THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: On the second day, CBSE State Kalotsav 2014 picked up momentum with more participants coming in for popular events such as folk dance, Kuchipudi, mime and group dance.
The festival, organised by the Confederation of Kerala Sahodaya Complexes and hosted by Sarvodaya Central Vidyalaya, Nalanchira, has more than 5,000 participants from 676 schools competing in various events.
According to the initial results, Kottayam Sahodaya was leading on the second day with 881 points and Silver Hills, Kozhikode fetched the maximum number of points. Trivandrum Sahodaya was ranked in the ninth position with 481 points.
The day began with Oppana and Thiruvathira at the main venue in Sarvodaya Vidyalaya. The events which had participants in the Higher Secondary section attracted large crowds.
The mime competition had students taking up socially relevant issues such as women empowerment and ‘Arabikalyanam’. Going back to their roots, the winning team, Infant Jesus English Medium School, Wayanad, based their act on Theyyam.
“This is the first time that Theyyam myth is used in mime and through this we showed women acting against the atrocities they face,” Unniraj Kasaragod, who trained the students, said. The team, comprising Class X students, had practiced for around two weeks.
Kairali Vidyalaya, Nedumangad, won the third prize in mime competition.
Another popular event was Mohiniyattam and even though most of the participants performed well, technical errors caused some difficulties. Students had to repeat their performances as the stereo played villain.
The performances were based mostly on mythological themes. Several literary events, including story writing, essay writing and versification were also conducted.Providing students with refreshments, the food counter also had a huge rush. Accommodation has been provided to students and accompanying teachers at Mar Ivanios and Mar Baselios Colleges.
Laurels in Music
Following his father’s footsteps, Pranav J won the first prize in mridangam for the third consecutive year at the CBSE State Kalotsav. Born into a musically inclined family, Pranav also won the first prize in light music. His mother is a violinist while his father K Jayakrishnan is a senior grade mridangam artist at AIR Thrissur.
His father has been teaching him to play mridangam for the past seven years.
A student of Chinmaya Vidyalaya, Kolazhy, Thrissur, Pranav is a trained classical vocalist and is being trained by V R Dileep Kumar. With varied interests outside music, this Class XII student aspires to become a doctor soon. “I am happy that I made my dad proud and he played a great role in my victory,” Pranav said.
A Passion for Dance
For Devi Unnimaya, dance has always been a greater part of her life. A Class X student of Vidya Vihar, Changanassery, she had been learning dance for the past seven years. She won the first prize in folk dance and Kuchipudi events.
It’s the first time in more than five years that the first prize in folk dance has not been shared. She will participate in the Mohiniyattam event as well.“I am being trained in Kuchipudi by Geetha Padmakumar, who also taught actor Manju Warrier,” Unnimaya said. Devi is the daughter of Manikuttan Namboodiri and Raji Antharjanam.