My research reveals that matka silk is a rough handloom silk fabric made from the waste of mulberry silk without removing it’s gum. Karnataka and Kashmir are where it is found in abundance. Sujapur village in West Bengal, Islampur village in Bangladesh and Dariapur village in Gujarat, are some of the Matka silk producing villages.

It is said to resemble the tweed fabric in texture. The thick yarn spun from the silkworm, Bombyx Mori, results in some irregularities in the texture of the fabric. In spite of the irregularities of the matka silk texture, it is considered unique.

This matka silk, in burnt orange, with a long pallu of the same orange and brown is my – Shabana Azmi wali feel aa rahii hai saree, ( to borrow Meenakshi’s phrase ).

Arth, the film, left me mesmerised with the performances of both Shabana & Smita Patil. Whenever I see handloom sarees in earthy combinations, I am reminded of the two of them. They would both wear handloom with immense grace.

The saree I wear is almost coarse, but still soft to drape, with the border smooth as satin to the touch. It must be the effect of the weave.

Years after the release of Arth, and to everyone’s delight, the director of the film, Mahesh Bhatt, joined the board of the company I worked with, in Mumbai.

“Careful of what you dream of “, he would say to us all, often, ” someday your dreams may come true ”

Tell me, what dreams do you dream ?

Saree# 76 for the #100sareepact