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Kerala School Kalolsavam

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Kerala School Kalolsavam
StatusActive
GenreYouth Festival
FrequencyAnnually
VenueKerala
CountryIndia
Founded1956; 68 years ago (1956)
FounderDr. C. S. Venkiteswaran
Participants14000+
AreaSecondary school students (Class 8 to 12)
Organised byGovernment of Kerala
SponsorIT@school

The Kerala School Kalolsavam is an annual event organized by the Government of Kerala, featuring various art competitions for high school and higher secondary students across the state of Kerala. Established in 1956, it was known as the "Kerala State School Youth Festival" until 2024. The participants, students in classes 8 to 12, compete at the state level after advancing from their respective district competitions. The event typically takes place between December and January and is considered one of the largest cultural gatherings in Asia.[1][2]

The current champions are Kannur district, who won at the 62nd edition of the Kerala School Kalolsavam held in Kollam from January 4 to 8, 2023.[3]

History

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Kerala School Kalolsavam is a unique festival in its structure and organization, overseen by the Education Department as per guidelines drafted by experts. This annual event provides a platform for students to showcase their talents at various levels, from school to the state. Over its 53-year history, the festival has evolved significantly in both scope and spirit, becoming a hallmark of student talent in Kerala.[4]

The event traces its roots back to 1956-57, when it was known as the 'School Yuvajanolsavam'. The idea for the festival was conceived by Dr. C.S. Venkiteswaran, who was inspired by an inter-university festival in Delhi. The first event, held at Sree Rama Varma High School in Ernakulam, was a modest one-day program with 200 participants. Over the years, more competitions were added, and the event expanded in both scale and duration, now spanning seven days with around 10,000 participants.[5][6]

From its early days, the festival has seen considerable growth. Initially a small event, it has become a major cultural festival supported by the government, local authorities, and representatives from various levels, including the Grama Panchayat, Corporation, and state legislators. In 2008-09, the event reached a milestone with a participant count of nearly 10,000, compared to the 200 participants in its inaugural year.[7]

The year 1975 marked a turning point for the Kalolsavam, when traditional Kerala art forms like Kathakali music, Mohiniyattam, and Aksharaslokam were introduced. The festival continued to grow, incorporating more art forms such as Margamkali, Kuchipudi, and Yakshaganam.[8] By the late 1980s, a prestigious Golden Cup made of 117.5 sovereigns of gold was introduced for the overall winning district, designed by Chirayankeezhu Srikandan Nair.[9][10]

In 2000, the Millennium Trophy, featuring a dancing Nataraja figure, was introduced. Today, the Kalolsavam rewards winners with various trophies, cash prizes, and grace marks. Trichur Trophies has been the official provider of awards for the past 12 years, and in 2022 alone, around 14,000 trophies were distributed at the state level.[11] The earlier system of awarding titles like 'Kalathilakam' and 'Kalaprathibha' has been discontinued to prevent unhealthy competition.[12][13][14]

Notable Malayalam Film Actors from Kalolsavam

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The Kerala School Kalolsavam has long served as a platform for discovering new talent, with many participants going on to make notable contributions to the Malayalam film industry. Several well-known Malayalam actors were once participants in the Kalolsavam, where they earned recognition for their skills in various competitions.[15][15][16][17]

Sl. No Artist Position Won in Kalolsavam
1 Vineeth 'Kalaprathibha' title in 1986
2 Divyaa Unni 'Kalathilakam' title in 1990 and 1991
3 Manju Warrier 'Kalathilakam' title in 1992 and 1995
4 Kavya Madhavan Participant, District-level 'Kalathilakam' title
5 Ambili Devi 'Kalathilakam' title in 2001
6 Navya Nair Participant
7 Vineeth Kumar 'Kalaprathibha' title in 1988
8 Vineeth Sreenivasan First prize for Mappila Songs in 2000
9 Vinduja Menon 'Kalathilakam' title in 1991
10 Shivajith Padmanabhan 'Kalaprathibha' title in 1998 & 1999

List of winners

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The following list details the overall district winners of the Kerala State School Youth Festival (Kalolsavam) since its inception in 1957. Until 2009, only the top-performing district was recognized with a title. Starting in 2009, the introduction of the runner-up category expanded the awards to include second-place and third-place honors as well.[18][19]

2020s

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Edition Year Final Result Date(s) Venue
Winner(s) 1st Runner-Up 2nd Runner-Up
63 2025 TBA TBA TBA 4–8 January Thiruvananthapuram
62 2024 Kannur Kozhikode Palakkad 4–8 January Kollam
61 2023 Kozhikode Kannur & Palakkad Thrissur 3–7 January Kozhikode
60 2020 Palakkad Kozhikode Kannur 28 November – 1 December Kasaragod (Kanhangad)

Note – Due to the impact of COVID-19 pandemic, no editions of the event were held in years 2021 and 2022.

