Sat Jan 04 17:49:09 UTC 2025: ## Kerala School Arts Festival Opens with Tribute to Literary Legend

**THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, January 4, 2025** – The 63rd State School Arts Festival kicked off in Thiruvananthapuram on Saturday with a poignant tribute to the late Malayalam writer M.T. Vasudevan Nair. A large portrait of the renowned author adorned the main stage, a fitting homage to a man whose works have deeply influenced Kerala’s cultural landscape.

The festival, inaugurated by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and presided over by Education Minister V. Sivankutty, featured a diverse range of performances. A particularly moving piece was a group dance by students from GVHSS, Vellarmala, recounting the tragic Wayanad landslide of last July. Chief Minister Vijayan praised the performance and highlighted the festival’s long-standing tradition of interpreting M.T.’s work.

The opening day showcased a wide array of traditional and contemporary art forms, including Mohiniyattam, Bharatanatyam, Kuchipudi, Oppana, Margam Kali, and the debut of tribal dances like Mangalam Kali. Ghazal, a relatively new addition to the festival, also saw strong participation. A total of 15,000 students are competing in 249 events across 29 venues this year. The festival is expected to continue for five days. The vibrant performances, diverse participation, and the emotional tribute to M.T. Vasudevan Nair set the stage for a memorable cultural event.

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