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