2010s

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Edition Year Final Result Date(s) Venue
Winner(s) 1st Runner-Up 2nd Runner-Up
59 2019 Palakkad Kozhikode Malappuram 7–9 December Alappuzha
58 2018 Kozhikode Palakkad Malappuram 6–10 January Thrissur
57 2017 Kozhikode Palakkad Kannur 16–22 January Kannur
56 2016 Kozhikode Palakkad Kannur 19–25 January Thiruvananthapuram
55 2015 Kozhikode & Palakkad Thrissur Kannur 3–7 January Kozhikode
54 2014 Kozhikode Palakkad Thrissur 19–25 January Palakkad
53 2013 Kozhikode Thrissur Malappuram 14–20 January Malappuram
52 2012 Kozhikode Thrissur Malappuram 16–22 January Thrissur
51 2011 Kozhikode Thrissur Kannur 18–23 January Kottayam
50 2010 Kozhikode Kannur Thrissur 9–15 January Kozhikode

2000s

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Edition Year Final Result Venue
Winner(s) 1st Runner-Up 2nd Runner-Up
49 2009 Kozhikode Thrissur Kannur Thiruvananthapuram
48 2008 Kozhikode Not awarded Kollam
47 2007 Kozhikode Kannur
46 2006 Palakkad Ernakulam
45 2005 Kozhikode Malappuram (Tirur)
44 2004 Kozhikode Thrissur
43 2003 Ernakulam Alappuzha
42 2002 Kozhikode Kozhikode
41 2001 Kozhikode Idukki (Thodupuzha)
40 2000 Ernakulam & Kannur Palakkad

1990s

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Edition Year Final Result Venue
Winner
39 1999 Thrissur Kollam
38 1998 Kannur Thiruvananthapuram
37 1997 Kannur Ernakulam
36 1996 Thrissur Kottayam
35 1995 Ernakulam Kannur
34 1994 Thrissur Kozhikode
33 1993 Kozhikode Thrissur
32 1992 Kozhikode Malappuram (Tirur)
31 1991 Kozhikode Kasaragod
30 1990 Ernakulam Alappuzha

1980s

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Edition Year Final Result Venue
Winner
29 1989 Thiruvananthapuram Ernakulam
28 1988 Thiruvananthapuram Kollam
27 1987 Thiruvananthapuram Kozhikode
26 1986 Thiruvananthapuram Thrissur
25 1985 Thiruvananthapuram Ernakulam
24 1984 Thiruvananthapuram Kottayam
23 1983 Thiruvananthapuram Ernakulam
22 1982 Thiruvananthapuram Kannur
21 1981 Thiruvananthapuram Palakkad
20 1980 Thiruvananthapuram Thiruvananthapuram

1970s

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Edition Year Final Result Venue
Winner
19 1979 Kottayam Kottayam
18 1978 Thiruvananthapuram Thrissur
17 1977 Thiruvananthapuram Ernakulam
16 1976 Thiruvananthapuram Kozhikode
15 1975 Kottayam Kottayam (Pala)
14 1974 Thiruvananthapuram Alappuzha (Mavelikkara)
13 1971 Alappuzha Alappuzha
12 1970 Thrissur (Irinjalakkuda) Thrissur (Irinjalakkuda)

Note – Due to political and administrative issues in the state, no editions of the event were held in years 1972 and 1973.

1960s

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Edition Year Final Result Venue
Winner
11 1969 Thrissur (Irinjalakkuda) Kottayam
10 1968 Alappuzha Thrissur
09 1965 Kollam Palakkad (Shoranur)
08 1964 Alappuzha Pathanamthitta (Thiruvalla)
07 1963 Thiruvananthapuram Thrissur
06 1962 Alappuzha Kottayam (Changanassery)
05 1961 Thiruvananthapuram Thiruvananthapuram
04 1960 Kannur (Thalassery) Kozhikode

Note – Due to political and administrative issues in the state, no editions of the event were held in years 1966 and 1967.

