SEETU AATAM : Kanjivaram Playing Cards

Discover the kanjivaram craft anew in this unique playing card set from Kanakavalli. The Seetu Aatam card set is a 72 card deck that celebrates the kanjivaram’s traditional motifs, colours and weave elements, using these building blocks and mainstays of the craft to create immersive, learning and fun card gameplays. Shop the card set here.

You can dive right into the gameplay if you want to skip the Deck description. Scroll down to "Gameplays" to start your play. 

THE DECK -

The deck is split into 2 main suits, along with Wild Cards and Action Cards that add surprises and unexpected twists to the deck. 

Above: A representation of each of the suit types in the card deck. 

MAIN SUITS -

Colour & Motif Suit - This is the principal suit, containing a selection of colours and motifs that occur in the kanjivaram craft's rich lexicon.

Above: A representation of each of the 5 colour families in the deck - Nila (Blues and Purples), Haritha (Greens), Shyama Svetha (Neutrals), Haridhra (Yellows and Oranges) and Raktha (Pinks and Reds).

Five colour families, split into eight shades in each family delve into the nuances of colour in the kanjivaram. Alongside these, 8 much loved motifs, hallmarks on the kanjivaram, form a repeated representation across each colour family set. Both the colours and the motifs have deep significance to the local socio cultural roots of the craft, and you will find notes on each card highlighting these. 

Above: A single colour and motif suit (Nila shown above) is represented in 8 hues of the colour family, with 8 motifs.

Suit Count : you have 5 colour families, each containing 8 cards, totalling 40 Colour & Motif Suit cards. 

In gameplay - you use the motifs and/or the colours to create sets/match cards. 

Weave Suit - The kanjivaram craft is embodied in rich patterns within its weaves - a myriad checks, stripes and patterns add to its visual and structural complexity, and it is these that are represented in this suit. Each of these weave patterns is tied deeply into the craft's geographical landscape, bringing an element of rooting and locality. Look for descriptions on the cards to discover their significance.

Above: The Weave Suit Card Anatomy

Above: A representation of each of the 3 weave families in the deck - Kattam (Checks), Vari (Stripes), Alankaranam (Patterns).

This secondary suit, divided into the three weave structures  - checks, stripes and patterns, contains 6 variants in each weave form - bringing to focus a variety in each structure. 

Above: A single weave suit (Kattam shown above) is represented in 6 different variants of the checks family.

Suit Count :  this secondary suit consists of 3 weave families, each containing 6 cards, totalling 18 Weave Suit cards. 

In gameplay - you use the weave family to create sets/match cards. 

ANCILLARY SUITS - 

Wild Cards - Equivalent to the "Joker" status in a traditional card pack, the Wild Cards in this suit allow you to use these in lieu of a card you may not have. 

They are represented through a series of mythical fauna found on the kanjivaram craft, fantastical yet graceful embodiments of protective and nurturing qualities. Follow the note on the cards to learn more about these fantastical fauna.

Above: The 4 mythical fauna found on the Wild Card Suit.

Suit Count : 4 mythical fauna forms a series of 4 Wild Cards. 

In gameplay - use these cards to complete a set and/or play in lieu of a Main Suit card. 

Action Cards - Here's a twist! This set of Action Cards can really shake things up. When played strategically, the action instruction on the card can create a calculated diversion to the gameplay, or just a fun disruption. 

Each action card is decorated with the often overlooked border design patterns found on a kanjivaram. Not quite main character energy in the sari perhaps, but these little gems bind (and distinguish) the varied and more optically pronounced patterns and embellishments, in their ubiquitous and unassuming elegance. 

Each visual representation of these row patterns is in itself a beautiful exercise in graphic translation - read up on their roots on each card. 

Above: The 5 Border types found on the Action Cards, with each of the 5 border designs assigned a unique action.

Suit Count : 5 different borders and action types are presented twice each to form a series of 10 Action Cards. 

In gameplay - throw down with a challenge by using these cards if you want to shake things up!

If you're all clear, let the games begin!

GAMEPLAYS - 

The Seetu Aatam deck is versatile, and allows for different gameplays. We've got three games below we hope you enjoy trying out.

GAMEPLAY 1 - PATTU THOGUPPU - SILK QUEST

TLDR : Weave a kanjivaram by building your winning card sets with motifs, colours and patterns!

Pattu Thoguppu, or Silk Quest, is a strategic, slow-paced game perfect for long afternoons with friends. As you play, you’ll piece together a Kanjivaram Display Set- a unique combination of motifs, colours, and weave patterns that reflect the rich tradition of kanjivaram silk.

