The Tamil Isai Kalloori's legacy of preserving timeless melodies

With a vision to promote Tamil Isai, a form of ancient Tamil music, the Tamil Isai Kalloori has been producing music scholars since its establishment in 1944. The fine arts and music College was established under the auspices of the Tamil Isai Sangam with the intention of teaching, researching and promoting the art form that continues to resonate through the corridors of time.

“The Tamil language was not considered to be a music language in those days,” said Principal Professor Dr. V. V. Meenakshi, referring to Tamil music in the 19th century. The Tamil Isai Sangam was founded by Raja Sir Annamalai Chettier with the intention of teaching and promoting Tamil Isai–a form of traditional music deeply rooted in the Tamil language and culture.

It gathered support and sponsorship of the first Indian Finance Minister Dr. R.K.Shanmugam Chettiar, the first Indian Governor General Thiru C.Rajagopalachari, Thiru Kalki Krishnamoorthy, T.K. Chidambaranathan Mudaliyar, Thiru C.N.Annadurai and others. The Thol Isai Kalanjiyam, a museum of ancient musical instruments was inaugurated by the Tamil Isai Sangam on February 17, 2019, for the same purpose.

They have also contributed to research by encouraging research scholars to conduct pann—a heptatonic scale in music theory—research with regard to segments of panns in ancient religious literature with research titles such as Thirumurai Isaimani, Perumbaananambi and Thirumurai Vithagar.

A 2021 report by The News Minute notes that In the 19th century, Tamil was not considered to be as musical as Telugu and many Carnatic musicians felt that the language was not suitable for music. This led to the inception of the Tamil Isai movement in 1939. The prime aim of the movement was that, “in Tamil Nadu, Tamil songs should be sung,” stated Dr. Meenakshi. “The king of Chettinad, Raja Sir Annamalai Chettier started the movement.” Before the independence of India from the British, the college only conducted classes in the evening. Post independence, a full fledged day college started running from the year 1995.