Toronto International Film Festival 2019, and Parvathy Thiruvothu at the grand opening of The Modern Art Museum in 2019. Now, Pranaah has taken Indian handloom to Hollywood’s biggest red carpet at the Academy Awards.
A red-carpet debut
Ananya Shanbhag, a 21-year-old performing arts student and Bharatanatyam dancer from Mumbai, played a pivotal role in the Oscar-nominated short film 'Anuja.' Backed by Priyanka Chopra, the film, nominated for Best Live Action Short Film, tells a powerful story of two orphaned sisters working in a garment factory, highlighting themes of resilience and sisterhood.
As Ananya prepared for her Oscars debut, she wanted a look that reflected her love for dance, her youthful spirit, and her Indian heritage. She placed her trust in Pranaah to bring this vision to life, working closely with Poornima Indrajith and her team to create a handcrafted outfit that felt both personal and unique.
The outfit: A blend of tradition and modernity
Crafted from handwoven fabric, the outfit features intricate hand-drawn machine embroidery and pitta work. The structured woven corset and flowing skirt with a trail were designed for both comfort and movement, capturing the grace of a dancer. The colours were carefully chosen to reflect Ananya’s personality and artistic background.
To complete the look, Poornima collaborated with Kavya Potluri, the designer behind a well-known demi-fine jewellery brand, to create statement pieces inspired by the rich details of Bharatanatyam. The combination of Poornima’s design, Kavya’s jewellery, and Ananya’s presence created a striking red-carpet moment.
A celebration of handloom on a global stage
‘Pranaah’ has always championed the idea of bringing handloom into contemporary fashion while staying true to its roots. Dressing Ananya for the Oscars is yet another milestone in showcasing the beauty and craftsmanship of Indian weaves to the world.