The Esplanade Concert Hall came alive with the sounds, colours and humour of Kerala on Aug 8 as the Singapore Malayalee Association’s (SMA) Onam Nite ’26 drew a sold-out crowd for an evening of music, dance, and comedy.
Featuring a line-up of prominent artistes from India alongside more than 40 Singapore-based performers, the annual celebration offered a contemporary start to the Onam season for the Malayalee community.
Popular singers Sithara Krishnakumar and Unni Menon were among the musical highlights, while Sithara’s Project Malabaricus brought its distinctive fusion of traditional influences and contemporary sounds to the stage.
The dance segments featured actresses and performers Asha Sharath, Bhavana and Swasika, while comedian Kottayam Nazeer and his team kept the audience laughing with their sketches and mimicry.
SMA president Sunu Shivadasan-Ghani said the association deliberately put together a programme that would appeal across generations.
“SMA’s Onam Nite is an event that the Malayalee community eagerly looks forward to each year,” she told tabla!.
“This year we wanted the programme to offer a vibrant and diverse blend of talent and cultural expression, with something for everyone – from spectacular dance performances and entertaining comedy to soulful music.
“Artists were carefully selected to appeal to the varied interests and tastes of different age groups, ensuring that the programme was engaging, entertaining and enjoyable for all.”
The strategy appeared to work, with the audience frequently singing along, cheering and clapping through the fast-paced evening.
For IT professional Deepak Nair, the musical performances provided some of the night’s most memorable moments.
“I really enjoyed Sithara’s performances, and Unni Menon singing Puthu Vellai Mazhai brought a wonderful sense of nostalgia,” he said.
He added that Aravind Dileep Nair energised the crowd towards the end with MG Sreekumar hits, while Kottayam Nazeer’s comedy and Asha Sharath’s retro-themed dance performance were other highlights.
Audience member Indu Suresh similarly enjoyed the trip down memory lane provided by the singers.
“The songs by Unni Menon and Sithara were truly mind-blowing and took us down memory lane with their evergreen melodies,” she said.
She praised anchor Renjini for keeping proceedings lively and singled out Dhyan Sreenivasan and Kottayam Nazeer as audience favourites. However, she felt the programme contained “a little too many dance performances”, which slightly reduced the warmth of the evening.
One particularly significant feature was the opportunity given to Singapore’s own performers.
For Manoj ABS, the more than 40 young local artistes sharing the stage with established names from India became his biggest takeaway.
“Their dance performances were equally outstanding, showcasing the remarkable talent we have right here in Singapore,” he said. “Their energy and non-stop stage presence were particularly impressive.”
Kavitha Raj, who works as a tester with a Singapore company and is active in the Malayalee community, was equally delighted to see the stars performing live.
She nevertheless felt the packed programme sometimes worked against itself.
“There were time constraints, which even some celebrities mentioned on stage,” she said. “A few prominent celebrities did not get enough time to speak or interact with the audience. It would be better to start the programme earlier or reduce the number of celebrity guests.”
Despite that, the overall response reflected the enduring appeal of an event that has become a fixture on Singapore’s Malayalee cultural calendar.
By combining evergreen Malayalam and Tamil melodies, contemporary music, celebrity performances, comedy, and home-grown talent, Onam Nite ’26 sought to bridge generations rather than simply recreate a traditional festival celebration.
And with the Esplanade packed and the audience responding enthusiastically throughout the evening, SMA’s annual extravaganza ensured that the festive spirit of Onam arrived early in Singapore.
