books

Books are the ultimate influencers.
enduring. life-changing.

India’s first oscar winner knew this to be true.

Director Richard Attenborough (right), winner of “Best Director” poses with Bhanu Athaiya (left), winner of “Best Costume Design” for the film Gandhi during the 55th Academy Awards

55th Academy Awards

LOS ANGELES, CA — APRIL 11, 1983: Director Richard Attenborough (right), winner of “Best Director” poses with Bhanu Athaiya (left), winner of “Best Costume Design” for the film Gandhi backstage during the 55th Academy Awards at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Michael Montfort/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)


Case Study

The Art of Eternalising Your Story

Cover of the coffee table book, The Art of Costume Design (Harper Collins)

Cover of the coffee table book, The Art of Costume Design (Harper Collins)

Context

Bhanu Athaiya is Indian cinema’s legendary first lady of costume design, the first Indian and Indian woman to win an Oscar Award, cinema’s highest honour.

Client’s Challenge

Athaiya wanted to chronicle her 55+ years’ journey of storytelling through costume design in Indian cinema but was unable to do so.

Our Solutions

  • Wrote Athaiya’s story in her voice

  • Brought on board international publisher Harper Collins

  • Got Lord Richard Attenborough, legendary multiple Oscar-winning filmmaker-producer-actor, to write the foreword of the book

  • The publisher brought on board leading jewellery brand Tanishq to support the book.

Outcomes

  • Athaiya earned an advance of INR 1.5 million; book sold out in the first print run.

  • Athaiya was thrust back into the media spotlight.

  • Some of Bollywood’s legendary personalities attended the book launch, covered widely by the media.

  • Filmfare, Indian cinema’s most popular awards, bestowed on her a Lifetime Achievement Award.

  • The Academy of Motion Pictures, Arts and Sciences (home of the Oscars) housed a copy of the book in its library.

  • Athaiya eternalised her life’s work in a tome, achieving her dream.

Are you looking for a book/coffee table book to be written? 
Reach us at tapinto@theconsciousempire.com