Kavimaalai

Kavimaalai, a Tamil literary organisation, was founded by Pichinikkadu Elango on 24 June 2000, to coincide with the birthday of Kannadasan, a popular poet and lyricist from Tamil Nadu. Its name in Tamil means both ‘a garland of poetry’ and ‘an evening of Poetry.’ The organisation aims to preserve and promote the Tamil language by nurturing emerging Tamil poets and supporting Tamil poetry in Singapore. 

Over time, Kavimaalai evolved into an organisation run by poets for poets. Organising monthly meetings to bring together those interested in poetry, Kavimaalai offers an inclusive space where all forms of poetry, from the traditional to the modern, are encouraged. It publishes an annual anthology of prize-winning poems from these monthly sessions. The organisation also participates in key programmes organised by the Tamil Language Council and the National Library Board.

Many works published initially by Kavimaalai have been translated into English. Conversely, award-winning poems from the Golden Point competition in English, Chinese and Malay have been translated into Tamil and shared as video content. Since 2019, Kavimaalai has been posting a poem a day on social media. To attract young people to Tamil poetry, the organisation launched a student wing called ‘Seeds’ in 2019. Hundreds of students have participated in and benefited from these programmes. The organisation also conducts annual poetry and translation competitions, as well as workshops, offering cash prizes across various levels – from primary and secondary schools to polytechnics and universities. 

Key awards presented by Kavimaalai include ‘Kanaiyaazhi Virudhu’, an annual Signet Ring award for a scholar who has contributed to Singapore Tamil literature, ‘Thangapadakkam Virudhu’, a yearly Golden Medallion award for the Best Tamil Poetry Book published in Singapore, and ‘Thangamuthirai Virudhu’, a Golden Emblem award for the best young poet in Kavimaalai’s monthly competitions.



For more Information
Kavimaalai. (n.d.). Accessed 1 August 2025. www.kavimaalai.com 

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The information in this article is valid as of August 2025 and correct as far as we are able to ascertain from our sources. It is not intended to be an exhaustive or complete history of the subject. If you have any feedback on this article, please submit here.