Thread by @mrpaluvets

A playlist of songs that celebrates and documents Tamil or Tamilness. (Links included)

ஆளப்போறான் தமிழன் is one of the most viewed/played Tamil songs in recent times. This song easily qualifies as a Tamil anthem.

Thamizh Anthem from LKG movie is another one of those underrated songs that celebrates the Tamil language. This song which was penned by Lyricist Pa.Vijay beautifully incorporates the Tamil Thaai Vaazhthu of Tamil Nadu in it too.

This song Aalankuruvigala from Bakrid documents the virtues & universality of Tamil morality.
நம்மோட முகத்து சாயலில
முன்னவங்க வாழ்ந்த தடம் இருக்கு...
...
அரும்பும் எறும்பும் நம் சொந்தம்
திரும்பும் திசை எல்லாம் ஆனந்தம்.

'Zha' 'ழ' - 'Our soil' is a recent song from Eelam produced by Santhors and the Panpaattu Malarchi Koodam of Eelam. Santhors is an Eelam diaspora artist who has worked with Sujeeth G in the past. His songs feature & highlight the Tamil Parai instrument.

This song identified as a Malaysian Tamil Thai Vaazthu, celebrates the transnational character of the Tamil community.

Singai Nadu is a Tamil song sung by musician Shabir celebrating Singapore. This song celebrates Singapore and its multi-cultural character in the Tamil language. Even though it isn't a celebration of Tamil, it still honours Tamil's place in Singapore.

'Raavanan' by Sujeeth G, an Eelam Sollisai Kalaignar (Rapper) from the diaspora. He is one of the early pioneers of Tamil rap. Some of his songs incorporate the verses of Bharathidasan. This song highlights the Tamil resistance against the Aryanism

'Kozhai' is another song from Sujeeth G, that questions the male chauvinistic attitudes of the Tamil society.

'Tamizhi' by Hiphop Tamizha is a title song of a youtube series that traces the root of the Tamil language. This song highlights the Ainthinai Sangam landscape of the Tamils and everything related to Tamil and Tamilness

'Intha Porapputhan' song by Ilaiyaraaja is another underrated song that highlights some of the modern diverse foods that Tamils(Mainly from Tamil Nadu) consume. It is a Tamil tribute to Food.

'Madai Thiranthu' is the probably the first Malaysian song or Tamil rap song that became a worldwide hit amongst Tamils. This song talks about how these artists who were caught in between Tamil & English identities used Rap to express themselves.

During the final stages of Eelam war, many Tamil artists from the diaspora expressed themselves through art. Sujeeth G & Sathors's songs like Yaarkum Kudi Allom & Viduthalai sent out powerful messages of resistance to the diaspora youth at that time.

This song from the World Tamil classical conference 2010 is an infamous song amongst Eelam Tamils because this conference was a shameless attempt by the then DMK government to distract people from its failures and complicity in the 2009 Tamil genocide.

'Tholvi Nilaiyena Ninaithal' from Oomai Vizhigal is a song from the 80s that became known as the song of the Eelam resistance or independence movement. You can't find an Eelam Tamil who hasn't heard this song. This was once an anthem of the movement.

'Yaazhpaanam poga readyaah?' By Ceylon Pop Singer Manoharan is a song that celebrates the various towns and villages of Jaffna. This song was a big hit during the peace period when A9 reopened after many years. It reminds us of the peace process days.

Kaapaathu Karuppa from Madurai Veeran is another underrated song that celebrates the Tamil gods of the land. These songs are often overlooked as religious songs, but they often highlight the music and the glory of the land and her people.

Enga ooru Madrasu இதுக்கு நாங்க தானே addressu from Pa.Ranjith's movie Madras desanskritises the identities of Madras and redefines it through the eyes of its original inhabitants who built it.

To be continued.

Kalli en Kalli - The plight of Eelam Tamil refugees in Tamil Nadu is very rarely discussed in Tamil Cinema. Director Bala from BaluMahendra's school was the one of the first directors who somehow showcased the life of Tamil refugees in the movie Nandha.

