The expo displayed about 200 traditional clothing and fabrics of various states, including sarees, shawls and jamakkalam
Prime Minister looks at the special sari containing the image of the Mahatma with the national tricolour glowing resplendently on it at the special exhibition held to mark the occasion.
Chennai: A weaver impressed Prime Minister Narendra Modi here on Friday with his cotton zari wall hanging, crafted on a theme of nationalism, and he was praised for his brilliance and creativity.
After inaugurating the one-day exhibition showcasing creations of national handloom awardees here, Modi went around the Senate Hall of the Madras University and was struck by a wall hanging on display (see picture below). The piece designed with the theme of nationalism featured images of leaders of the freedom movement, including Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Patel, Maulana Azad, K. Kamaraj and Rani Lakshmi Bai. It had an outline of India’s map, an image of Gandhi in the middle, with splashes of the national tricolour.
The work had interwoven national symbols, including peacock, lion, banyan tree and lotus. Modi shook hands with Palanisamy and praised him for his work. The elderly weaver clad in dhoti nodded his head and smiled. Hailing from the textile city of Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu and a member of a local cooperative society, he had created the hanging with a jacquard design. The expo displayed about 200 traditional clothing and fabrics of various states, including sarees, shawls and jamakkalam.
Though the media was not allowed when Modi went around the expo, the visuals were streamed live in the venue. When Modi arrived at the venue, he was presented with a shawl with saint Kabir’s words inscribed on it by minister of state for textiles Santosh Kumar Gangwar.
Students look at the handloom products at the special exhibition at Madras University on Friday. (Photo: DC)
Kollywood speaks
Gautham Vasudev Menon
Basically, I am fond of Khadi and also personally wear cotton clothes most of time. When the script demands, I use cotton clothes only. I purchase from Fab India and Khadhi stores for my films. Like some of Suriya's and Sameera Reddy's costumes for Vaaranam Aayiram were bought from Fab India. And I used cotton sarees for Trisha's character Jessie in Vinnai Thaandi Varuvaaya. Later, as said by our Prime Minister Modi, they became a fashion and several stores in Tamil Nadu launched 'Jessie' sarees which became a rage among young ladies. If the character of my script demands, I would definitely promote Khadi.
A.L. Vijay
It is the content which decides the costumes of the artistes as well as the settings in a film. Then only it will give an authentic touch to the movie. When the stars wear it becomes a fashion and trend among the masses. It is true that cotton is the Indian attire that reflects the culture and lifestyle of people in India. Whenever I get an opportunity to use in my films, I never missed it. Like in Madarasapattinam which was set in pre-Independence period, I ensured Khadi was used by the Tamil speaking population in old Madras. Similarly, in Deivathirumagal, the character of Amala’s dad would always prefer to wear cotton clothes.
Lingusamy
If the script warrants definitely, I will use khadi and cotton clothes. Though we have used artifacts as set props in many films, the clothes are determined by the character played by actors. I used mostly cotton clothes in my film Anandham, the story which demanded such attires. I will definitely keep in mind the suggestion by our PM Modi sir.
(As told to Anupama Subramanian)
( Source : dc correspondent with agency inputs )
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