Back in 1988, a group of enthusiasts wedded to the cause of music and art got together to form Sree Swathi Thirunal Kalakendram of Calicut. This house of learning was inaugurated and blessed by the inimitable Sangeetha Samrat Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer.

From the day of inception, the Kalakendram has practised the aim of what it preached – by promoting the rich heritage of Indian arts among the loving public and giving an opportunity to eligible students for learning the same at affordable rates.

With an aim to expand the activities, the Kalakendram organised a fund raising programme called FEST ’98 -GANA NRITHYA HASYA NISA – in the year 1998. The aim of the programme was to collect funds to purchase a plot and build a music hall especially for propagating and teaching all classical art forms and music. With the result of the wholehearted participation of the art lovers of Calicut, the programme was a success.
In order to ensure better and efficient management of the properties and propagating the aims of the organisation, a Trust was formed and registered as SWATHI THIRUNAL KALAKENDRAM TRUST, Thiruvannur. A plot was purchased in the name of the Trust in January 1999 and in February 1999, Padma Vibhushun Dr. K.J. Yesudas laid the foundation stone of the proposed building in a grand function presided by H. H. Zamorin Raja of Calicut – Sri. P. K. Ettanunni Raja. The construction of the building housing the Program Hall was completed in October 1999 and it was inaugurated by the noted Malayalam litterateur Jnanpith M.T.Vasudevan Nair.

Eminent teachers under the able guidance and supervision of Sri Kumara Kerala Varma, the retired Principle of Swathi Music Academy form the faculty of the Kalakendram. The selfless and indomitable leadership provided by Kaithapram Damodharan Namboothiri as managing trustee and chairman of Music Therapy foundation continuously for the past several years amidst his contribution to music literature and films, along with the support and co-operation from diverse sections of Kerala society and government has expanded the activities undertaken by the Kalakendram by leaps and bounds.

Long and hard work in Music Therapy for about 2 decades had thrown out a set of needs which can hardly be solved by the trust without recognition and support from a wider Global Audience and from the government of Kerala and India.