On the occasion of Handloom Day, Tilfi presents “A Colour Unbroken: Rangkat”, a cinematic ode to the unseen world behind one of our most intricate weaves yet.

The film follows the making of ‘Nazaara’—a singular Banarasi saree, conceived over a year ago and meticulously woven across six months using the rare and demanding Rangkat technique. With over 115 weft shuttles (sirkis), and a colour change occurring every inch, it is both a feat of technical virtuosity and artistic vision.

A view, a spectacle, a scene to behold.

Inspired by Mughal miniature art, Nazaara is a tribute to one of Banaras’ oldest and most complex weaving traditions, the Rangkat. The saree features four real zari-laced silk weft colours, each changing every inch across the fabric, meticulously interlocked to form an elaborate jaal of roses, tulips, poppies, and irises.

The film journeys into the hands, hearts, and histories that bring the textile to life. From the hands of a master weaver who learned the technique as a child watching his grandfather, to the quiet companionship between two rangkat artisans who spend months weaving side by side - it is a deeply human portrait of dedication, stillness, and the joy of doing challenging work with love. 

Woven using the kadhwa technique for added texture and clarity in patterning, and framed with arabesque floral borders and an inventive buta-style pallu, Nazaara is a keepsake of heritage, a monument of patience, and a heartfelt exchange between the hands that weave and the hearts that wear.

Discover the nuanced relationship between artisan and craft, a pursuit of perfection that blurs the line between labor and love.