6/100
“Your dad has picked up a Sungudi in brown and blue for me from Chennai” said mom to me over the phone a good 25 years back. “Two dark colours…What a horrid combination”, I thought…until I saw it…
Should have guessed…a Paint Man cannot go wrong…
Yes….an inherited sari like many others that I will bring on, by the time we reach 100.
This Sungudi, a traditionally hand-woven saree from Chinalapatti, is dyed with natural dyes and has dots (different from the polka) of white all over the deep earthly brown base. The blackish-blue block printed zari border has animal motifs and the pallu has horizontal zari lines.
Despite the dark colours, the soft cotton keeps me cool.
The saree smells of u Mom…and I love it…and wearing it on Mother’s Day makes it even more special…
The choli is of course, my creation….a golden yellow khann, with a deep blue border, a kind of contrast to the body of the saree…and the accessories include a gold coloured choker and feather weight gold danglers…
The occasion, our Karaoke meet…rather exciting to meet fellow karaoke friends every once a month… Suggested to some friends that they also take out their sarees from the hangers of their cupboards…and they did….Vidya ST, Sindhu Chaurasia, Usha Subramoni, Geeta Madhavan, Rajani S Pai, Nilakshi Patil,
Katayun Cyrus Pithawalla, Sandhya…..thanks sweethearts…..next step is to join the pact…
Must thank the photographers…..Lipika Sarkar, Basant Vashist & Shashi Pai
The saree continues to be special …the Chennai connection?…of course !!!