Pre-Event Track

SAHITYA 2026 - Creative Competitions

September guidelines - register by 15 September 2026

Open to UG, PG, and research scholars from SRMIST and other institutions. Content must be original. Online submissions go to sahityalitfest3@gmail.com. Spot registration: Rs. 200 for all events. Registration fee is non-refundable.

Pre-Event Registration Full Guidelines All Registration Options

Online competitions

Last date for registration and online submission: 15 September 2026

Short Film

The Campus Lore

Spot registration: Rs. 200

Your campus has its own legends, jugaads, healers, recipes, and keepers of wisdom. Find one story in your hostel, canteen, or quad and film it.

Format: Fiction short film, 5-7 minutes including credits

Guidelines

Duration: 5-7 minutes (including credits)
Language: English / Tamil / Hindi (English subtitles mandatory)
Genre: Fiction - original and unpublished
Submission via Google Drive link (view access) to sahityalitfest3@gmail.com

Judging criteria

Story & screenplay35%

Direction & cinematography35%

Thematic relevance30%

Story Board

Ancient Future - 2050

Spot registration: Rs. 200

Imagine 2026 - AI, climate crisis, future cities. How would an ancient Indian idea solve a modern problem? Storyboard that future.

Format: 6-8 frames, hand-drawn or digital, with brief captions

Guidelines

Individual or team of maximum 2 members
Storyboard can contain 6-8 frames
Hand-drawn or digitally created
Each frame must include a brief caption

Judging criteria

Narrative flow40%

Visual planning30%

Theme interpretation30%

Manga Art

Mythology, Rebooted

Spot registration: Rs. 200

What if our Puranas were a manga? Reimagine any Indian god, demon, or legend as an anime character in today's world - linked to Viksit Bharat themes such as green energy, space, healthcare, or smart cities.

Format: Original manga-style comic strip (JPEG / PNG)

Guidelines

1-2 participants
Digital artwork only (painting, illustration, or graphic design)
Submit original comic strip highlighting Viksit Bharat themes
Submit as JPEG or PNG

Judging criteria

Concept & theme40%

Artistic technique35%

Presentation25%

Photography

Decoding Bharat

Spot registration: Rs. 200

Look beyond the obvious. Capture the hidden science, story, or wisdom behind everyday India - in a face, a street, a ritual, a ruin, or a jugaad.

Format: Max 2 original photographs (JPEG, min 3000px on longer side)

Guidelines

Individual participation only
Maximum two original photographs
Basic editing allowed; heavy digital manipulation not allowed
Include 50-80 word caption per photo
Email subject: Photography Competition - Stories in the Streets
Send to sahityalitfest3@gmail.com

Judging criteria

Social media likes (selection)100%

Selected photos are featured on Instagram. Winners are decided by likes in the voting period.

Treasure Hunt

Stay Connected

Spot registration: Rs. 200

On-ground challenge during the festival window.

Format: Team-based offline / hybrid hunt

Guidelines

Detailed guidelines will be posted in the official WhatsApp group
Stay connected with organisers after registration

Judging criteria

Completion & accuracy100%

Certificates & awards

Participation certificates for all registered participants. Exciting prizes for winners. Selected winners get a chance to showcase during SRM LitFest 4.0.