Thrissur: Want to add that taste of vibrant colours to traditional Kerala saree this Vishu? Would you like Kathakali faces and mural paintings on the "Pallu" of your sarees, giving them a designer look?
Yes? Then, welcome to the unique and exquisite world of designer fabric with mural paintings by Jitha Binoy, also a Guinness World Book record holder for organising mega "Thiruvadirakali" — traditional dance form of Kerala. Jitha Binoy has let her imagination free and reinvented mural-style painting on authentic Kerala sarees.
Jitha, who majored in fashion designing, wanted to innovate the traditional look. As a lover of tradition and culture, she was inspired by mural paintings on walls at Guruvayoor temple since her early childhood. "Paintings on the walls were magnetic and every time I visited Guruvayoor, I fell in love with them, all over again," says Jitha Binoy.
It was almost two years ago when Jitha started painting peacock feathers, the conch, lotus creepers and her most favourite — Kathakali faces on canvas and later tried it out on sarees. She loves to paint Radha-Krishna, Ganapathy, her favourite Kathakali faces and floral art. She explains, "Sometimes, customers provide us with designs, but most of the customers like paintings depicting gods. Kathakali faces on 'pallu' are in vogue."
When it comes to fabric, sarees in tissue silk are most preferred ones. Handpainted with fabric colours these sarees take about a week to finish. Basic colours used in painting the sarees are green, red, yellow, black and white. All the shades and hues on sarees are outcome of intricate artwork, that requires patience and devotion.
Jitha Binoy is supported by her husband in this venture. The other facilitator is her sister-in-law Sheeja Manoj. Sheela Manoj exclaims, "Malayalis just can't do without the traditional Kerala saree. But they would love play of colours or designs in the saree instead of draping the same off-white wrap-around again and again.
The artwork on the saree includes painting small faces, be it Kathakali, Mohaniattam, Radha-Krishna, or Vishnu, along the border of the saree. Thereafter articulate painting is done carving out huge faces on the "pallu" of the saree.
"We were skeptical about the acceptance of the sarees in the beginning. But customers flocked by the dozen for our sarees," exclaims Jitha Binoy who also paints on shirts, mundu, kurtis and skirts. Mural-painted dresses for kids are also available.
According to Jitha Binoy, demand of mural-painted sarees is high among Malayalees living abroad. She has a clientele in Singapore, Malaysia, UAE and US. Starting range of these mural-painted tissue silk saree is Rs 9,000 and goes upto Rs 25,000.
Jitha Binoy has eight trainees in her saree studio. Ratheesh, 28-year-old, who is learning the exquisite style of saree painting here says, he wants to make mural-painting on sarees a trademark of Kerala.
Want to pick an authentic Kerala saree as "Souvenir"?
How many times have you scrambled in the last minute to find that special souvenir, which gives you a chance to relive an original experience of being in Kerala?. Flaunting this special authentic Kerala saree with mural painting could go long way in connecting one with "God's own country."
These intricately and extensively designed sarees could very well be the valuable mementos you take away from Kerala.
Kerala's kasavu saree boasts of an elegant culture spun on the traditional hand-operated looms. The saree is made of light cotton or silk material in off-white with a border interwoven from thread dipped in real gold (kasavu).