This section states that classical தமிழ் இசை and dance evolved indigenously, before the ancient Tamils interacted with other peoples. The ancient Tamil treatises on music and dance dating back to over 3000 years are testimony to this.

Music and dance are twin arts and several texts laying down their grammar were written during the ancient sangam period of Tamil literature. A list of the texts that have survived is provided. Of these the தொல்காப்பியம் has survived in its entirety. It is a seminal text which provides a comprehensive grammar of Tamil and divides the land into five as குறிஞ்சி, முல்லை, மருதம், நெய்தல் and பாலை and also describes the landscape with its integral features like தெய்வம், உணா (உணவு), மா (விலங்கு), மரம், புள் (பறவை), பறை and யாழ். It also refers to the categorization of பண் music into குறிஞ்சிப் பண், முல்லைப் பண், மருதப் பண், செவ்வழிப் பண் and பாலைப் pann according to geographical origin.