Indian culture is loaded with symbolism. For example, the gods of Hinduism are easily denoted by the objects they carry, the animals they ride, and the clothes they wear. So it goes that Popular Indian Cinema too is influenced by many forms of symbolism to communicate the nature of moods and characters. Fashion plays a large part in the denotation of character in Bollywood, with the most obvious being the dichotomy between Western and Traditional Indian dress. This symbolic 'language' is a conversation in constant evolution. "Silsila" was a turning point in the semiotics of Indian film fashion and helped to transform the look and 'meaning' of the heroine for Indian society. Go to the link below for a further look at "Silsila".

Link to 18 gallery photos with commentary from "Silsila" discussing the film from a fashion perspective.