TAMIL FOLK MUSIC

India is a land of varied different and unique regional cultures. Very few countries in the world could boast of the varied number of music and dance forms that India possesses. Each region or state has a dance and music form which is exclusive to that region. Tamil folk song is such a folk style belonging to the state of Tamil Nadu the mp3s of which can be heard online or downloaded free.

Folk music is basically the traditional music of a region. Not only is the style of singing traditional but also the instruments used are also not contemporary. Most of these Tamil folk songs are also accompanied by dances like the Bharat Natyam which is indigenous to Tamil Nadu. Thus these folk songs are more of a folk music dance style where the element of dance is as important as the music and the song itself.

Though most of the folk songs have died down from the cities they are still sung in the rural areas and many Tamil film music directors are trying to incorporate the Tamil folk music in their songs. They often land up creating a fusion music of folk and modern styles which is unique to hear. This kind of music is widely available online for free.

Even within Tamil Nadu the different tribes of the hilly areas have their own different varied folk music styles. An example being the Pulayurs who perform talams, a style of Tamil Folk songs based on the cooing and the varied sounds that different birds make. The talams are easily downloaded for free or after paying a small fee.

Vijayalakshmi Navaneethakrishnan and Pushpavanam Kuppuswamy are two recent musicians who have tried very hard indeed to revive the traditions of Tamil folk songs and music in the cities and tried to give the medium the exposure and attention that it rightfully deserves.