Elloraiyum Ethi Poga Kappal Varumaa song from the movie Rameswaram sings of the yearning of Eelam Tamil refugees to return to their homeland. This movie is the first movie that got the Eelam Tamil accent somewhat right.

Yaar Veetu Magano Magalo song from Neerparavai, directed by Seenu Ramasamy(BaluMahendra's school) is another underrated and soul stirring song, that once again addresses the life of Tamil refugees. It is a story of an orphaned refugee from Eelam.

Senkaade song penned by Vairamuthu for Bala's Paradesi is probably the only song in Tamil that deals with the displacement of Tamils as plantation labourers to Malayagam and elsewhere due to famine in the Tamil Country.

"உயிரோடு வாழ்வது கூட சிறு துன்பமே ஹோய்
வயிரோடு வாழ்வது தானே பெரும் துன்பமே
பொல்லாத விதியும் மலைக்க போறோமே பஞ்சம் பொழைக்க
யார் மீள்வதோ யார் வாழ்வதோ யார் கண்டது" - வைரமுத்து

"பாலம் பாலமா வெடிச்சு கிடக்குதே பாடு பட்டவன் பூமி
வெடிச்ச பூமியில் புதைக்க பாக்குதே கேடு கெட்டவன் சாமி
புளியங்கொட்டைய அவிச்சு தின்னு தான் பொழைச்சு கிடக்குது மேனி
பஞ்சம் பொழைக்கவும் பசிய தீர்க்கவும் பச்சை பூமிய காமி" -கவிப்பேரரசு வைரமுத்து

Saadhi Malli Poocharame - Most of the songs praising Tamil/Tamilness aren't in an anthem format. This song,often overlooked as a love song, is infact a song that praises the Sangam poets.This song opines that the Sangam songs are a moral conduct for Tamils

Kozhi koovum- is another song from the same movie(Azhagan) and has all the characteristics of a Neithal song from the Sangam era. The Neithal(Coastal/Seashore) landscape deals with grief & sorrow as its theme in Sangam literature.

This song too deals with grief and sorrow between the couples due to seperation. The only difference here is that the 'Thalaivan'/hero is killed by the Sri Lankan Navy. This song easily qualifies as a modern Tamil song of the Neithal Thinai.

Seval Kodi Parakkudhada song from Billa movie. This song was shot in Batu Caves, an important cultural site for Malaysian Tamils. This song penned by Pa.Vijay desanskritises Murugan and celebrates the Tamil traditions surrounding Murugan worship

தெரு கூத்து தமிழனுக்கு முதல் ஆட்டம்
புலி வேடம் எங்களுக்கு புகழ் கூட்டும்
..
ஆதி தமிழன் ஆண்டவனானான்
மீதி தமிழர்கள் அடிமைகளானார்...

தமிழில் பேசும் தமிழ் குல விளக்கு
வேற்று மொழியில்(சமஸ்கிருதம்) அர்ச்சனை எதற்கு?

Thanjavuru Mannu eduthu song is a song that talks about the hero making a sculpture for the heroine with the soil from all over Tamil Nadu. This song was played in the funeral of the former president of Singapore S.R.Nathan.

This is that moment. "It was Nathan's favourite song as he saw it as a metaphor for Singapore's multiracial heritage".

The music director of the song, Thenisai Thendral Deva recently lamented about the fact that this story didn't get its due coverage in the Tamil Nadu media at that time.

I don't know where this thread is headed. Threadல கொஞ்சம் overஆ தான் போறோமோ? சரி போவோம், போய் தான் பார்ப்போம் 🤔

Aagaatha Kaalam song from Kadamban penned by Yugabharathi is a song that reminds us of the Tamil genocide.This is one of the many songs that speak of the Tamil struggle.This movie is about a group of indigenous people trying to save their home,the forest.

