Fashion designer Joy Mitra went back down the memory lane - into the times of "Malgudi Days" for his ethnic, fusion collection at the ongoing Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week (WIFW), with veteran actress Sharmila Tagore taking centrestage as the showstopper Thursday.

"'Malgudi Days' is complete nostalgia for me. We have grown up reading those stories...so it was easy taking it as an inspiration for this line, " said Mitra.

The mood was rightly set with Carnatic musician L. Vaidyanathan's famous "Malgudi Days" theme song playing in the background, and female models sashaying down the ramp wearing saris, anarkalis, long jackets, stoles, and men clad in jackets, kurtas and elaborate stoles as well.

Colours like black and brown, mixed with indigos and maroons, teamed with a lot of textures, and hand embroidery and prints were used on fabrics like wool, silk, georgette, corduroys and even cottons. Small check prints were also prominent in the collection.

Sharmila, who looked her royal self in a brown and maroon sari, said she could connect with the theme of Mitra's line.

"We all have read 'Malgudi Days', and everyone knows it is very Indian at heart. Even Joy's collection is ethnic, very rooted in Indian culture, yet it has a very contemporary edge. So I connected very well with it. I think it's a very special collection, " Sharmila told.

The 64-year-old actress said she was not nervous before walking the ramp as "I had just done it last time for Ritu Kumar". She admitted she agreed to walk for Joy for his distinct style.

"I love Joy's outfits. They are elegant and wearable...he doesn't make bizarre and outlandish garments, and that is what I like most about his clothes, " she added.