Suma Harris, wife of noted music composer Harris Jayaraj, says she has long felt the need to be known for something beyond her roles as a wife, mother and friend. That desire, she says, led her to start a saree business in Chennai’s Nungambakkam under the name “Leelavathi,” inspired by her mother.
Speaking about the decision, Suma says her husband does not interfere or pressure her in any matter. She adds that she did not even inform him when she was planning to begin the venture, and that he learnt about it only after it had started—reacting with surprise and a simple “Is that so?”
Suma says the store is meant for women across budgets, and that affordability should not be mistaken for poor quality. She notes that she brings in sarees only if she personally likes them, choosing each piece by asking herself whether she would wear it.
She also says the business aims to support handloom weaving so that weavers’ livelihoods are not affected. Having started on a small scale, she says her next plan is to devote more time and expand the venture.
Suma adds that her close circle of friends—spanning cinema professionals, doctors and women entrepreneurs—feels like another family. She says the group regularly gathers for occasions such as birthdays, wedding anniversaries and baby showers, with everyone bringing home-cooked special dishes to celebrate together in a cheerful atmosphere.
