After a disappointing opening day, the Calicut University inter-zone arts festival came alive on the university campus here on Saturday.
The competitions were fiercer on day two, and there were better crowds for most of the events, notwithstanding the scorching summer heat. Bharatanatyam was the highlight of the day. There were some fine performances and there was intense competition for the top prizes, though the quality on display was not that high overall.
“Since these contestants are from college and not schools, more is expected from you,” said Vidya Lakshmi, on behalf of the judges. “You have to remember that when you begin performing outside these competitions.”
The first prize in Bharatanatyam was shared by two students – Megha Mohan of KVUMDHO, Pookarathara, and Syama Balachandran of MES Kalladi College, Mannarkkad. The light music contest for women too attracted a good audience.
The competitions featured some fine singers too. Among them was K.R. Sadhika, a familiar face to followers of music reality shows on television. Representing Farook College, Kozhikode, she clinched the first prize for her rendering of the ever-popular Alakananda theeram …, composed by Vidyadharan. A few hours later, M. Pranav of Sree Narayana College came first in the light music competition for men.
The other winners included Anushya Nair of Mercy College, Palakkad, and S. Lakshmi of University Campus (Mohaniyattam) and Joel George and party Sahrdaya College, Thrissur (Parichamuttukali). In the race for the overall title, St. Joseph’s College, Devagiri, maintained its lead, scoring 111 points from 71 events. But, another college from Kozhikode, Farook College, is breathing down its neck, with 104 points.
Govt. Victoria College, Palakkad, has 61 points, while Sahrdaya College, Thrissur, has 50. The results of another 54 events have to be tabulated before the champion colleges are determined. The festival concludes on Sunday.
