Chennai: The Tamil Nadu government has directed that Tamil Thaai Vazhthu, the official State song, must be rendered first at all government, public and educational functions across the State.
A government order issued by Chief Secretary M. Sai Kumar said everyone present should stand while the song is rendered. Persons with disabilities have been exempted from the requirement.
The directive applies to government departments, offices, educational institutions, universities, public sector undertakings and other State-controlled organisations.
Authorities have been instructed to ensure strict compliance with the prescribed order of songs at official programmes.
The order follows a resolution moved by Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay and passed unanimously by the Tamil Nadu Assembly on August 10.
Through the resolution, the Assembly reaffirmed the cultural and historical importance of Tamil and stressed the need to accord due respect to the State song at public functions.
The resolution recorded the House’s pride in Tamil as an ancient classical language and described Tamil civilisation as one of the oldest cultural traditions in the world.
It also reiterated the government’s commitment to protecting and promoting the language and its heritage.
Tamil Thaai Vazhthu is drawn from ‘Manonmaniam’, a play written by scholar and poet Manonmaniam Sundaranar in 1891. The song, beginning with the words “Neerarum Kadaludutha,” is an invocation praising Tamil Nadu and the Tamil language.
The practice of singing Tamil Thaai Vazhthu at the beginning of government functions was introduced through an order issued on November 23, 1970.
The song was formally recognised as Tamil Nadu’s official State song on December 17, 2021, when the government also directed people to stand during its rendition, barring those with disabilities.
The latest order consolidates these earlier directions and clearly stipulates that the song must occupy the first position whenever multiple songs are scheduled at an official event. It should be rendered before the formal proceedings begin.
The Assembly resolution and the subsequent government order followed a communication sent by the Union Home Ministry on July 9, 2026, concerning the rendition of State songs.
Officials said the new order removes ambiguity over the sequence to be followed at official programmes and establishes a uniform protocol throughout Tamil Nadu.
Departments and institutions are expected to circulate the instructions among subordinate offices and ensure their implementation at all future events.
(IANS)
