The drama festival organised by the Malayala Bhasha Pracharana Sangham as part of the 14th Malayalam Festival concluded successfully on February 1, 2026, at the Chembur Adarsha Vidyalayam Auditorium. The event witnessed enthusiastic participation and showcased the vibrant theatrical talent of Mumbai’s Malayali community.
The inaugural function was presided over by Sandeep Varma, President of the Malayala Bhasha Pracharana Sangham. Anil Prakash welcomed the gathering, while renowned theatre activist Suma Mukundan formally inaugurated the festival. In her address, Suma Mukundan appreciated the consistent efforts of the organisation in promoting Malayalam theatre and other Kerala art forms in Mumbai, especially for nurturing creative expression among the younger generation of Malayalis.
General Secretary Reena Santosh outlined the objectives of the drama festival. K. Pavithran, Secretary of Kerala People’s Education Society, and Ramachandran Manjarambath, Secretary of Malayalam Mission, Mumbai Chapter, conveyed their felicitations. Treasurer Rajan Nair proposed the vote of thanks.
The festival featured nine plays, staged across two age-based categories. In Group A (up to 25 years), “Balal Mazha” by Harikrishnan Sathyan and team from the Western Region was adjudged Best Play, while “Thuni” by Manjari Kurup and team from the Kalyan-Dombivli Region secured second place. Bhavya Nair (Balal Mazha) won the Best Actress award, and Angelo Cristiano (Balal Mazha, Western Region) was adjudged Best Actor.
In Group B (above 25 years), “Basheerinte Monchathikal” ( Acted only by lady artists) by Jeeba Sreejith and team from the Western Region won the Best Play award. “Etirdisha” by Premkumar and team from the Powai-Sakinaka Region secured second place. Roja R. Nair (Kalyan-Dombivli Region) won Best Actress for her role in “Lahari”, while Premkumar (Etirdisha) was adjudged Best Actor.
All nine participating plays received an incentive award of ₹5,000 each for strictly adhering to the festival guidelines. The performances were evaluated by a distinguished panel of judges comprising Vinayan Kalathur, P. K. Muralikrishnan, and Manoj Mundayat.
The festival reaffirmed the growing strength and artistic excellence of Malayalam theatre in Mumbai, with the Western Region emerging as a major highlight by winning four key awards.
