The Department of Tamil Studies was established in 1985 with the objective of bringing equality through education. It offers courses, conducts conferences, seminars, workshops, and undertakes valuable research projects. Specialized themes include Women in Women's Writing, Tamil Literature through feminist lenses, and status of women across history and literature. Notable studies include women head-loaders in Kodaikanal, feminist literature reviews, devotional literature, ancient and modern Tamil literature, comparative and translational studies.

Training in creative writing is offered regularly. The department holds monthly seminars and has four endowments: Pavendar Bharathidasan Endowment, Prof. Dr. N. Subbu Reddiar Tmt Chellapapa Ammal Endowment, Prof. Dr. R. Alagappan Endowment, and Dr. Aruna Sivakami Anantha Krishnan Endowment. UGC funds are used for major and minor projects, along with support from CICT, Chennai. Scholars benefit from UGC JRF, RGRF, SCISTIBC fellowships awarded by central and state governments.