Ode to campus life
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‘Kalalaya Varnangal’ focusses on life on various campuses in Kerala. Liza George
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‘Kalalaya Varnangal’ was a pioneer of sorts when it was launched. While most campus-based programmes focus on the cultural talents of the students, ‘Kalalaya Varnangal’ focusses on life on various campuses in
Kerala. The history of the college, the special courses on offer and extra-curricular activities of the students are some of the topics covered.
The show, which began on July 17, 2000, has covered colleges from Kasaragod to Thiruvananthapuram. The first campus covered was Brennen College, Thalasserry, one of the oldest colleges in the State.
While most of the colleges featured were well-known to the viewers, some were literally unheard of, like St. George College, Aruvikkara. Although at a slightly remote location, the institute ran its own in-house channel. This was in 2000. Run by the media club of the college, students under the guidance of their professors produced and ran their programmes.
Social activities
Some of the other colleges that stood out were St. Thomas College, Pala, and Vimala College, Thrissur.
“The management of St. Thomas and Vimala College encourage their students towards social activities. Final-year degree students of St. Thomas College offer free coaching classes to school students around their locality.
Members of the Social Forum Club at Vimala’s offer counselling sessions to alcoholics. Another thing I liked about Vimala College was how active participation of the alumni in the various college events,” says Mahesh Panju, the producer of the show.
A unique venture by a Malayalam professor and his students of Malabar Christian College was also highlighted in the show. This group, wrote poetry, drew paintings and wrote short stories on a three- kilometre- long strip of cloth. The venture earned them a name in the Limca Book of Records.
The show also covers the various inter-collegiate festivals and youth festivals.
Celebrating life on campus:‘Kalalaya Varnangal.’
“We have a talent slot also for students on our show. However, once it was poetry recitals, folk songs and literary debates that dominated the programmes on the slot, it is now cinematic dances that rule supreme.
“It’s a shame that we are sidelining our culture due to the influence of Bollywood,” says Mahesh. Students are also encouraged to send in short films they have shot for the show.
If to mark their 50th episode they had Mammooty walking down memory lane of his alma mater –Maharaja’s College and Law College, to mark their 350th episode of the show,
‘Kalalaya Varnangal’ will be inviting all colleges featured on the show till date for a grand function to be held in either October or November.
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