The prestigious Tamil Mandram of Madras Medical College was founded in 1966. This is the oldest Tamil Mandram among medical Colleges in tamil Nadu. In the 1970s, a grand three-day Tamil cultural festival, named “Muthamiz Vizha” — centered on the three pillars of Tamil heritage: literature (iyal), music (isai), and drama (nadagam) — was celebrated in magnificent style. Notably, the great poet “Kavignar Kannadasan” and other luminaries participated in these events.
In 2024, the Tamil Literary Association of Chennai Medical College was reborn with the vibrant new name **“Zhagaram”** and continues to thrive with renewed energy and brilliance.
Thigiri
Every year, our college hosts a **grand inter–medical college Tamil cultural festival** under the name *“Thigiri”*. Competitions are held in the three Tamil art forms — *iyal, isai,* and *nadagam*.
In **Thigiri-25**, as a special highlight, our students performed a **theru-koothu** (traditional street play) on the theme *“Chola King and the Javvadu Hills People”.
Ilanthalir
A special annual competition series titled “Ilanthalir” is conducted exclusively for our first-year students.
The students participate in various events like poetry, speech competition, drama, dance etc..,
Panuval
To cultivate and enhance the book-reading habit among students, a “monthly readers’ club” named “Panuval” is organised.
Each month, a new book is recommended — after reading it, students present their reviews and critiques.
Silampoli
Once a month, Silambam (the traditional Tamil martial art) training sessions, called “Silampoli”, are held to enhance the physical and mental strength of students.
Navarasam
A special drama workshop titled “Navarasam” is conducted to improve students’ acting and theatre skills.
Vaigari
Vaigari is a poetry workshop designed to inspire and nurture students in the art of crafting beautiful poems.
Thigiri
THIGIRI
In “Thigiri-25”, a highlight of the event was a creative and vibrant “Theru Koothu” (street play) performed by our students on the theme “The Chola King and the People of Jawadhu Hills.”
The magnificent festival took place on Chithirai 31 and Vaikasi 1, drawing enthusiastic participation from medical students across Tamil Nadu, who competed for the prestigious Tamil Trophy awarded by our college.
Across the two-day celebration, a special debate session (Pattimandram) featuring renowned speakers captivated the audience. The Tamil Nadu Iyal Isai Nadagam Mandram also graced the occasion with traditional Tamil performances, offering a true cultural feast for the eyes and ears.
As part of the festival, the art of Parai drumming was introduced to our college — a symbolic moment marked by our Principal, who distributed Parai drums to students eager to learn this traditional art form.
On the second day, medical students from various colleges across Tamil Nadu showcased their immense talents in literature, music, and drama, bringing the essence of the threefold Tamil tradition to life.
Adding to the pride, our college students staged a spectacular Theru Koothu drama titled “The Chola King and the People of Jawadhu Hills.
Furthermore, our Tamil Literary Association has established a dedicated Tamil literature section in the college library — a milestone in promoting Tamil language and culture within our institution.
