At the 2015 edition of the State School Arts Festival in Kozhikode, the hottest topic of discussion was the large number of students who contested through the ‘appeal’ route. Nearly 1,500 of them had participated after appealing successfully against the verdict at the district festivals.
There was sharp criticism against those ‘appeal entries,’ but The Hindu had then pointed out how those very students became some of the biggest stars of that festival. One recalls V.K. Sukanya breaking down after coming first in the girls’ Light Music.
Her performance was among the best of that festival. But, if there had been no option for an appeal, she would not have progressed beyond the sub-district level.
Two years later, history repeated itself, when S.K. Keerthana charmed the audience here and won the first prize in girls’ Light Music in a tough competition that also featured Madhushree Narayan, who won the State award for the best playback singer last year. Keerthana is only one of the several students who have benefited because of the appeal system. There are even events in which all the top three prices are bagged by appeal entries.
Yet, there is much furore over those students. True, there are just far too many appeal entries in certain events — there were 37 of them in Bharatanatym (HSS girls) — and that has badly disrupted the schedule. But, before blaming those students, one should not forget that it is only through the appeal system that many of them are getting a fair opportunity.
“Somehow, an impression has been created that coming to participate through the appeal route is bad,” said Bharatanatyam dancer Aswathy Srikanth. “If the number of appeal entries has to be reduced, competent, fair judges should be brought in,” she said.
Anupama Mohan, a Kuchipudi dancer, nodded in agreement. “It is not just at the State festival that one requires good judges, but at the sub-district and district-levels as well,” she said. “If there was no option of appeals, many of my students would not have been able to participate at the festival,” she said.
The appeal system is a burning issue at this festival too; at the time of filing this report, there have 1,284 appeal entries. But, chances are this festival too would end on schedule on Sunday.
Yes, far more students than expected have performed. They are not complaining; neither are the art lovers whom they entertained.
