A month of vibrant cultural showcases, literary debates and community programmes celebrating the Tamil language was brought to a resounding close on April 26.
To cap off the success of the Tamil Language Festival (TLF) 2026, which saw more than 40 events held over the past month, a first-of-its-kind wrap-up event titled Murasu 360 was organised by Tamil Murasu to encapsulate the festival’s key milestones.
The 90-minute session at the Civil Service Club @ Tessensohn provided a comprehensive “eagle-eye view” and reflection of the festival for the community, while firmly placing the spotlight on the youths driving the language forward.
Senior Minister of State for Law and Transport Murali Pillai, who was the guest of honour, highlighted the festival’s evolution from its small beginnings 20 years ago into a vital community movement.
“We are seeing a generation of youths who are learning Tamil not just because they have to, but because they want to. They are finding innovative ways to weave the Tamil language into the modern world,” said SMS Murali.
He urged the community to extend the energy felt during the festival into homes, schools and workplaces to ensure the Tamil language continues to thrive.
MP Hamid Razak and Nominated MP Haresh Singaraju also attended.
A central focus of the evening was the extensive involvement of 15 student journalists, who were deployed to cover TLF’s different events.
Before the festival, the students underwent two media training sessions that covered news writing, interviewing and video production to equip them.
The students took to the stage on April 26 to present their work, including summary videos of their on-the-ground experiences as journalists. Among them was Tamil Murasu intern Kamadchi Chandrasekar, 19, who noted that interacting with people from all walks of life was the most unique part of her experience.
“It gave me a platform to be a voice for the community and highlight issues that truly matter to me, such as mental health,” she said.
“We felt it was important to host an event that encompasses TLF – to share the festival’s highlights, evaluate our reach and assess whether we achieved our intended impact,” said Tamil Murasu Editor, T. Rajasegar.
Echoing this sentiment, Tamil Language Council chairman Naseer Ghani commended the young reporters for their digital savviness, noting that their video productions helped broadcast the festival’s message across multiple platforms.
Singapore Indian Development Association (SINDA) chief executive officer Anbarasu Rajendran noted that such youth-centric initiatives will ensure the Tamil language thrives.
“These young journalists carried themselves with immense confidence. They have a clear vision of how to bring the Tamil language forward,” he added.
Beyond the student presentations, the evening featured a live, podcast-style interview with Mr Naseer on stage, as well as a skit by local artistes, with Vadi PVSS leading it.
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26 Apr 2026 16:42
