Roja Muthiah Research Library, Chennai

Roja Muthiah Research Library (RMRL) stands as one of the most important and contemporary cultural institutions of our time. Located at the CPT Campus, Taramani in Chennai, this premier research library actively supports scholars and students engaged in South Indian studies. In particular, it offers extensive research materials and modern facilities across disciplines such as humanities, social sciences, and popular culture.

Vision and Objectives of RMRL

The primary objective of the Roja Muthiah Research Library is to preserve, catalogue, and continuously expand the extraordinary collection assembled by Roja Muthiah. During his lifetime, he created one of the world’s finest private libraries dedicated to Tamil publications. Therefore, RMRL plays a vital role in safeguarding Tamil intellectual and cultural heritage for future generations. For researchers focusing on the social, political, and cultural history of South India, the library provides access to rare and invaluable source materials. Notably, the collection spans more than 150 years of Tamil heritage and cultural documentation.

Vast and Diverse Collections

The library houses over 1,50,000 books, journals, newspapers, pamphlets, and rare audio recordings. These collections cover a wide range of subjects, including indigenous medicine, as well as classical, medieval, and folk Tamil literature. As a result, scholars gain comprehensive insights into multiple dimensions of Tamil society. In addition, RMRL holds an exceptional archive related to Tamil cinema. It features a vast collection of Tamil film magazines, more than 2,000 songbooks, cinema posters, magazine articles, and promotional literature. Furthermore, the library preserves rare oleo-lithographs from Raja Ravi Varma’s workshop, making it an invaluable resource for film and art researchers.

Advanced Cataloguing and Technology

To enhance accessibility, the library developed a machine-readable catalogue using software supported by UNESCO and technology from the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (CDAC), Pune. Importantly, the cataloguing is done in Tamil for Tamil imprints. Users can view the records by transliterating them into various Indian scripts or Roman scripts. So far, the library has catalogued around 68,000 titles and microfilmed over 15,000 documents.

Research Facilities and Global Reach

RMRL offers excellent facilities, including a well-equipped reading room, extensive reference collections such as encyclopedias, and microfilm reading equipment. Moreover, the library has microfilmed a large number of periodicals, allowing scholars worldwide to access rare materials. With more than 10,000 visitors each year, the Roja Muthiah Research Library continues to serve as a leading research hub. Consequently, it remains one of the most valuable resource centers for academics and researchers studying Tamil language, culture, history, and cinema.

Official website of Roja Muthiah Research Library:
RMRL.IN