For the first time, the Kerala School Kalolsavam has included art forms from tribal communities in its lineup, reflecting Kerala's deep cultural roots. The event manual was also updated to accommodate these changes, ensuring the festival becomes a comprehensive showcase of Kerala’s tradition and culture.

Among them, Mangalam Kali, stands out for its unique songs and the siginificance it holds to the Mavila community. 

Mangalam Kali Artist and Folklore Academy award winner Bhaskaran Chembena on this unique art form:

In a time when the marginalized were silenced, a single voice began to express their struggles and dilemmas through song. This sparked a response, another voice joining in a musical dialogue. These raw expressions of life, interwoven with the rhythmic beats of the thudi drum, became the soul of Mangalam Kali.

“Our Mavila community speaks Markani Tulu,” explains Bhaskaran Chembena. “Our songs, once solely in this language, now incorporate Malayalam and Kannada Tulu as well.” Besides the Mavila community, Mangalam Kali is also a cherished tradition of the Malavettuva community.
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Mangalam Kali holds a significant place in tribal customs, especially during weddings. On the eve of the ceremony, the groom's relatives arrive at the bride's home, their arrival heralded by the thudi drums. The bride's family responds with their own thudi performance, setting the scene for a performance under the wedding canopy.