அப்பாவியான நாங்க,
அடிப்பட்டோமே நாடே பார்க்க
கொத்தோடு நாங்க சாய
ஒரு ஆள் இல்லை கேள்வி கேட்க
முன்னாளில் ஆண்ட கூட்டம்
முகம் இல்லாம மூளி ஆனோம்
வெந்நீரு பாஞ்ச வேரா
திசை எங்கேயும் காணா போனோம்

புலி ஆனோமே....

அஞ்சாமலே வாழ்ந்தோமே
ஏமாந்து தான் மாஞ்சோமே..

Uchi Malai Kaadu song from the movie Kaadu, documents some of the traditions of the hill country. This song has references about guardian diety Ve(வே)diyappan. Vediyappan is the name given to Nadukal form of worship in places like Salem and Dharmapuri.

Oore Oore Enna Petha Oore from the movie Aravaan, documents the 'oppressed' lifestyle of the Kallar community of the Tamil Country. It is inspired from Su.Venkatesan's book Kaaval Kottam which deals with the relationship between the Nayakkars & Kallars.

The book deals with an important part of Madurai's history and was criticised for not properly examining the roots of Kallar oppression. Su.Venkatesan is accused of paying more attention to the Nayakkars by prominent writers like S.Ramakrishnan.

That said, lyricist Viveka does a good job documenting the lifestyle of the Kallars in this song. This is a rare song because it doesn't have any casteist overtones and only documents one tragic phase of the long and rich history of the Tamils(Kallars).

Thievery isn't the defining characteristic of Kallars!. Eelam Tamils still use the word Kallan/Kallar to refer to thieves. Thirudan is the apt word to refer to theives. Let us atleast not continue to justify the definitions imposed on our identities by our oppressors.

Maravar padai thaan Thamil padai / மறவர் படை தான் தமிழ் படை, a song penned by Kasi Anandhan highlights the martial traditions of the Tamils and refers to Maravars as Tigers. Taraki discusses this in detail in his essay on Tamil Militarism.

The term Maravar in an Eelam/Tiger context refers to the Martial identity or characteristic common to all Tamils,but in Tamil Nadu it is also a caste identity. Taraki Sivaram in his essay also discusses the relationship between the Maravan identity and the Dravidian movement.

Poraadada oru Vaal Enthada song from the movie Alai Osai is an important song that talks about the internal resistance within the Tamil community against casteism. This song challenges the intermediary castes of the Tamil country & its landlord system.

Revolutionary lines like "நந்தன் இனமே பெறும் அரியாசனமே
அந்த தினமே வருமே" from the song highlights the political quest/right of the oppressed Tamil communities.

In his book Understanding the Dravidian Movement : Problems and Perspectives, Prof.Karthigesu Sivathamby discusses in detail as to how the Dravidian movement and its political parties failed the Dalit community and nessecitated the modern displacements to Tamil Nationalism

En Thesiya Geetham- A Malaysian Tamil song by Tamil Rapper Dr.Burn. This is a song that sings about the plight of the Tamil plantation workers in Malaysia. The songs talks about the history of Malaysian Tamils and calls out for Tamil solidarity.

Thanjai Periya Kovil Pallaandu Vaazhgave is probably the first song in Tamil Cinema that sings the glory of the Cholas, Raja Raja Chozhan and the architectural marvel of the Tamil country, the Thanjai Periya Kovil.

This movie is very special, because it got most of the details of the Chola empire and the looks of Raja Rajan right and Shivaji has lived as Raja Rajan on screen.

'Chinna Chinna Thooral Enna' is a beautiful song that praises 'Rain'.There's an entire chapter/Adhigaaram dedicated to the Glory/Blessing/Excellence of Rain in the Thirukkural. This song encapsulates that chapter in its own way.

Nitham Nitham NelluSoru/நித்தம் நித்தம் நெல்லுச்சோறு is actually a folk song of the people.Nelluchoru was something Tamils ate during festival days. It was not part of our main diet 60/70 years ago.

50/60 years ago, Soru normally meant varieties like Kambansoru, Solachsoru,etc.

