Tamil Nadu has three modes of entertainment
viz. Iyal (Literature), Isai (Music) and Nadagam (Drama) had their
roots in the rural folk theatre like Therukoothu. Several forms of
individual and group dances exist in the state from ancient time. These dances have classical and sheer entertainment value. The celebrated forms of village classical dances
include Karagaattam, Kummi, Mayil Attam, Kolaattam, Oyil Kummi, Kavadi
Aattam, Poikkal Kudirai Aattam, Kai Silambu Attam, Kazhai Kothu,
Bagavatha Nadanam, Devaraattam, and Snake Dance etc.
Music in Tamil Nadu can be broadly classified into three categories :
- Contemporary/Modern Songs
- Folk Songs
- Carnatic Music
The first category refers to filmy songs or the sound tracks which are extracted from movies or albums. These music forms are based on modern track and lyric. All Tamil people are fond of films, also their songs.
The second is the folk songs which is a reflection of the rich tradition of Tamil Nadu. Tamil folk music has a special attraction owing to its vivacious presentation. Most of the folk music and songs are associated with the rural milieu. Folk music remains a major source of inspiration for the more popular film music. Popular contemporary folk-musicologists like Vijayalakshmi Navaneethakrishnan and Pushpavanam Kuppuswamy are reviving this traditional music to their best form.
Carnatic music referred to as
“classical music” in South India. This traditional music
form includes Hindu devotional songs which are enjoyed by people of all
ages and sections of the society. One of the greatest composers of
South Indian Carnatic music was Thyagaraja, who is regarded by many as a
saint. Muthuswami Deekshithar and Shyama Sastri are other two composers
who constitute the three pillars of Carnatic music in Tamil Nadu. The popular classical dance amongst Tamils is Bharat Natyam. The dance is performed individually or in group on a stage with orchestra and song.