Vijay’s Tamil Thai Vazhthu Move: The Story Of Tamil Nadu’s Song, From Manonmaniam To State Symbol

Published 10 August 2026 · india

News india Vijay’s Tamil Thai Vazhthu Move: The Story Of Tamil Nadu’s Song, From Manonmaniam To State Symbol Vijay’s Tamil Thai Vazhthu Move: The Story

News india Vijay’s Tamil Thai Vazhthu Move: The Story Of Tamil Nadu’s Song, From Manonmaniam To State Symbol Vijay’s Tamil Thai Vazhthu Move: The Story Of Tamil Nadu’s Song, From Manonmaniam To State Symbol Published By, Last Updated: August 10, 2026, 08:37 IST Tamil Thai Vazhthu was written by P. Sundaram Pillai (1855–1897), a prominent Tamil scholar, professor and writer. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay. (X) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay is set to move a resolution in the state Assembly seeking to reaffirm the practice of singing Tamil Thai Vazhthu at the beginning of events held by educational institutions, government offices and other public organisations across the state. But where did Tamil Thai Vazhthu come from and how did a poem written in the 19th century become one of the most recognisable symbols of Tamil cultural identity? What Is Tamil Thai Vazhthu? Tamil Thai Vazhthu is an invocation to “Tamil Thai"- literally, Mother Tamil.

It is based on the opening verses of “Neerarum Kadaludutha," written by Tamil scholar and poet P. Sundaram Pillai. The poem forms the opening invocation of Sundaram Pillai’s 1891 Tamil play Manonmaniam. Over time, these verses came to be performed independently as an invocation at public, educational and cultural events. Who Wrote Tamil Thai Vazhthu? Tamil Thai Vazhthu was written by P. Sundaram Pillai (1855–1897), a prominent Tamil scholar, professor and writer. Sundaram Pillai is best known for Manonmaniam, published in 1891. The play is regarded as an important work in modern Tamil literature and its opening invocation to Tamil became the basis for what is now known as Tamil Thai Vazhthu. The song invokes Tamil as a mother and celebrates the language and the land associated with it. The version used today consists of selected verses from the original work rather than the entire poem. When Did Tamil Nadu Begin Using Tamil Thai Vazhthu Officially? The first major step came in 1970.

On March 11, 1970, then Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi announced that the verses from Manonmaniam would be sung as Tamil Thai Vazhthu at the beginning of state government functions. A formal government order followed on November 23, 1970. This gave the song an official place in government functions and formalised a practice that had already been followed by Tamil cultural organisations. When Did Tamil Thai Vazhthu Become Tamil Nadu’s State Song? On December 17, 2021, the Tamil Nadu government formally declared Tamil Thai Vazhthu the State Song of Tamil Nadu and issued guidelines governing its rendition at official and public functions. The government order said the song should be sung at the beginning of functions in educational institutions, universities, government offices, public-sector undertakings and other public forums in the state. It also encouraged its use at functions organised by private organisations. The 2021 order gave Tamil Thai Vazhthu formal State Song status. It also prescribed a protocol for its rendition, including that people should stand as a mark of respect, with an exemption for persons with disabilities.