On Friday, the Town Hall in Thrissur came alive with the vibrant dance-drama Chavittu Natakam. Students from St. Sebastian Higher Secondary School, Gothuruthu, took the stage wearing glittering costumes and ornate headgear. Their 20-minute act, "Fights of Wives," was full of thunderous footwork, precise movements, and vivid theatrical flair. Trainer Sebastian Abhilash said, "Chavittu Natakam runs in their veins. These students have grown up with the art form, and St. Sebastian School has been bringing it to the festival stage for years." He added, "We adapted a small portion of the epic for a 20-minute performance, but the intensity and theatrics remain uncompromised." Chavittu Natakam, a 16th-century Christian dance-drama from Kerala, blends local folk traditions with European opera styles. It tells stories from the Bible, saints, and kings, with elaborate costumes, vigorous footwork, and a mix of Malayalam, Tamil, and Latin Christian culture. At the same festival, RMVHS Perinjanam presented "Yohannante Thala," a dramatic depiction of John the Baptist's beheading. Their precise theatrical actions captured the biblical tale, ending with the haunting image of John's severed head on a platter. Once dominated by boys because of its physical intensity, Chavittu Natakam now sees many girls leading the art. Trainer Thambi Payyappilly shared, "I’ve trained students for 13 years—around 1,700 in total. Around 1,500 of them are girls." He praised the girls saying, "Girls may have less raw stamina, but they bring unmatched flexibility and grace to the movements." Student Swetha S. from Fatima Matha Girls HSS, Koompanpara, said, "Systematic practice makes all the difference." With its rich heritage, heroic tales, and youthful energy, Chavittu Natakam continues to shine as a key highlight of the State School Arts Festival.