Historical background of Malaysian Tamil folk songs

ABSTRACT This study aimed to discover the historical background of the Malaysian Tamil folk songs. Qualitative approaches with historical, descriptive and explanatory designs were used for this study. Apart from the historical background, information on the characteristics and essence of the Malaysian Tamil folk songs are also discussed in this paper. The researcher used information from sources on Malaysian Tamil literature and Malaysian Tamil folk songs to analyze and explore the historical background. Information was also obtained from an interview with Murasu Nedumaran, a Tamil scholar. The elements embedded in the folk songs were categorized and described. Findings revealed that the essence of the Malaysian folk songs compiled by Murasu Nedumaran, Thandayutham and Muthammal Palanisamy expressed loss, gain and hopes of the Tamil laborers.