Valanchery (Malappuram): The pictures which Sindhu drew on a saree have many stories to narrate. They are the tales of how the public and the authorities joined hands to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. Hailing from Vendalloor in Valanchery, Sindhu Sapthavarna, a designer, drew 20 pictures of the COVID survival on a 9.5 metre long saree which was woven in Kuthampully.
The pictorial representation starts with the image of the virus infected people travelling in flights to three different parts of the world from the market in Wuhan, China. They pass through Italy, America and Britain. Virus is shown reaching India through Mumbai. As the most number of cases were reported in Mumbai, the Gateway of India was included in it, Sindhu said.
People who came from Italy leaving airport in Kerala without undergoing tests, blocking of road at Kerala-Karnataka border, Nizamudheen, passengers offering biscuit to tired police officers, quarantined son watching father's funeral through video call and many incidents during the COVID crisis are included in the saree art. The pictures end with a mother wearing a mask and gloves carrying the earth in her womb.
The border of the saree contains awareness messages too. Mask, sanitizer and hand wash can be seen on it. The saree will be displayed at Thrissur Lalitha Kala Akademi after normal life is restored. Sindhu also wishes to contribute the pictorial saree to the Chief Minister's Distress Relief Fund (CMDRF).
Sindhu, who had worked as a costume designer in film industry and TV channels for about 10 years, has been working at 'Sapthavarna' designer saree centre in Valanchery for the last 8 years.
Sindhu completed the painting on the saree within two months with the help of Anuraj Vallappuzha. Sindhu said that a businessman has expressed interest to buy the saree for a whopping price and that she will donate the amount to CMDRF.
