Students weave powerful narratives through Kathaprasangam on modern struggles and timeless tales

High school students showcase captivating storytelling at State Arts School Festival, blending traditional narratives with modern themes.

The Kathaprasangam event in the high school category at the State Arts School Festival on Wednesday was a captivating showcase of storytelling, where high school students skilfully blended traditional narratives with contemporary themes.

The performances highlighted a range of diverse subjects, from epic tales to modern-day issues, with each participant creatively adapting stories to reflect the challenges of today’s world. The unique art form of Kathaprasangam, which combines prose narration with emotive singing, allowed students to display their storytelling and vocal skills, effectively conveying powerful messages.

Among the most notable performances was by Vaiga S. Madhu from CKNS GHSS, Pilicode, Kasaragod, who presented the inspiring tale of acid attack survivor Reshma Bano Qureshi, whose journey from the slums of Mumbai to becoming a prominent figure in the fashion industry was nothing short of remarkable.

By incorporating anecdotes from Qureshi’s autobiography Being Reshma, Vaiga skilfully portrayed the survivor’s struggles following the attack in 2014, in which she was targeted by her brother-in-law. The performance emphasised Reshma’s transformation into an advocate for acid attack survivors and her role as the face of a global campaign.

Gouri N. Raj of St. Mary’s HSS, Morakkala, Ernakulam, honoured the literary legacy of M.T. Vasudevan Nair with her rendition of his short story Pallivalum Kalchilambum. The story, which was adapted into the film Nirmalyam, revolves around the hardships faced by a temple oracle.

Gouri used this narrative as a metaphor to address contemporary issues such as growing religious intolerance and the suppression of artistic freedom, drawing connections to incidents such as the murder of journalist Gauri Lankesh and rationalist Narendra Dabholkar.

Several students also presented stories that focussed on global conflicts, such as the Israel-Palestine and Russia-Ukraine wars, adapting the tragic tale of Jeevalatha from Sudha Menon’s Charithram Adrusyamakkiya Murivukal to highlight the ongoing suffering in conflict zones. These performances stressed the importance of peace and unity in the face of prolonged violence.