Singer Usha Uthup opens up about her ‘obsession’ with saris: ‘Each of these 600+ saris has a marvellous story’

The singer started by saying since she came from a very middle-class family, she couldn’t afford to buy saris. “But my obsession was always to own lovely, lovely saris. My first payment in 1969 in Madras was a sari. This started my obsession. Subsequently, of course, there were so many saris and slowly, my collection grew. Each one has a marvellous story,” she said.

Opening about a Kanjivaram orange silk checks sari gifted by her amma, Uthup said these small checks belonged to the South Indian culture. “Checks, stripes, and dots never go out of fashion,” she said.

The singer shared that her daughter’s favourite sari from Uthup’s collection is the most expensive one – a Kanjivaram puja border sari with gold hamsa motifs. “It is such a fantastic sari. My daughter had her eyes on it right in the beginning and this is one of her favourite saris. I would like all of you to realise how old and traditional is the design,” she added.

When it comes to colours, black is Uthup’s favourite in saris. “On this side of the coast, one hardly ever wears white. But on that side of the coast where I was married, i.e., Kerala, everything is in pastel shades and white. I remember my mother-in-law with so much love. She would get so angry whenever I would wear another black sari,” she shared.

The singer also opened up about the sari that she wore for her appearance on Kaun Banega Crorepati. It was a Kajivaram green sari with a gold zari border. “Look at the combination. It’s so unusual and yet so traditional – just like Amitabh Bachchan. This is the most memorable sari which I could have worn with him.”

Next, Uthup showed the sari gifted to her by actor Kamal Haasan. “It’s a purple and pink Kanjivaram sari with gold elephant motifs. This is special to me because his birthday falls on November 7 and mine is on November 8. I got this amazing courier from Kamal and I was so so excited. We have known each for a long time. It’s always wonderful to receive a gift from someone you love,” she said.

The singer believes that her purple saris bought specially for Kolkata Knight Riders are a lucky charm for the IPL team. “So you know if they ever lost, I wasn’t there in Eden Gardens. Shahrukh Khan and Juhi Chawla, this is for you,” she jokingly said.

Uthup shared that she used to sing in stilettos from 1969 for about 30 years, which took a toll on her knees and she couldn’t stand anymore. “My daughter Anjali asked me if I can wear sneakers to walk, why I can’t wear them to my shows. The obsession became so much that I decided to match all my saris with my shoes.”

When the singer was recognised for her achievement with the coveted Padma Shri honour, she chose to wear a cream Kanjivaram sari with a heavy gold border for the occasion. She also displayed a blue Muga silk sari featuring gold embroidery that was gifted to her by a woman from Assam. “These borders are so intricate; they have been sewed on. Though it’s not my colour, I have worn it very lovingly,” she said.

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