Our story: five decades of AIMA
Dr TVG’s Academy of Indian Music & Arts began in 1974 as the Chembai Memorial Music Center, founded by Padma Bhushan Dr T V Gopalakrishnan in memory of his guru. It became AIMA in 1984, and over five decades has grown into a home for 15,000+ students worldwide, festivals that launched future stars, and a partnership with SRM University.
1974–1990: The founding years
Founded in memory of Mahaguru Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavathar, AIMA quickly became a stage for young talent.
- 1974
Chembai Memorial Music Center founded
Dr T V Gopalakrishnan founds the Chembai Memorial Music Center in memory of his guru, Mahaguru Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavathar.
- 1984
Academy of Indian Music & Arts is born
On 27 June 1984, the centre is re-registered as the Academy of Indian Music & Arts, a charitable trust. Its founding trustees are Dr T V Gopalakrishnan, Dr M Balamuralikrishna and Shri B Ramnath.
- 1987
The Margazhi Festival begins
AIMA launches a 3-day Margazhi Festival with the newly formed Narada Gana Sabha, giving many future stars their early limelight.
- 1988
Recognised by the Government of India
On 3 December 1988, AIMA is recognised as an NGO with 80G certification and income tax exemption for its charitable and cultural work.
- 1989
A 19-day festival, broadcast in France
AIMA stages a 19-day Margazhi Festival at Narada Gana Sabha, where Dr TVG introduces saxophone maestro Kadri Gopalnath. A Radio France crew covers and relays the festival.
- 1990
Festivals in Chennai and New Delhi
AIMA presents the Swathi Thirunal Festival in Chennai and the Vaggeyakara Festival of great composers at the India International Centre, New Delhi.
1991–2000: A national platform
Backed by the Ford Foundation, AIMA began rethinking music education while honouring the greatest names in Indian music.
- 1991
Contemporising music education
With funding from the Ford Foundation, AIMA begins setting guidelines for contemporising music education under Dr TVG’s direction. It also institutes the Gana Ratna and Vadya Ratna titles for artists.
- 1992
Festival of Bani
A 3-day festival of concerts, workshops, seminars and lecture demonstrations on India’s musical styles, at the India International Centre, New Delhi.
- 1994
The Prodigy Development Project
Sponsored by the Ford Foundation, gifted young musicians and dancers join AIMA as residential scholars. AIMA also sets up its own documentation and recording studio.
- 1995–96
The Chembai Centenary
A year-long centenary tribute to Mahaguru Chembai, inaugurated by the then Vice President, Shri K R Narayanan. AIMA confers the Sangeet Sarva Bhauma title on Dr Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer (1995) and Dr M S Subbulakshmi (1996).
- 1997
Bharat Darshan
To mark 50 years of Indian Independence, AIMA presents the Bharat Darshan Festival in New Delhi, inaugurated by Vice President K R Narayanan.
- 1999
Scholars from around the world
Under the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) exchange program, residential scholars from Mauritius, South Africa, France, Germany, the USA and the UK train at AIMA. ICCR identifies AIMA as a Cultural Centre.
2001–2013: A community of learners
AIMA’s focus widened to children, schools and thematic productions that brought every student onto the stage.
- 2001
The first summer camp
A 5-day camp for more than 50 children, covering music, dance, theatre, communication and soft skills.
- 2003
Siddhi, the first annual production
More than 100 students take part in Siddhi, AIMA’s first thematic production, beginning a tradition of annual productions.
- 2004
Art of Performance diploma
AIMA introduces Art of Performance as a diploma program.
- 2007
Guru Seva 70
A festival in dedication to Dr TVG on his 70th year.
- 2008
Dr Devie Neithiyar joins the Trust Board
Dr Devie Neithiyar, Dr TVG’s premier disciple, is inducted as a Lifetime Trustee.
- 2009
Basant Music Festival
Conceived and presented by AIMA in association with All India Radio.
