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Madhumitha Sivabalaji turns designer, ideates a one-of-a-kind kanduva for PM Narendra Modi | Exclusive

The actress has discovered a newfound passion - designing - to get her creative juices flowing

Madhumitha Sivabalaji turns designer, ideates a one-of-a-kind kanduva for PM Narendra Modi | Exclusive
Madhumitha turns designer

Last Updated: 02.39 PM, Apr 20, 2023

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Actress, TV show host Madhumitha, wife of actor Sivabalaji, made a mark for herself in her appearances for several hit films like Nuvve Nuvve, Manmadhudu, Bhale Bhale Magadivoy. She has now discovered a newfound passion to get her creative juices flowing. After several decades in films, understanding its ways and needs and being gifted with a terrific style sense, she’s now taken to designing.

Madhumitha admits that she’s only taking baby steps towards her ambitions and is limiting herself to requirements from a close circle of friends and family for now. She got a rare opportunity to design a kanduva exclusively for PM Narendra Modi recently. The requirement had come from politician, former MP Geetha Kothapalli, who’d felicitated the PM.

“Geetha Kothapalli (garu) and we are family friends and they’d wanted something specific to gift the PM and we customised a kanduva exclusively for them. She wanted the colours and the logo of the party within a kanduva. However, we’ve given it a unique twist. This isn’t a straightforward cloth and fits to your shoulder perfectly,” she shares.

“A regular kanduva, when you wrap it around someone’s shoulder, the back portions are merely folded and don’t look proper. We’ve ensured a shoulder piece behind - a lotus - placed right under the neck. It takes a C-shape around the neck and falls onto one’s shoulder. While it started off like a regular kanduva, over time, we felt it shouldn’t look like any other piece of cloth and used pure silk for the same. Sivabalaji gave his inputs as well,” Madhumitha adds.

When she started ideating it, she came up with a design that’ll take the shape of the neck while it’s wrapped around the shoulder. After 2-3 trials, she finalised a universal design that’ll fit comfortably for all shoulder sizes. Madhumitha labels herself as a self-taught designer and didn’t enrol in any course. Having been a part of the industry for many years and noticing many changes, trends in fashion and cinema, she had the desire to create something on her own.

Kothapalli Geetha honouring PM with kanduva
Kothapalli Geetha honouring PM with kanduva

“Subconsciously, I gained an understanding of colour palettes, fabrics and I never took it seriously. Many friends regularly appreciated my fashion choices and they’d wanted something similar and I used to get it done for them. These enquiries started getting more frequent over time; they liked the saris, designs and they kept coming back to me. The thought of starting a boutique struck my mind but I’m limiting myself to a small circle of friends and family,” she states

She handles all kinds of requirements, specialising more in bridal wear and designs for auspicious occasions. “I handle all of my husband’s public appearances. I’m confident of taking up designing offers for films too. For now, I give several inputs to the designers associated with Sivabalaji’s projects staying true to the spirit of the film. I hope to go big on this in the future,” Madhumitha mentions.

“These endeavours are giving me a lot of creative satisfaction. I feel many of those who take up 9-5 jobs for a decade or so could cultivate a hobby and invest in their passions seriously. I’ve found it very rejuvenating and it challenges you creatively. With kids, handling Sivabalaji’s work and other acting assignments, I’m left with very little time. However, when I pursue my interests in that little time, it fills me with joy.”

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