CMA Kalamela-2024

1. The last day of accepting duly filled Kalamela Registration forms will be April 15, 2024 by online only.  The applications received after April 15, 2024 will not be accepted.
2. Registration fee for each participant per each single item will be $20.00, and registration fee for each group  item will be $20.00 per participant. Fees should be submitted online along with the registration form. For kids  Smiling Competition registration will be free, but must register. No registration fee will be refunded after  April 16, 2024.
3. Competitions will be conducted in the following 4 age categories. Sub Junior: Kindergarten to Grade 4;  Junior: Grades 5-8; Senior: Grades 9-12; Masters: College & above.
4. Spelling bee competitions are limited to Grades 2 to 8, in 2 groups, Sub Junior (2-4) and Junior (5-8). The  coordinator may add words in case of a shortage in the distributed words.
5. Separate forms and fees are required for group items. Multiple contestants can use one form but need  separate fees for each group member. There must be at least three (3) participants in a group item. The  category for a group item is decided by the age of the oldest participant. No restrictions on upper limit.
6. There will be three categories for the competitive items. Group A (Dances), Group B (Non Dances), and  Special items.
7. Kalaprathiba (Male) and Kalathilakam (Female) must win at least one prize in both categories, A and B.  He/She must score more points than any other contestant in single items.
8. The contestants from the Seniors and Masters category will not be considered for Kalathilakam and Kalapratibha titles.
9. points earned in group items, special items will not be considered for Kalaprathiba and Kalathilakam titles. Only in the event of a tie between 2 contestants, points earned from the group items will be considered to determine Kalaprathiba or Kalathilakam.
10. No contestant can register for more than five single items, excluding group items and special items.
11. If an item has less than 3 participants in an age group, the points and prizes will be distributed as follows:  Grade A (Score 90-100) – 5 points, Grade B (Score 80-89) – 3 points, Grade C (70- 79) – 1 point.
12. If an item has 3 or more participants in an age group, points will be distributed as follows: 1st prize – 5  points, 2nd prize – 3 points, 3rd prize – 1 point.
13. The Kalamela Committee reserves the right to cancel any competition and/or to change the venue, time,  order, rules and/or disqualify participants.
14. All complaints and suggestions should be submitted in writing to the Kalamela Organizers.
15. In determining the winners, the Judges’ decisions will be final.
16. Competitors should be the Child/Children of at least one Malayalee parent, and living in the Midwest  region. 
17. Film songs or light music can be used for Malayalam/English song competition. Karaoke is not allowed for song  competition.
18. For Malayalam reading, participants should have done their entire schooling in the USA.
19. All participants should bring necessary materials needed for painting/drawing competition. Please note that only paper for drawing and painting will be provided by the organizers. Painting anddrawing competition Will be taking place between 9 am and 1 pm. No entries will be taken after 1 pm.
20. For fancy dress, only SOLO performances are allowed. Background music, verbal comment and commentaries are  permitted.
21. The Spelling bee word list and Speech topics will be provided by April 5, 2024 in the website of the Chicago Malayalee Association.
22. Topics for drawing, painting & Malayalam reading will be provided only on the spot, on the morning of  the competition.
23. Three different passages will be given for the Malayalam Reading, and the contestant will be asked to read  one passage chosen by the organizers/Judges just before the competition.
24. For Group Song competitions, participants may use any language and musical instruments, but no  karaoke is allowed.
25. Dubsmash competition participants will use existing audio clips from Malayalam movies/popular TV shows. Judgment will be based on the quality of performance (how close to the original theme), dialogue presentation, costume, background setting and creativity with improvisations. Sequence of dialogue should be from a single scenario.
26. Tamil / Malayalam / Hindi film songs can be sung for ‘Film songs with Karaoke’ competition. Points earned in this item will not be considered for Kalaprathiba or Kalathilakam title.

1. All participants should report to the assigned area 30 minutes before competition begins.
2. Please bring all music in MP3 format in a USB Drive and must be given to the competitionorganizers15 minutes before the competition begins. No CDs allowed.
3. There will be 1 item for kids 5 and under. The Smiling competition evaluates the skills of the kids for smiling, speaking, memory, singing (Nursery Rhymes), and general knowledge.
4. Any special item category will not be considered for Kalaprathibha/Kalathilakam title.
5. Male participants (Sub-Juniors, Juniors) who score maximum points in single items will be judged as Kalaprathibha.
6. Female participants (Sub-Juniors, Juniors) who score maximum points in single items will be judged as Kalathilakam.
7. Participants who score maximum points in single items in Sub-Junior, Junior and Senior categories get the Rising Star title.
8. Mixed songs are allowed for cinematic & western dance. For western dance, Indian songs are not allowed.
9. A participant cannot contest in more than one group in a single category.
10. Participants should adhere to the specified time limit allotted for each item.

Maximum Time limits for the competitions are as follows:

• Bharatanatyam: 10 minutes
• Mohiniyattam: 10 minutes
• Western dance: 05 minutes
• Folk Dance: 07 minutes
• Cinematic Dance: 07 minutes
• Semiclassical Dance: 07 minutes

• Elocution Malayalam: 05 minutes
• Elocution English: 05 minutes
• Fancy Dress: 05 minutes
• Pencil Drawing: 1 hour
• Painting (Water color): 1 hour
• Classical Song: 10 minutes
• Malayalam Song (Film/Light): 05 minutes
• Malayalam Reading: 05 minutes
• Light Music English: 05 minutes
• Group Song: 10 minutes
• Instrumental Music: 05 minutes
• Spelling Bee

• Smiling Competition (Free) Kids 5 & Under
• Dubsmash: 03 minutes
• Film Song with Karaoke: 05 minutes
• Group Song with Karaoke: 05 minutes