- 2011
Music in schools
AIMA begins a school-integrated mridangam program with Bala Vidya Mandir, Adyar.
2014–2019: New campuses, wider reach
Under Dr Devie Neithiyar’s leadership, AIMA grew from one centre into a network of campuses across south Chennai.
- 2014
New beginnings
A new AIMA centre opens at Perungudi on 26 June, and on Vijayadasami AIMA’s first branch opens at Pallikaranai, with nearly 50 enrolments on its first day.
- 2015
Thoraipakkam campus and the Maitree festivals
AIMA opens its Thoraipakkam campus at the Kriyates Complex and launches the Maitree community festivals with local residents.
- 2016
A building of our own
On 16 January 2016, the Thoraipakkam campus at the Kriyates Complex moves into its own purpose-built building, which becomes AIMA’s main office.
- 2017
Siddhi with 200 students
All 200-odd students take part in the annual production Siddhi. Training for Annamalai University grade exams begins.
- 2018
Velachery campus opens
AIMA’s Velachery campus begins classes in November.
- 2019
Music for the city
Dr Devie Neithiyar composes a Madras Day song, recorded at SPB studios, and AIMA releases a nine-day Navarathri music and dance video series.
2020–2026: Online and worldwide
AIMA took its classes online, reached learners across the globe and celebrated two landmark anniversaries.
- 2020
Classes move online
When the pandemic struck, every class moved online, with no drop-outs. AIMA conceived Sing with AIMA, held free sessions for more than 300 people worldwide, and Dr TVG taught free “Learn from the Legend” workshops.
- 2022
Suvarna Navati: Dr TVG at 90
A celebration of Dr TVG’s 90th year, with more than 100 performers, twin concerts by Dr TVG himself and 108 teachers felicitated. His compositions were released as the book Gana Rasa Manjari. The same year, the SIVA (South Indian Voice of America) contest invited singers across the USA, trained or not, to sing in many Indian languages.
- 2023
Gurukulam for the world
Students from Malaysia train in a special gurukulam-style workshop. AIMA also launches classes at Campus K, Sholinganallur, and creates the production Voice of Nature with Dr C L Metha Sishya OMR.
- 2024
Kalaa Keralam
On 17 February 2024, AIMA presents its thematic annual production Kalaa Keralam, a celebration of the music and arts of Kerala.
- 2025
Guru Mukham
A second batch of 33 international students from SUGAM, Kuala Lumpur, train in vocal and mridangam with Dr TVG, Dr Devie Neithiyar and Ambur Padmanabhan, ending in a concert in Mylapore.
- 2026
AIMA 50
On 10 January 2026, AIMA celebrates 50 years of music education.
- 2026
Partnership with SRM University
In April 2026, AIMA signs an MoU with SRM Institute of Science and Technology (SRMIST) for grade certificate exams and a pioneering one-year Diploma in Music Teacher Training, built on technology and a modern gurukulam system.
Frequently asked questions
When was AIMA founded?
AIMA began in 1974 as the Chembai Memorial Music Center, founded by Padma Bhushan Dr T V Gopalakrishnan. It was re-registered as the Academy of Indian Music & Arts, a charitable trust, on 27 June 1984.
Why was AIMA founded in memory of Chembai?
Mahaguru Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavathar was Dr TVG’s guru. Dr TVG founded the centre in his memory, and AIMA continues to carry the legacy of Chembai and Dr TVG.
Who were AIMA’s founding trustees?
AIMA’s founding trustees in 1984 were Dr T V Gopalakrishnan, Dr M Balamuralikrishna and Shri B Ramnath.
What was AIMA 50?
AIMA 50 was the celebration of AIMA’s fifty years of music education, held on 10 January 2026.
What is AIMA’s partnership with SRM University?
In April 2026, AIMA signed an MoU with SRM Institute of Science and Technology (SRMIST) for grade certificate exams and a one-year Diploma in Music Teacher Training.
Last updated: October 2026
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