This song is also another beautiful tribute by Ilaiyaraaja to Tamil foods and the Tamil folk genre.

Kaadu Potta Kaadu from Bharathiraja's Karuthamma is a song of the soil, the Karisal soil. It documents the life of the soil and her people. It talks about their struggle. Vairamuthu also highlights the Thai month & ancestor worship in this song.

Pay attention to the lyrics 'Thai maasam NelluSoru'. These lines highlight the Thai(Tamil NewYear) festive season. Vairamuthu here uses NelluSoru to highlight the fact that it is a festive season.

'Andha Kaandamani Osai', is a Tamil folsong from KamalHaasan's Virumandi about People's deities like Peikaaman and Pechi Amman. This song is special, because it is based on a Tamil folklore and highlights the traditional worship methods of the land.

Ilaiyaraaja also has dedicated a seperate track just for the folklore. He has presented the folklore to us along with the sounds of the land.

Seeman's speech on how Ilaiyaraaja made the folk songs of the rural Tamil country, the mainstream music of the Tamil Nation throughout the world.

Aaru Maname Aaru, a song from Aandavan Kattalai(1964) penned by Kannadasan. This song takes us on a journey to all the six abodes of Murugan that were mentioned in Sangam literature. This was probably the only song that was shot in these historical sites

'Oru Thaai Makkal Naam Enbom' is one of the most famous MGR songs. It is also probably the only song in Tamil Cinema that celebrates Thamil thaai தமிழ்த்தாய்.

வாத்தியார் 🖤

'Idhu oru Pon Maalai Pozhudhu' is a beautiful song about the 'evening time'. Sangam literature divides an year into 6 seasons and a day into 6 Pozhudhugal. The seasons of an year are referred to as Perum Pozhudhu, and a day is defined by Siru Pozhudhugal.

Maalai Pozhudhu is the time from 6.00pm to 10.00pm. This song penned by Vairamuthu praises nature and refers to the evening sky as a bridge to the night and the changing colours of the sky as the Kolam of the Night. (A Kolam signifies the beginning of a day, here the night) 🙂

'Acham enpathu madamaiyada' is a MGR song that praises the Moovendhars, especially the historical figure Cheran Senguttuvan who waged a war against the Aryans. Maamanidhar Taraki Sivaram celebrates this song in one of his essays

Taraki says this "song invoke one of the most powerful narratives of modern Tamil nationalism,the conquest of north India by the kings of the three Tamil dynasties,which was accomplished by imprinting the Bow (Chera)or Tiger (Chola) or Fish (Pandya) emblems on the Himalayas"

Here is a beautiful scene written by Karunanidhi narrating the history of Cheran Senguttuvan. Even though Sivaji Ganesan steals the show, Karunanidhi's lines are very powerful in this scene.

Today's DMK is against these histories and are more Pro-Aryan. Infact Karunanidhi himself stood by the Aryan establishment during the final stages of the war in Eelam. A Puranaanuru Tamilian in the eyes of current DMKians is a terrorist, tumbler or an agathi Naai.

'Kadavul En Kallaanaan'

The Dravidian movement & Tamil Tigers have a history of reclaiming and secularizing Tamil words that were most commonly found & used in religious context. They looked up to Sangam literature for guidance

Words like Dharmam(Buddhist) & Saatchi(Christianity) were used in a secular sense. You can notice this trend in many MGR and Sivaji songs. In this song note how the word 'Saatchi' is used to promote the concept of justice in the form of 'Neethi Thevan'

You can read more about this on Peter Schalk's material on the Martyr Cults of Eelavar. The Aaru Maname Aaru song that highlights the Aaru Padai Veedu, also is a very secular song, that is appreciated by Tamils of all faith.

'Nallavarkellaam Saatchigal Rendu'
Here is another song similar to that.

References to Neethi Thevan as a bigger authority than god is a stand based on Tamil Aram. Anna in his play Neethi Thevan Mayakkam investigates Aryan texts through Aram. In the play he portrayed Neethi Thevan(Justice) as a bigger authority who could even investigate the gods.