1950s

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Edition Year Final Result Venue
Winner
03 1959 Kozhikode Palakkad (Chittur)
02 1958 Thiruvananthapuram Thiruvananthapuram
01 1957 North Malabar (Kasaragod, Kannur & Wayanad) Ernakulam

District Ranking

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No. District(s) 1st place, gold medalist(s) 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) Best result
1º Kozhikode 21 3 0 Winner (1959 • 1991–1993 • 2001 • 2002 • 2004 • 2005 • 2007–2018 • 2023)
2º Thiruvananthapuram 17 0 0 Winner (1958 • 1961 • 1963 • 1974 • 1976–1978 • 1980–1989)
3º Thrissur 5 5 3 Winner (1969 • 1970 • 1994 • 1996 • 1999)
4º Kannur 4 2 6 Winner (1960 • 1997 • 1998 • 2024 )
5º Palakkad 4 5 1 Winner (2006 • 2015 • 2019 • 2020)
6º Ernakulam 4 0 0 Winner (1990 • 1995 • 2000 • 2003)
7º Alappuzha 4 0 0 Winner (1962 • 1964 • 1968 • 1971)
8º Kottayam 2 0 0 Winner (1975 • 1979)
9º Kollam 1 0 0 Winner (1965)
10º Malappuram 0 0 4 2nd Runners-up (2012 • 2013 • 2018 • 2019).
11º Kasaragod 0 0 0 8th (2016)
12º Wayanad 0 0 0 9th (2020)
13º Pathanamthitta 0 0 0 12th (2011–2013 • 2015)
14º Idukki 0 0 0 13th (2015)

References

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  1. ^ "Kerala State School Youth Festival, Asia's biggest fest, begins today". Deccanchronicle.com. 19 January 2014. Retrieved 6 July 2017.
  2. ^ "60th State School Art Festival to open in Thrissur today". English.mathrubhumi.com. Retrieved 18 January 2017.
  3. ^ "Kannur Clinches Gold Cup At Kerala School Kalolsavam 2024; Ends a 23 Year-Long Wait". Suramya Sunilraj. News18 India. 9 January 2024. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
  4. ^ "Kerala School Kalolsavam: From 13 Events and 400 Participants in 1957 to a Cultural Extravaganza—Tracing the Evolution of the Festival". Deepu Divakaran (in Malayalam). samayam.com. 7 January 2024. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
  5. ^ "School Kalolsavam: Kaleidoscope of Kerala's Cultural Richness". Santhosh Perla. Daijiworld Media. 23 January 2017. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
  6. ^ "From 400 to 14,000: The Journey of Kerala Schools Kalolsavam to Asia's Largest Art Festival". Malayala Manorama. 7 January 2024. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
  7. ^ "From a One-Day Event in 1956 to a Cultural Revolution in 1975: The Journey of Kerala's Kalolsavam Up to 2009". Asmitha Kabeer (in Malayalam). Asianet News. 4 January 2024. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
  8. ^ "62nd Kerala school Kalolsavam begins in Kollam". The News Minute. 4 January 2024. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
  9. ^ "How the school kalolsavam gold cup took shape". Onmanorama. 4 January 2018. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
  10. ^ "A 117.5 Sovereign Gold Cup: The Prestigious Prize of Kerala's Kalolsavam with a Rich Legacy" (in Malayalam). samayam.com. 25 November 2019. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
  11. ^ "As Asia's largest kids arts festival — Kerala School Kalolsavam — gets off to a colourful start, here's its origin story". K A Shaji. thesouthfirst.com. 5 January 2024. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
  12. ^ "'Kalathilakam' and 'Kalaprathibha', the faded titles" (in Malayalam). Asianet News. 15 January 2017. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
  13. ^ "'Kalaprathibha' title inept: Chemmanam Chacko". Ribin Raju. Mathrubhumi. 15 January 2016. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
  14. ^ "Man who coined 'Kalaprathibha' to move court". The New Indian Express. 16 May 2012. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
  15. ^ a b "If Miss India was stepping stone to Bollywood, it was school Kalolsavam for Malayalam films". The NEWS Minute. 16 January 2017. Retrieved 18 January 2017.
  16. ^ "What's with Vineeth and school arts festivals?". Manorama Online. Retrieved 18 January 2017.
  17. ^ "Stars are born at talent festivals!". The Times of India. Retrieved 18 January 2017.
  18. ^ "Kannur to host state school youth festival; athletic meet at Malappuram". English.mathrubhumi.com. Retrieved 6 July 2017.
  19. ^ "ആദ്യ കലോത്സവം കേരളം പിറന്ന് മൂന്നുമാസമാകുമ്പോൾ".
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