Kalai Kaviri College of Fine Arts

Kalai Kaviri is dedicated to reach the people with spiritual, social development and human values, and to promote the cultural arts of our land. Kalai Kaviri strives to achieve this aim through Communication Media Activities like Radio Broad Cast, Audio Cassettes, Sound Slides, Audio Studio (with Digital recording facility) Video (Canopus DV Storm XA' Plus Digital Video Editing Studio) and Cultural Activities like Stage Drama and Dance Troupe, Cultural Awards and Rolling Shields for Artists and Schools respectively.

The Professional Dance Troupe travels all over Tamilnadu and other regions of India, and also abroad, as an Ambassadors of Love, Peace and Indian cultural arts, benefiting people of all age groups, beyond the barriers of caste, creed, community, territory and language.

The publication of "Yesu Kaviam", the Tamil Epic, on the life of Christ written by Poet Laureate Kannadasan in 1982, with 3,08,000 copies in six major editions, is a historical contribution of the centre to Tamil literature and the Church. The centre considers it as a memorable event when the honourable Chief Minister of Tamilnadu Dr.M.G.Ramachandran himself, on behalf of the Tamil speaking world, received the first copy of "Yesu Kaviam" on 16 January 1982, in Tiruchirappalli

Eager to promote the traditional arts through systematic training, Kalai Kaviri started a Dance School in 1983 offering Part-TimeDance (Bharathanatyam) Course. Further, Full-time Dance Courses and a Music School offering Part-time Courses in South Indian Classical Music were started in 1988. In 1990, Full-Time Bharathanatyam Diploma Course was affiliated to the Bharathidasan University which authentically recognized the high standard and quality of training offered here. Affiliation to the full-time Vocal, Veena Violin and Mirudangam Courses by the Bharathidasan University followed in 1992. The full-time Post-Diploma Course in Bharathanatyam also was affiliated to the University in 1993.

Considering the professional background of 24 years in offering systematic training in Bharathanatyam and South Indian Classical Music, particularly 6 years in offering University Diploma and Post Diploma Courses, then honourable Chief Minister of Tamilnadu, Dr.J.Jayalalitha upgraded Kalai Kaviri as a College of Fine Arts . This came into effect by a Government Order dated 10 May 1996. Subsequently, the college was affiliated to the Bharathidasan Universiy, Tiruchirappalli. Kalai Kaviri College of Fine Arts was inaugurated on 10 August 1996.The college was accredited with 'A' Grade by NAAC in March 2007 and enjoys the minority status from August 2007.

The College aims at preserving, promoting and popularizing the cultural treasures of our mother land among people of all creeds and communities, particularly the socially backwards, and to train the younger generation in the divine arts of Dance and Music order to build them up in spiritual strength and self-discipline.

The Institution trains the students to make them full-fledged professionals with creative and leadership talents. On completion of the courses they become eligible for appointment as qualified teachers in the Fine Arts in educational institutions or to run their own institutions for Dance and Music.

The various activities of Kalai Kaviri and the services rendered by the college are a unifying force bringing together the Hindu, Muslim, Christian brethren, for the glory of humanity.

Master's Degree in Fine Arts (MFA), is being offered by the college from the academic year 1999-2000 in Bharathanatyam (Dance) and in South Indian Classical Music (Vocal, Violin, Veena and Mirudangam). The greatest achievement of the college, was the starting of a Research Department to offer Ph.D. programme in Dance and Music . M.Phil in music was started in 2008.

The College aims at preserving, promoting and popularizing the cultural treasures of our mother land among people of all creeds and communities, particularly the socially backwards, and to train the younger generation in the divine arts of Dance and Music order to build them up in spiritual strength and self-discipline.

(Full- Time & Part-Time). This is the rarest academic height that could ever be reached by a traditional art like Classical Dance of Tamilnadu (Bharathanatyam) which has so far been nurtured only through Gurukula (non- formal training). Kalai Kaviri College of Fine Arts is the first Christian institution in the entire nation to offer Post-Graduate Degree courses in Dance and Music , while it is the only college in the entire region to offer Post- Graduate Degree course in Bharathanatyam (Dance), and to offer research facilities for taking up Ph.D.Programme in Dance. The college also offers the first ever opportunity in the world to learn the performing art, Bharathanatyam, the Indian Classical Dance, through Off-Campus Degree Programme (Distance mode of Education) in collaboration with the BDC of the Bharathidasan Universiy, Tiruchirappalli, from the Academic year 2004-2005.

Valuing the innovative contribution of the college in promoting Fine Arts, the former honourable Chief Minister of Tamilnadu, Dr. Kalaignar M. Karunanidhi , raised it as a Government Aided college from 18 August 2000 . Also, the Tamilnadu Government acclaimed the college as the Best Cultural Institution in Tamilnadu, for the year 2000.

The parent-institution Kalai Kaviri celebrated the Silver Jubilee (1977-2002) on 14 December 2002 . Rev.Msgr.S.M.George is the architect and brain behind this unique and history making institution. During the past 25 years (1977-2002), he left no stone unturned to raise this Cultural Centre to its present academic glory. Kalai Kaviri College of Fine Arts gratefully remembers and pays respect to Kalaimamunivar Rev.Msgr.S.M.George for all that he has been to this great institution.

Kalai Kaviri College of Fine Arts now stands as an embodiment of cultural promotion.