Mahabali on helicopter: Malappuram college students pool money from part-time jobs for viral celebration

Legend has it that every Onam, the benevolent Asura king Mahabali rises from the underworld to visit his people in Kerala. At the Gems Arts and Science College, Nilambur, Malappuram, the students gave the story a sky-high twist at the Onam celebration. Mahabali descended from the clouds on a helicopter.

The campus erupted in cheer as a chopper circled overhead and landed on the college ground on August 25. Out stepped Mohammed Shabeeb -  third-year BCom student, dressed as Mahabali in traditional attire, a coconut-leaf umbrella in one hand, and—adding a Gen-Z flourish—a pair of sunglasses. Students lined the ground’s borders, clapping and whistling as their king walked among them.

The students shelled out savings from their part-time jobs, raised sponsorship funds and sold coupons to orchestrate an Onam celebration that has gone viral. 

“It was a month-long effort,” recalls Muneer Kuttikkadan, college MSF unit president and a third-year BA Multimedia student. “The idea came from third-year students, but at first, no one believed we could pull it off. The union didn’t have the funds. Then the students told us—‘We’ll arrange the money, you just help us get a helicopter.’”

The search was not easy. “We had no clue where to begin. We just started googling numbers,” says Muneer. “Some didn’t pick up, others quoted amounts we could never afford. The first offer was around ₹10 lakh. We almost dropped the idea.”

With time running out, they sought the help of Mankada MLA Manjalamkuzhi Ali, who is also the college chairman. Then came a breakthrough. A student, Shanif, tapped his family’s contacts and connected with Joy Alukkas Group in Thrissur. The quote: ₹3.5 lakh. It was above the students’ original budget of ₹2.45–3 lakh, but they decided to go for it.

“The boys pitched in from their part-time jobs—many work in catering, some even run small businesses,” says Muneer. “The girls contributed with support from parents. We kept the amount flexible—anywhere between ₹500 and ₹1,200—because there were other expenses like costumes and decorations too.”

For Shabeeb, chosen to play Mahabali, the plan meant more than just dressing up. It was his first time flying. A day before, he and two friends travelled to Thrissur, stayed overnight, and prepared in costume at dawn. They boarded the chopper from the Shobha City Mall helipad.

“I was nervous at first,” he admits. “The pilots briefed us carefully—especially not to step out until the engines stopped. It took 15 minutes to reach campus. As we descended, I could hear the cheers below. Walking towards the students, all that nervousness turned into joy. It’s a memory I’ll cherish for life.” Shabeeb has since received calls to appear as Mahabali at other Onam celebrations in Malappuram.

The chopper remained on the campus for 20 minutes, with students capturing videos and photos before taking off again. All other events of the day were planned around this grand entry.

“Joy Alukkas sent a representative the previous day to inspect the ground, set flags, and ensure fire safety,” says Muneer. “Meanwhile, students came in early, marked out the landing spot, and took care of the arrangements.” The total celebration budget touched around ₹7 lakh. Aside from the helicopter, funds came from sponsorships and a bumper coupon drive that raised nearly ₹50,000.

Principal Dr Naveen Mohan admits he was taken aback when students first floated the idea. “Initially, they asked to bring modified vehicles onto campus, which we couldn’t allow. Ten minutes later, they asked if Mahabali could come by helicopter. I thought they were joking!” he laughs. “But technically, it’s a mode of transport. Once the agency got police clearance, and the chairman approved, we gave the go-ahead.”

For him, the real achievement was the students’ determination. “They proved what collective effort can achieve. This generation thinks fast, dreams big, and it’s our job to guide them, not block them.”

He also addressed criticism that the money could have been used for charity. “These same students are already funding a house for a classmate in need and are involved in several social initiatives. Most work part-time to support themselves. This event was about celebrating together and showing what’s possible.”

For the college, the day was historic. “It’s the first time a campus brought Mahabali in a helicopter,” beams Muneer. “We wanted to do something no one else had done—and we did.”