Play A Character

 

Lights, Camera, Character! A Day of Creativity at Carmel College

What happens when cinema walks out of the screen and onto the stage?
On 9 January 2026, Carmel College witnessed exactly that — a vibrant celebration of imagination and performance through the Play-A-Character Inter-Higher Secondary Competition, organised by the Carmel Cine Club in collaboration with the Department of English.

The campus transformed into a mini film universe where iconic characters came alive, not through CGI or camera angles, but through pure talent and enthusiasm.

A Stage Full of Stories

The event began with a warm welcome by the Principal, followed by encouraging words from the Head of the Department of English, both highlighting how performance arts nurture confidence and creativity beyond textbooks.

Soon after, the stage belonged entirely to the students.

From dramatic villains to beloved cultural icons, participants embodied characters with remarkable dedication. The audience watched in awe as figures like Pennywise, Queen Padmavati, Kaashibai, Gangubai, Baburao, Dayaben, Meenamma, The Godfather, Jhilmil Chatterjee, and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj appeared one after another — each performance distinct, expressive, and unforgettable.

It no longer felt like a competition.
It felt like cinema breathing in real time.

Solo Acts, Group Magic

The solo category showcased individual brilliance — voice modulation, expressions, costumes, and confidence all came together to recreate cinematic personalities.

The group category brought another dimension — teamwork. Coordinated movements, shared dialogues, and storytelling created miniature stage productions that kept the audience completely engaged.

To add fun energy between performances, spontaneous film-based spot-prize activities kept everyone laughing and participating.

Celebrating Talent

After a challenging evaluation by the judges, the winners were announced:

Solo Category

• 1st Prize — Deepali Jamuni (Chhatrapati Shivaji portrayal)

• 2nd Prize — Trishani Mondal (Dayaben)

• 3rd Prize — Riddhi Gadekar (Jhilmil Chatterjee)

Group Category

• 1st — The King’s School

• 2nd — St. Cruz Higher Secondary School

• 3rd — Manovikas Higher Secondary School

The applause that followed proved that every participant had already won confidence and experience.

More Than Just Acting

By the end of the event, students had gained much more than certificates:

• Confidence in public performance
• Better communication and expression
• Appreciation of cinema as storytelling
• Team collaboration skills
• Cultural understanding through characters

The Real Achievement

The programme reminded everyone that education is not limited to lectures and exams. Sometimes, learning happens when a student dares to step into another person’s shoes — even if that person is a fictional character.

Because when students perform, they don’t just act —
they understand emotions, perspectives, and humanity.

And that is where real learning begins.