Kalolsavam circulars, school arts fest notices and college fest lists use competition names that are not always explained anywhere — extempore, versification, mono act, kathaprasangam, aksharaslokam. This page explains each item in plain words: what it is, how it is usually run, and (where the rules set one) the time allowed on stage. Each entry links to a full judging guide for that item.
Jump to: Speaking · Singing & music · Acting & theatre · Dance · Writing · Word & verse games
Time limits quoted as “at the Kerala school kalolsavam” come from the official item list; others note which festival they come from.
Speaking competitions
What is an elocution competition?
An elocution competition (in Malayalam, prasangam) is a prepared speech on a given topic, judged on content, delivery, language and confidence. At the Kerala school kalolsavam it is an individual item with a 5-minute limit. It is sometimes misspelled “allocation competition”. Elocution judging criteria →
What is an extempore competition?
Extempore means speaking without preparing in advance. The topic is given on the spot, so the speaker has little or no preparation time — one CBSE Sahodaya kalotsav allows 5 minutes of speaking. Judges reward quick thinking, a clear structure and confident delivery rather than polished content. Elocution vs extempore criteria →
What is a recitation competition?
A recitation competition (in Malayalam, padyam chollal) is reciting a poem from memory with the right rhythm, clear pronunciation and feeling. At the Kerala school kalolsavam it is an individual item with a 5-minute limit, held separately in several languages. Recitation judging criteria →
What is a debate competition?
Two sides argue for and against a motion in turns. Judges score the strength of each argument, the rebuttals and the delivery. Debate judging criteria →
What is an anchoring competition?
Anchoring means compering a programme — introducing items and keeping the audience engaged. One CBSE Sahodaya kalotsav gives it a 7-minute slot.
Singing and music competitions
What is a light music competition?
Light music (lalithaganam) is solo singing of melodious, non-classical songs — light, devotional or film-style songs — judged on pitch, rhythm, voice and feeling. At the Kerala school kalolsavam it is an individual item with a 5-minute limit. Light music judging criteria →
What is a group song competition?
A group song (sangha ganam) is sung by a team, judged on harmony, blending and staying in tune together. At the Kerala school kalolsavam it is a team item with a 10-minute limit; the patriotic song (desabhakthi ganam) is a separate team item with 5 minutes. Singing judging criteria →
What is nadanpattu?
Nadanpattu means folk song — traditional Kerala folk songs sung by a team in the folk style. At the Kerala school kalolsavam it is a team item with a 10-minute limit.
What is kathaprasangam?
Kathaprasangam is a Kerala storytelling art in which one performer tells a story through a mix of narration and song. At the Kerala school kalolsavam it is an individual item with 10 to 15 minutes depending on the category. Kathaprasangam judging criteria →
What are chenda melam and panchavadyam?
Both are Kerala percussion ensembles played by a team. At the Kerala school kalolsavam, chenda melam has a 10-minute limit and panchavadyam 20 minutes. Percussion judging criteria →
Acting and theatre competitions
What is a mono act competition?
In a mono act, one performer acts out a short scene alone, often switching between several characters with voice and body alone. At the Kerala school kalolsavam it is an individual item with a 5-minute limit. Mono act judging criteria →
What is a mime competition?
Mime (mookabhinayam) tells a story without words — only gestures, expressions and movement. At the Kerala school kalolsavam it is a team item with a 5-minute limit. Mime judging criteria →
What is a skit competition?
A skit is a short play by a small team, often humorous or built around a social message. At the Kerala school kalolsavam it is a team item with a 10-minute limit; a full drama (nadakam) gets 30 minutes. Skit and drama judging criteria →
What is a tableau?
In a tableau, a team forms a frozen scene that tells a story or shows a theme without moving or speaking. It is judged on how clearly the scene reads, the grouping and stillness. Tableau judging criteria →
What is mimicry?
Mimicry is imitating voices and sounds — people, animals, machines. At the Kerala school kalolsavam it is an individual item with a 5-minute limit.
What is ottanthullal?
Ottanthullal is a Kerala solo performing art that combines dance with humorous, satirical verse. At the Kerala school kalolsavam it is an individual item with a 10-minute limit. Ottanthullal judging criteria →
What is a fancy dress competition?
A child dresses up as a character and presents it on stage. One Gulf kalotsavam gives each child 2 minutes. Fancy dress judging criteria →
Dance competitions
What is a solo dance?
A solo dance is a dance performed by one person, in any style the rules allow — classical, folk or film. (सोलो डांस का मतलब है एक व्यक्ति द्वारा किया गया नृत्य।) Classical dance judging criteria →
What is cinematic dance?
Cinematic dance is dancing to a film song in the style of film choreography. It appears on Gulf kalotsavam and college fest lists; one Gulf kalotsavam allows 5 minutes. Group dance judging criteria →
What are thiruvathira and margamkali?
Both are traditional Kerala group dances performed by a team. At the Kerala school kalolsavam each has a 10-minute limit, and margamkali is a girls’ team item. Thiruvathira judging criteria →
What is an action song?
An action song is a song sung with simple actions that act out the words. One Gulf kalotsavam runs it as a Group 1 item with 5 minutes. Action song judging criteria →
Writing competitions
What is a versification competition?
Versification means writing a poem on a topic given in the hall, within a time limit — 60 minutes in one CBSE Sahodaya kalotsav. It is the same competition as kavitha rachana. Poetry writing judging criteria →
What is kavitha rachana in English?
Kavitha rachana is Malayalam for poetry writing (kavitha = poem, rachana = composition). At the Kerala school kalolsavam it is an off-stage individual item with 120 minutes. The related items are katharachana (story writing) and upanyasam (essay writing), also 120 minutes each. Story and essay writing criteria →
Word and verse games
What is aksharaslokam?
Aksharaslokam is a verse-chain contest. One participant recites a sloka (a classical verse), and the next must recite a different sloka that begins with the last letter — or a letter the judges name — of the one just recited. It runs in rounds with no fixed time limit. Aksharaslokam rules and scoring →
What is a quiz competition?
Participants or teams answer questions in rounds, and the scores decide the winners. Quiz scoring rules →
Running these items at your own event
For the full list of items at the Kerala school kalolsavam with time limits, see the kalolsavam items list. To run any of them — registration, chest numbers, judges scoring on their phones, results and certificates — see eTalenter’s kalolsavam management software, open a live demo and log in as a demo coordinator or judge (no sign-up), message us on WhatsApp (WhatsApp only — no phone calls), or email support@etalenter.com.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.