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Co-optex pays silky tributes to MS in her centenary year
The Tamil Nadu Handloom Weavers’ Cooperative Society, popularly known as Co-optex, has revived some of the classic kancheevarams popularised by the legendary classical vocalist MS Subbulakshmi, as an ode to the singer in her centenary year
By
migrator
migrator
Chennai
In an interactive session on ‘Vintage Kancheevarams’ held recently at Co-optex showroom on Pantheon Road, silk lovers were given a glimpse into the richness of the traditional kancheevarams through the decades, apart from the popular sarees that the late MS wore to her concerts over decades.
Keeping in line with the various tributes being paid to M.S, Co-optex has decided to pay a tribute by reviving some of the sarees she popularised during her times.
Tribute in drapes
TN Venkatesh, MD of Co-Optex, says, “When MS Subbulakshmi, the first Carnatic musician to be conferred the Bharat Ratna performed in the season, huge crowds would descend on the Sabhas just for a glimpse of her, apart from being mesmerised by her music, steeped in bhava and soaked in bhakthi.
This year, being the centenary celebrations of this great maestro. Co-optex has taken the initiative to honour her by reviving the sarees popularised by the legend, especially during the music season. MS Blue (a unique shade of blue) was very popular during her time.
There are also sarees in kili pachai (parrot green) with naaval pazham border, and a red and green combo are still remembered by rasikas. We wanted to bring them back to our customers.” He adds that they took references from a number of resource materials, apart from weavers working on them. “These sarees were famous 30 years ago and our weavers were aware of the uniqueness and the distinct colours that popularised them,” he adds. The MS range of sarees are priced between Rs 8,000 and Rs 15,000.
The Margazhi- kancheevaram link
Venkatesh points out, “In the Margazhi month, 60 per cent of Co-optex sales is of silk sarees and kancheevaram accounts for almost 30 per cent in that share.”
He says, “Araimadam saree (symbolic of how couples should complement each other), Thuthiripoo saree with Uthiripoo designs, Mubbagam saree with three parts, Swargavasal, with the large wide pallu and motifs of the architecture in Vishnu temples, and Payadi sarees resembling pai (mats) that require skilled labour, were some of the varieties we showcased.”
The story of MS Blue
The ultramarine blue, known as MS Blue was named after MS Subbulakshmi who popularised it after wearing it to one of her concerts in the 60’s. Initially designed by Muthu Chettiyar, her fan and a master weaver from Kancheepuram, the saree became immensely popular and it is said that several women thronged leading textile shops in the city, looking for the lookalike saree MS had worn at the kutcheri. Later, Atmaram, a textile merchant from Madurai visited her every month with a bundle of blue sarees.
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