Malavika Mohanan wears an 18th-century-inspired Banarasi sari with intricate kadwa weaving | PICTURES

Actor Malavika Mohanan turned the spotlight on traditional Indian craftsmanship with her recent festive appearance in a pink Banarasi silk sari by Hyderabad-based designer Sourav Das. Instead of opting for heavy surface embellishments or embroidery, she chose a handwoven creation that celebrates an age-old weaving tradition from Varanasi.

Created by Label Sourav Das, the sari draws inspiration from an 18th-century devdasi sari. Its design reimagines a hunting-ground scene through the lens of temple architecture associated with the Pallava dynasty. The weave features traditional Dravidian motifs, including the hamsa, a bird; the hasti, an elephant; and the annapakshi, a mythical creature combining the features of a swan and a peacock. These motifs are enclosed within a charkhana pattern, lending the textile its distinctive character.

The sari is crafted using the kadwa weaving technique, an intricate and labour-intensive method that originated in Varanasi. In this technique, each motif is woven individually into the fabric, demanding considerable time and skill from the artisan. The result is a textile that places craftsmanship and heritage at the centre of the design.

Malavika paired the pink sari with a matching blouse featuring an open back secured with doris, keeping the silhouette traditional while adding a contemporary touch.

Her jewellery complemented the sari’s heritage aesthetic. She wore temple-style pieces, including a pearl- and enamel-encrusted necklace featuring a seated goddess motif, matching earrings and kaan chains. Traditional bugadi piercings along the ear’s helix, a nose piercing and a septum ring added to the look.

For makeup, the actor opted for smoky eyes, elongated lashes, flushed cheeks and a small bindi. Her waist-length hair was styled in a relaxed, messy braid, completing the festive ensemble.

The sari also offers inspiration for brides drawn to traditional textiles for their wedding day. Its intricate weaving and historical references make it an option for those seeking a heritage look for the main ceremony, while leaving fusion silhouettes for pre-wedding and post-wedding celebrations. A temple-jewellery belt featuring motifs of Goddess Lakshmi could further complement the sari, drawing on the tradition of ornate bridal cummerbunds.

With its intricate motifs and painstaking weaving, Malavika’s look serves as a reminder that the appeal of a Banarasi sari lies not only in its visual richness but also in the generations of craftsmanship woven into the fabric.