The Tamil Nadu Sangeetha Nataka Sangam, an organization established by the Government of Tamil Nadu in 1955, was renamed in 1973 as the Tamil Nadu Iyal Isai Nataka Mandram by the scholar of the three forms of Tamil (literature, music, and drama), Dr. Kalaignar, in a manner that adds great prestige to the three forms of Tamil: literary Tamil, musical Tamil, and dramatic Tamil.
The Tamil Nadu Iyal Isai Nataka Mandram, which functions as a part of the Department of Arts and Culture, undertakes the following activities through the financial assistance provided by the Government of Tamil Nadu: promoting traditional arts, encouraging artists involved in these arts, documenting endangered art forms, revitalizing drama and dance-dramas, taking Tamil Nadu’s traditional arts to other states and internationally, and presenting awards to artists who have made invaluable contributions to the development of Tamil arts, and providing monthly financial assistance to artists in need.
Honorable Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Thiru. M.K. As per the orders of Mr. Stalin, to celebrate the Tamil festival of Pongal grandly as a “Cultural Confluence” art festival across Tamil Nadu on a single day through the Tamil Nadu Eyal Isai Nataka Mandram (Tamil Nadu Academy of Fine Arts), a fund of Rs. 2 crore has been allocated, and the necessary arrangements are being made.
In all 38 districts of Tamil Nadu, the “Cultural Confluence” art festival will be celebrated on a single day (January 18, 2026), Sunday, at 6 PM, under the chairmanship of the respective District Collectors, with the participation of Honorable Ministers, Members of Parliament and Legislative Assembly, representatives of local bodies, senior government officials, and other distinguished personalities. Traditional folk art performances unique to each district have been arranged for this festival. Folk artists from the respective districts will participate and present their performances.
Furthermore, in Chennai, the “Literary Confluence” will be held at the Muthamizh Peravai in Raja Annamalaipuram on January 22, 2026, at 6 PM, and the “Music and Dance Confluence” will be held at the Kalaivanar Arangam on January 25 and 26, 2026, at 6 PM.
Through the “Cultural Confluence” art festivals organized by the Tamil Nadu Eyal Isai Nataka Mandram, more than four thousand artists will participate. Schemes implemented by the Academy:
The monthly financial assistance of Rs. 3000/- provided to artists living in impoverished conditions was increased, and the order for this was issued by the Honourable Chief Minister Thiru. M. K. Stalin in June 2021.
As per the order of the Honourable Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Thiru. M. K. Stalin, a fund of Rs. 9 crore was allocated to provide monthly financial assistance simultaneously to 2,500 artists who had applied under the scheme for providing financial assistance to aged and destitute artists this year (2025-26), and the orders were issued to the artists by the Honourable Deputy Chief Minister Thiru. Udhayanidhi Stalin on 05.09.2025.
The annual financial grant provided to the Tamil Nadu Eyal Isai Nataka Mandram was increased from Rs. 3.00 crore to Rs. 4.00 crore
by the Honourable Chief Minister in the 2025-2026 financial statement.
From the year 2022-2023 onwards, a fund of Rs. 50 lakhs has been allocated annually to provide Rs. 10,000/- each to 500 folk artists for purchasing musical instruments, costumes, and art materials, and this financial assistance is being provided. The cash prize for the Kalaimamani award, given to artists living in impoverished conditions, has been increased from Rs. 50,000/- to Rs. 1,00,000/- since the year 2021-2022.
To commemorate the Pongal Arts Festival, “Isai Sangamam” (Music Confluence) and “Nadaga Sangamam” (Drama Confluence) art programs are being conducted in all 38 districts with a fund allocation of Rs. 2.00 crore for the past two years (2024 and 2025). Through this, more than 10,000 artists have participated and benefited.
“Kalaimamani” awards are being given to renowned artists who have contributed to the overall development of various art forms in the field of arts.
Permission for Kalaimamani award recipients to travel free of charge on Tamil Nadu government buses was announced in the 2024-2025 financial statement, and a fund allocation of Rs. 1.05 crore has been provided for this purpose.
Special All India level awards in the names of “Bharathiyar”, “M.S. Subbulakshmi”, and “Balasaraswathi” were created and instituted by the scholar of Tamil arts, Dr. Kalaignar, in 2010. An order has been issued by the Honourable Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Thiru. M. K. Stalin, to provide a cash prize of one lakh rupees along with a three-sovereign (24 grams) gold medal to the artists receiving these special awards, and this is being implemented from this year onwards. To award special plaques to the best performing arts institutions contributing to the growth of the arts, and to award revolving trophies and special plaques to the best theatre groups, along with a prize money of ₹1,00,000/- (Rupees One Lakh only) to the arts institution and theatre group receiving the award from the Honourable Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Thiru. M.K. Stalin.
The order has been issued and is being implemented from this year.
Under the Inter-State Cultural Exchange Programme, a scheme for exchanging cultural programs between various states through cultural troupes is being implemented.
Family maintenance financial assistance is currently being provided to the families of renowned deceased artists, with a sum of Rs. 25,000/- being disbursed.
Opportunities are provided to conduct cultural programs through various cultural organizations, thereby supporting and encouraging talented young artists aged 16 to 30 years. Furthermore, rural artists aged 18 to 32 years have also been benefiting from this scheme in recent years. An annual allocation of Rs. 20 lakhs is being made for this purpose and the scheme is being implemented.
Under the scheme for providing financial assistance to professional drama/dance-drama troupes that create excellent Tamil plays and dance-dramas depicting Tamil literature and culture, the financial assistance of Rs. 1.50 lakhs was being provided. This has been increased to Rs. 2.50 lakhs from this year by order of the Honourable Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, and will be disbursed accordingly.
Financial assistance of Rs. 2,00,000/- is being provided to authors for publishing rare and valuable art books in Tamil. Providing financial assistance to encourage voluntary arts organizations that conduct commemorative events for eminent artists.
Organizing arts festivals for the benefit of literary, music, drama, dance, and folk artists.
Promoting Tamil Nadu’s arts in foreign countries.
Implementing projects such as documenting ancient and unique art forms so that the younger generation can see and appreciate them.
In commemoration of the centenary celebrations of the scholar of Tamil arts, Dr. Kalaignar, the academy implemented exemplary artistic activities such as conducting historical drama festivals, dance festivals, folk art festivals, tribal art festivals, and arts festivals.
Under the guidance of the Honourable Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Thiru. M.K. Stalin, the Tamil Nadu Eyal Isai Nataka Mandram is functioning as a leading arts institution not only at the national level but also at the global level.
These details were provided by the Chairman of the Tamil Nadu Eyal Isai Nataka Mandram and the Chairman of the Tamil Nadu Folk Artists Welfare Board, Thiru. Vaagai Chandrasekar, and the Member-Secretary, Smt. Vijaya Thayanban.
