I'm not sure if you've covered this before, but do you know what the bodice seen on "tawaif" characters in Bollywood films is called? Examples: Madhubala in the Pyar Kiya toh Darna Kya, Meenakumari in Thade Rahiyo. I've called it a choli since it's tied in the back and seems to produce the same silhouette. Thanks!
Hi I think that is actually a waistcoat? Its the sort that is worn over a long tunic, usually the frock like tunic for tawaif costumes is an angarkha* (or what one might call an anarkali these days) as given in the terminology for kathak costumes. The tight waistcoat that is used to produce the silhouette is a sadri I think (there are a fair few names for waistcoats used n Mughal attire, even though the term often appears for male costumes this appeared to be the closest for the fitted waistcoat of the tawaif costume). You can also see it on Dilip in Mughal-e-Azam for e.g.