Kerala Kalolsavam 2026: Students strike the right note for school arts festival

Blending talent, teamwork, and tradition, students of a government school near Mannarkkad in Palakkad have composed the official theme song for the State School Arts Festival—earning Statewide acclaim and ministerial praise.

The State School Arts Festival, set to open on January 14, will resonate this year with a melody born in a rural classroom. The official theme song of the festival has been composed, written, and rendered entirely by students of Government Higher Secondary School, Pottassery, in Kanjirappuzha grama panchayat.

Chosen from entries received for a State-level competition organised by the General Education Department, the song stood out for its creativity and depth. Its lyrics were penned by V. Praful Das, a Plus Two student who had earlier written the theme song for the State School Sports Meet. A gifted orator and organiser, Praful Das is also the chairman of the Pottassery School Parliament and the leader of the school’s NSS unit.

Rooted in the 64-year legacy of the Kerala School Arts Festival, the song celebrates the State’s natural beauty and the rich diversity of art forms showcased at the event. The tune was composed by students Hridhya Krishna and Akshay V.K., while the introductory rendition brought together a chorus of young voices—Muhammed Fayis P.K., Hridhya Krishna, Sooraj Chandran A., Abel Binoy, Joel Michael, Lakshmika K., Gatha Krishna K., and Vishnudath C.P.

The achievement has been hailed as a proud moment for the locality. Principal P. Santhosh Kumar, Headmistress T. Sabitha, and PTA president P. Jayarajan said the State-level recognition of students from a rural government school underscored the depth of talent thriving beyond urban centres.

Adding to the recognition, Higher Education Minister R. Bindu personally met the student creators to congratulate them and later acknowledged their accomplishment in a social media post—turning a local success into a moment of Statewide celebration.