KOLLAM: Actor Mammootty, who was the chief guest, said that when he was invited on the concluding day of the school arts festival, he wondered what is the relevance of a person like him among the youngsters. The minister insisted that you are the right person for this program. Mammootty drew laughter on the stage by saying that the minister had thought that he was still young, but it was only in appearance.

"After deciding to come to the ceremony, I watched a video clip. It was a video about what Mammootty will be wearing for the event. I had kept a pant a shirt, and a cooling glass ready before that. I had come to the ceremony as a young man right? But then I saw the video. From that, I understood that everyone was expecting me to wear a mundu and a white shirt.

I could only dress up to everyone's expectations. Seeing such a large crowd is a little nerve-wracking. One... I have to please everyone with my words and two... there are signs of rain. If it rains suddenly, people will run here and there and I fear that something will happen. So I don't intend to get everyone wet in the rain by talking too long.

Successes and failures of art programs should never affect the work of art. That is because what we are enacting is an art performance. Even if you don't succeed in one, you will not lose your artistic skills. It is possible to become a great artist only if you polish your skills from time to time.

Opportunities are the same in the art world. I am someone who couldn't even attend a single university youth festival. If I can speak in front of you, the winners and losers of this art show will have the same opportunity. Festivals like these are the real gatherings without any discrimination.

While studying in college, if I light a cigarette from the gate door, I will get the last smoke only when I reach the class. I wouldn't know how many people must have smoked that cigarette. Discrimination has not affected the students then or now. It is not the people of Kollam, but the people of Kannur... The Kannur squad who has won the cup. If necessary, the Kollam people could have encouraged and improved their own people but they didn't. That is the glory of Kollam. That is Malayalees, that's Keralites. I believe that it will continue to do so. Kollam is rich in everything, it is rich in good people and good natural resources.'

Kannur bagged the crown of the 62nd school arts festival held in Kollam. By scoring 952 points, after 23 years, Kannur is taking home the gold cup worth 117.5 sovereigns. This is Kannur's 4th title. Kozhikode (949 points) got the second position and Palakkad (938 points) got the third position.