Chennai, Aug 13: The Tamil Nadu government has made it mandatory for Tamil Thaai Vazhthu, the State’s official song, to be rendered first at all government, public and educational functions, introducing a uniform protocol for official events across the State.
The directive, issued through a government order by Chief Secretary M. Sai Kumar, requires all attendees to stand while the State song is being rendered. The order exempts persons with disabilities from this requirement.
The instruction applies to government departments, government offices, educational institutions, universities, public sector undertakings and all other organisations under the control of the State government. Authorities have been directed to ensure strict compliance with the prescribed sequence of songs at official programmes.
The order follows a resolution introduced by Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay and unanimously adopted by the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly on August 10. Through the resolution, the Assembly reaffirmed the cultural and historical significance of the Tamil language and stressed that the State song should be accorded due respect during public functions.
The resolution expressed the Assembly’s pride in Tamil as an ancient classical language and described Tamil civilisation as one of the world’s oldest cultural traditions. It also reiterated the government’s commitment to preserving and promoting the language and its heritage.
Tamil Thaai Vazhthu is taken from Manonmaniam, a play written by scholar and poet Manonmaniam Sundaranar in 1891. The composition begins with the words “Neerarum Kadaludutha” and serves as an invocation in praise of Tamil Nadu and the Tamil language.
The practice of singing Tamil Thaai Vazhthu at the beginning of government functions was first introduced through a government order issued on November 23, 1970. The song was subsequently declared the official State song of Tamil Nadu on December 17, 2021, when the government also directed people to stand during its rendition, except persons with disabilities.
The latest government order consolidates the earlier directives and specifically states that Tamil Thaai Vazhthu must occupy the first position whenever multiple songs are scheduled at an official function. It must be rendered before the commencement of formal proceedings.
The Assembly resolution and the subsequent government order followed a communication issued by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs on July 9, 2026, regarding the rendition of State songs. Officials said the latest directive removes ambiguity over the sequence to be followed at official events and establishes a uniform practice across Tamil Nadu. Departments and institutions have been instructed to circulate the order among subordinate offices and ensure its implementation at all future programmes.
