Arunachal kids groove to Malayalam hits for Onam; social media searches for the ‘90s kid’ behind it

Onam may be Kerala’s biggest festival, but the celebrations are clearly no longer confined to the state. A heartwarming video from a school in Arunachal Pradesh is winning hearts online, with a group of young students putting on an unexpectedly Kerala-style performance to some popular Malayalam songs.

As part of their Onam celebrations, the children took to the stage dressed in a distinctly Kerala-inspired style — shirts paired with mundu-like lungis folded and tucked up in the traditional fashion. What followed was a lively dance performance to hit songs associated with stars including Mohanlal, Dileep and Kalabhavan Mani.
The little dancers appeared to be thoroughly enjoying themselves, while students and teachers in the audience cheered them on with loud applause.

But it was not just the dance moves that caught the attention of social media users. Amid the cheers and singing from the audience, viewers appear to have picked up on the unmistakable voice of a Malayali teacher.
Whoever he is, the teacher seems to be right there with the children, singing along to the lyrics and cheering them on. And social media has already begun looking for the person believed to be behind the children's performance.

“Need to see the 90s kid behind this,” is the sentiment doing the rounds online, with many showering the children with love. Some even went as far as declaring that Onam has now become a national festival.
There is also plenty of speculation about the mystery teacher. Some users believe he could be a Malayali teacher who recently transferred to the school and taught the children the dance. Others jokingly reminded him not to forget to bring the children along when he visits Kerala.
And then there is the setting itself.

The stage where the children performed appears to be nestled beneath a towering mountain, with lush green hills forming a stunning backdrop. Banana leaves have been used to decorate the stage, giving the celebration a distinctly rustic, traditional touch.
With the greenery-covered mountains in the background and the simple banana-leaf decorations in front, the setting adds a unique charm to the entire celebration.

For children studying amid such a beautiful natural landscape, their joyful Onam celebration seems to have found an equally warm reception online — proving once again that a festival rooted in one part of India can bring people together far beyond its borders.

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