Arinjar Anna even called the court in which Raman is investigated an 'Aramandram'.Anna's Neethi Thevan Mayakkam is the inspiration behind my kutti pinned story that investigates Gita 🙂

https://twitter.com/mrpaluvets/status/1081418624894554113?s=19

'Vazhvinil Semmaiyai Seibaval Neeye' is the Tamil Thaai Vaalthu of Pudhucherry. This was written by Paaventhar Bharathidasan. This song doesn't have any geographical references like the other Tamil Thaai Vaalthukkal and only focuses on praising the Goddess of Tamil.

'Avalum Naanum Amudhum Thamilum' is a song that was penned by Bharathidasan 80+ years ago. It still sounds fresh and modern because of its simplicity.

This song talks about the inseparability of lovers. It starts with the lines,

'You and I are (inseparable) like Sweetness and Tamil,
Like the waves and the Sea.
And so on.

Sange Muzhangu is another poem written by Bharathidaasan that celebrates the valour & solidarity of Tamils. This is a war cry of Tamils. You find most of Bharathidasan's works only in Makkal Thilagam MGR's movies.

Sange Muzhangu is a 'war cry'! It is a rallying call. This poem of Bharathidaasan can still be heard in Tamil Nationalist stages of Tamil Nadu. Here is a video of NTK's leader Seeman delivering the poem in the way it is meant to be delivered.

'KolaiVaalinai Edadaa' is another Bharathidaasan poem that comes under the 'war cry' category.Bharathidaasan here refers to Tamils as Tigers & call them to arm themselves against the oppressive forces. Here is a rendition of that song by Thenisai Sellappa.

Here is another video of Seeman delivering this poem by Bharathidaasan in the way it is meant to be delivered. Am only sharing this because Seeman is the only person who quotes Bharathidasan on stage.If DMK cadres share videos of Stalin doing the same,ill be happy to add it too👍

You can see the same emotions of Bharathidaasan, the war cry, the rallying call reflected in the writings of Arignar Anna too. Here are some excerpts from Arinjar Anna's 'Kalinga Rani'. 👇

https://twitter.com/mrpaluvets/status/1055373136940527618?s=19

'Thamilukkum Amudhendru Per' is a Bharathidaasan song that celebrates the aesthetics of Tamil, her sweetness, he motherly embrace and the greatness she instills in every child of hers.

'Inbath Thamil engal mozhiyaagum, Islam Engal Vazhiyaagum' is a beautiful song sung by Nagoor Hanifa.This song celebrates Tamil & the contribution of Islamic scholars to its literature.There is also a line in the song that say 'Aram is our principle'.🙂

"Inba Thamil engal mozhiyaagum, Islam engal Vazhiyaagum" is a quote from Quaid-e-Millat
who demanded the Constituent Assembly to make Tamil as a common language in the year 1952. This quote serves as an assertion of Tamilness. Here is Seeman asserting it.

Once again i am referring to Seeman here because he is the only Tamil politician who talks about Quaid-e-Millat. If you have a video of Stalin doing the same, please share it with me, I'll add it to the list.

Thankyou.

'Devanin Kovililey' is a Tamil song that is sung in praise of Christianity. The song starts with a prayer for rain, the welfare of the farmers, protelarait and most importantly the lines "நம் கடமை அறவாழ்வில் நாட்டத்தே சிறக்கட்டும்" that celebrate Aram. 🙂

Vellai Nira Malligaiyo is a devotional piece written by Swami Vipulananda(1892-1947)from Eelam Karaitivu(East). This song praises the Hindu god through flowers. Flowers like Kaanthal & Kondrai mentioned in this song are also mentioned in Sangam literature

Such songs serve as records of the Flora of the Tamil country. We Tamils continue to celebrate and use Kaanthal, and Kondrai to express our love and devotion towards fellow humans and gods. Swami Vipulananda is known as a religious leader who served people of all faiths.