PLAYERS : 2 to 5 players

DECK : Entire deck (Colour and Motif Suit cards, Weave Suit cards, Wild Cards, Action Cards - 72 cards) 

OBJECTIVE : The goal is to complete a Kanjivaram Display Set, which consists of 8 cards, across 2 suits, each forming a subset: 

Subset 1 - 5 x Colour & Motif Suit Cards where the 5 card set must be -

• Consecutively numbered e.g., 1-5 or 3-7 or 7-3 (a set where 1 follows 8)
• Each must be from a different colour family. 

Subset 2 - 3 x Weave Suit Cards where the 3 card set must be -

• One from each of the three weave families - Kattam, Vari and Alankaranam.

Your Kanjivaram Display Set, when complete, will feature 5 sequentially numbered cards from the Colour and Motif Suit, and 3 cards from the Weave Suit, one each from Kattam (Checks), Vari (Stripes) and Alankaranam (Patterns).

HOW TO PLAY :  

1 - Set up your game - Shuffle the deck thoroughly.

2 - Deal 8 cards to each player. Place the remaining deck in the center as the draw pile. Leave space for a discard pile next to the draw pile.

3 - Start your play! Player 1 draws a card from the draw pile.

4 - They must then discard one card, from their hand into the center (forming the discard pile).

5 - Subsequent turns - The game carries on - at their turn, each player picks the top card from either the discard pile or the draw pile. (Player cannot pick action cards from the discard pile). 

After drawing, they must discard one card from their hand onto the discard pile.

6 - USING SPECIAL CARDS - ACTION CARDS  - used to impact gameplay*, can be played at any time.

7 - USING SPECIAL CARDS - WILD CARDS -  can be used in place of any colour & motif or weave suit card needed to complete a set.

8 - DECLARING A KANJIVARAM DISPLAY SET  - Are you a winner?

• Once a player completes their 8-card display set, they must declare it immediately, and the first player to do so is the winner, and drops out of the game.
• If they forget to declare their display set during their turn, and the next player takes their turn, they must wait until their next turn to declare and win. 

IFS AND BUTS :

• If the Draw Pile runs out, shuffle the discard pile to form a new draw pile and continue playing. 
• *How certain Action Cards affect gameplay - Exchange action card: If you discard this Action Card at the time of declaring a set (winning), you will still need to choose two players to exchange their cards with one another. Should there be only one other player aside from you, you will need to execute the action and thus give up your winning set to the other player!

WINNING THE GAME :

• The first player to complete their Kanjivaram Display Set wins! 
• Other players may continue playing until all but one have completed their sets. 

GAMEPLAY 2 - NIRAL SANGAMAM - THREADED RUNS 

TLDR : Learn, match and win - show off your Kanjivaram knowledge.

Niral Sangamam, or Threaded Runs, is a fast-paced, strategic game that will keep you thinking on your feet! The goal is simple - discard all your cards as quickly as possible by matching motifs and colours, but beware of unexpected twists!

PLAYERS : 2 to 6 players

DECK : Use all the suits (Colour and Motif Suit cards, Wild Cards, Action Cards), except the Weave Suit

OBJECTIVE : Be the first player to discard all your cards by matching them to the previous card played.

HOW TO PLAY: 

1 - Setup your game - Shuffle the deck thoroughly.

2 - Deal 5 cards to each player (if 5–6 players) or 7 cards (if 2–4 players). Place the remaining deck in the center as the draw pile and leave space for a discard pile next to the draw pile. 

3 - Flip the top card of the draw pile face-up to start the discard pile.

4 - Start your play - Players take turns playing a card that matches either the motif or the colour family of the card on the top of the discard pile.

5 - DRAWING A CARD -  If a player cannot play, they must draw one card from the draw pile : 

• If playable, they may play it immediately. 
• If not, they keep the card and the turn moves to the next player.

6 - SPECIAL ACTIONS -  In addition to playing a single card, players can use special moves to discard multiple cards (a Run) at once:

• Motif Run - Discard two or more cards with the same motif in different colours. Example: Mayil (Peacock) of Raktha (Pinks & Reds) + Mayil (Peacock) of Haritha (Greens).
• Color Run - Discard two or more cards of the same colour family but different motifs. Example: Mayil (Peacock) of Nila (Blues & Purples) + Yanai (Elephant) of Nila (Blues & Purples).

7 - PENALTY FOR THE NEXT PLAYER - After playing a motif or colour run, the next player picks the same number of cards (as discarded in the run played by the previous player) from the draw pile before playing their turn.

Example: If Player 1 plays a motif / colour run with 2 cards, Player 2 must draw 2 cards before taking their turn. Player 2 then discards card/s matching, by colour family or motif, the uppermost face-up card in the discard pile.

8 - USING SPECIAL CARDS - Wild cards can be played at any time, and act as ‘joker cards’- the next player can then play any card, as the wild card has no suit value. Action cards, used to impact gameplay*, can be played at any time. 

BUT: A player cannot play an action card as the final card from their hand.

A player can play any card after an action card is dropped, as they have no suit value.