The grand finale of the 14th Malayalam Festival kendra Kalotsavam organised by the Malayala Bhasha Pracharana Sangham, was held with great fervour and artistic excellence on Sunday, December 14, at Chembur Adarsha Vidyalaya, Mumbai. The day-long Central Arts Festival witnessed outstanding performances by young talents and seasoned artistes, celebrating the richness of Malayalam language, culture, and heritage.
The festival commenced at 9.00 am across 10 vibrant venues, featuring participants who had secured first and second places in the regional arts festivals conducted across various regions under the Malayala Bhasha Pracharana Sangham. The inaugural session was presided over by Sandeep Verma, President of the Sangham, and the gathering was welcomed by Reena Santosh, General Secretary. Priya Varghese, Secretary, Care for Mumbai, graced the occasion as a special guest.
A distinctive highlight of the inauguration was the participation of differently-abled contestants Hrucheeek Nair, Siddhija Ramesh, and Grace Jojo, who formally inaugurated the festival. Siddhija Ramesh rendered a song, while Hrucheeek Nair addressed the audience, drawing warm appreciation. T. N. Hariharan, Patron of the Malayalam Festival Celebration Committee and President of the Kerala Central Organisation, extended felicitations. Rajan Nair, Treasurer of the Central Working Committee, proposed the vote of thanks. Ramachandran Manjarambath, Secretary, Malayalam Mission Mumbai Chapter, and K. Pavithran, Secretary, Kerala People’s Education Society, were also present on the dais.
Representing 10 regions from Colaba to Khopoli and Palghar, over a thousand participants ranging from four-year-olds to senior citizens competed enthusiastically in 23 art and language competitions, conducted across six age groups. While three venues resonated with melodious vocal performances, another three came alive with the vibrant rhythms of Kerala’s traditional dance forms. Other venues hosted competitions in poetry recitation, storytelling, speech, reading, quizzes, and painting, reflecting the wide cultural canvas of Malayalam arts.
A special feature of this year’s festival was the inclusive platform provided to differently-abled participants, who competed directly in select events at the Central Arts Festival. The Short Drama Competition (Natakotsavam) has been scheduled separately on January 25, 2026.
The festival drew enthusiastic support from various Malayali organisations, along with the presence of prominent literary figures, cultural leaders, and artistes from across the Mumbai metropolitan region. The competitions were judged by a distinguished panel of 31 renowned experts in dance, literature, and fine arts.
The curtains came down at 7.00 pm, marking the conclusion of the 14th Malayalam Arts Festival. In the final tally, the Kalyan–Dombivli Region emerged as overall champions, securing the coveted title. Navi Mumbai Region and the Western Region claimed the second and third positions respectively.