Our SMCA Yeovil kids and adults took part in the UUKMA South West Region Kalamela 2026, held in Salisbury on Saturday 17th October, ahead of the 17th UUKMA National Kalamela. Our members took part in solo and group items across every age category, from Kids to Seniors, and brought home 14 prizes: 5 first, 3 second and 6 third places. 🎉

Congratulations to everyone who took part. The hours of practice, the early mornings and all the rehearsals fitted around work and school made it a proud day for the whole association.

🥇 First Prize

Cinematic Dance, Super Senior (Above 35): Reshma Shyam, Sandhya Suresh, Sreety Johnson, Ansa Thomas, Mercy Jacob, Chitra Kiran, Jeethy Gireesh
Nadanpattu: Salini Rijesh, Soumya Kuriakose, Ishaan Rijesh Nair, Steve George, Elaine Mia Tobin, George Thomas, Rijesh Raj
Elocution (Malayalam), Sub-Juniors: Ishaan Rijesh Nair
Folk Dance, Juniors: Parvani Neethu Praveen
Song Solo (Malayalam), Juniors: Steve George

🥈 Second Prize

Cinematic Dance (Group), Juniors: Aaradhya Shinoy, Anamika Suresh, Diksha Gireesh, Diya George, Hannah Maria Antony, Jewel Mary Sam, Riya Rony, Sera Anna Ajay
Poem Recitation (Malayalam), Sub-Juniors: Ishaan Rijesh Nair
Song Solo (Malayalam), Seniors: Sabarinath Ashokan

🥉 Third Prize

Margamkali: Diksha Gireesh, Alankrita Sooraj, Nidhi Vinod, Michelle Merin Baby, Parvani Neethu Praveen, Gowri Krishna
Thiruvathira: Sandhya Suresh, Reshma Shyam, Sreety Johnson, Ansa Thomas, Mercy Jacob, Chitra Kiran, Anjali K Menon
Bharatanatyam, Juniors: Parvani Neethu Praveen
Folk Dance, Juniors: Michelle Merin Baby
Solo Song (Malayalam), Kids: Ezabel Maria Sebin
Story Telling (Malayalam), Kids: Ezabel Maria Sebin

Star performers ⭐
Ishaan Rijesh Nair and Parvani Neethu Praveen each walked away with three prizes, and Steve George took two first places. Well done to all of you!

A big thank you to all our participants, the parents who drove, waited, styled and cheered all day, and everyone who trained and supported the teams behind the scenes. 👏

Congratulations also to the overall champions IMA Banbury, runners-up Aylesbury Malayali Samajam and third-placed Wiltshire Malayali Association, and a big thank you to the UUKMA South West Region team for running a well-organised event across five stages.

📰 Read the full UUKMA News report: https://uukmanews.com/archives/252536

📸 See all our photos from the day in the Gallery: https://smcayeovil.co.uk/gallery/albums/md79kfvejj7djxpyf97d6n813d8hjz7f

Best of luck to everyone heading to the National Kalamela on 7th November in Cheltenham! 🌟

Photo Courtesy: Better Frames Photography

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