Music and dance being fine arts, a separate group of classical musicians and dancers existed in ancient Tamil society. These artists who enjoyed high patronage among the royalty and the people were called பாணர். This section presents the etymology of the term பாணர் and describes the different groups of பாணர் such as the யாழ்ப்பாணர், இசைப்பாணர் and மண்டைப்பாணர்.

The section also tells about the பாடினியார் or women singers, who were not only endowed with a melodious voice and dexterity at playing musical instruments but were graceful women with sharp intellects. The sangam text பொருநர் ஆற்றுப்படை provides information about the பாடினியார்.