Applause and apprehensions: Higher secondary Malayalam drama steals the spotlight at Kerala State School Arts Festival

Thrissur: From the early hours of Saturday, the green rooms at Chaldean Syrian Higher Secondary School echoed with hurried cues, costume checks and last-minute rehearsals as the Higher secondary Malayalam drama — one of the most eagerly awaited events at the State School Arts Festival — unfolded amid palpable excitement.The competitions stretched from morning to night, attracting theatre lovers, students and cultural enthusiasts. Plays ranged widely in form and theme — from slapstick comedy to layered ones engaging with contemporary socio-political concerns. The crowd appreciated the overall quality and applauded the young actors' confidence and maturity.The response boosted the actors' morale. Anna Rose, part of Pokku staged by St Mary's HSS Edoor, said her team was thrilled. The group missed out on qualifying last year after finishing second at the district level but returned with renewed determination. Pokku, which explores student migration and the generational conflicts it triggers, struck a chord with audience with its humour-laden narrative and relatable conflicts.Literary figures, too, praised many plays. Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award winner Vinoy Thomas lauded the adaptation of his short story Vishudha Magdalana Mariyathinte Palli by Govt HSS, Kokkallur. Thomas observed that the students' performances helped the audience visually grasp its nuances which may not be so evident on the pages. Critical voices were also heard amid the applause. National award-winning filmmaker Priyanandanan, known for Pulijanmam, praised the students' efforts but criticised what he termed inadequate arrangements. Poor lighting and sound, he said, diminished the viewing experience for audiences who travelled long distances, a concern particularly striking given that this is the festival's 64th edition.Echoing the sentiment, some theatre practitioners in the audience raised deeper artistic concerns. Despite the originality of stories and committed performances, they felt that most plays followed a uniform, familiar style of narration. According to one theatre artist and school teacher from Kottayam, this trend stems from an unwritten formula believed to secure A grade at the festival, often at the cost of experimentation and creative risk.Overall, the higher secondary Malayalam drama competition stood out as a space of vibrant talent and serious engagement, even as questions lingered over infrastructure and artistic freedom. The event, many agreed, reflected both the enduring strength of school theatre in Kerala and the challenges it must confront to evolve further.