A major controversy erupted on Tuesday, 25 November 2025, after the Tamizh Thai Vazhthu was reportedly not sung at the inauguration of the newly built Semmozhi Poonga in Coimbatore – an event presided over by Chief Minister M.K. Stalin and advertised as a grand celebration of Tamil classical heritage.
The omission triggered sharp criticism from BJP leader K Annamalai, who alleged that the DMK government had “insulted Tamil identity” at an event meant to honour Tamil civilisation.
“How can a Classical Tamil Park be opened without Tamil Thai Vazhthu?”: Annamalai
In a strongly worded statement, Annamalai wrote on X:
“At the inauguration ceremony of the Coimbatore Classical Language Garden, held under the leadership of Chief Minister Thiru @mkstalin, the event took place without singing the Tamil Thaai Vaazhthu. In Tamil Nadu, the DMK claims that these classical language gardens are established to honor the Tamil language, which is the irony in this matter. The DMK continues to exploit the passion for Tamil, which should be alive and heartfelt, for their divisive politics and their exploitative business of survival. That is why, for Chief Minister Thiru @mkstalin, who pretends to care about the Tamil language, the Tamil Nadu government did not even mention that the Tamil Thaai Vaazhthu should be sung at the beginning of the event. At least now, instead of merely paying lip service to Tamil passion, we urge the Chief Minister to truly demonstrate care for the Tamil language.”
முதலமைச்சர் திரு @mkstalin அவர்கள் தலைமையில் நடைபெற்ற கோயம்புத்தூர் செம்மொழி பூங்கா திறப்பு விழாவில், தமிழ்த்தாய் வாழ்த்து பாடாமல், திறப்பு விழா நடைபெற்றிருக்கிறது. தமிழகத்தில், இந்த செம்மொழிப் பூங்காக்கள், தமிழ் மொழியைப் போற்றுவதற்காக அமைக்கப்படுகின்றன என்று திமுக கூறுவதுதான்…
— K.Annamalai (@annamalai_k) November 25, 2025
Event Celebrated Tamil Classical Heritage — But Reportedly Skipped the Foundational Invocation
The irony was not lost on observers: The Semmozhi Poonga was launched during the 2010 Classical Tamil Conference and is now showcased as a large-scale cultural landmark featuring Sangam-era botanical species, sculptures of the Seven Vallals, and inscriptions from ancient Tamil texts.
Yet at a function centred on Tamil classical identity, the very song that opens all Tamil cultural, educational, and state functions was reportedly inexplicably absent.
Despite the criticism, the Tamil Nadu government has not issued any explanation – No clarification from the Chief Minister’s Office, no comment from the HR&CE Minister or Culture Department, no statement from the Coimbatore administration.
As per a News18 Tamil Nadu video, the reporting seemed to point at this – that the event began directly with plaque unveilings and walk-throughs and not with the invocation.
In Tamil Nadu, Tamil Thai Vazhthu holds the status of a State Song and is traditionally sung at the start of all official events. A 2021 Madras High Court ruling emphasised that the song must be accorded the same respect as ‘Jana Gana Mana’ at functions.
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