The Department of Tamil was started in 1957. At the outset it offered only Part I Tamil at the under-graduate level. Branch xii Tamil Literature was started in 1967 as single major. In 1978 when the triple major system was introduced Tamil Literature was one of the three majors. When the college was conferred the Deemed University status Tamil Literature was offered along with Economics, Music (Tamil & Economics, Tamil & Music) under the double major system. The Department started the P.G. programme in Development - Language & Literature in 1990 and M.Phil programme in 1994. The department is also recognized for Ph.D. programme