Tamil drama is classified into various types. Such classification highlights the eminence of Tamil drama. A study of these types clarifies our thinking and enables us to understand drama better. The basic types are categorized according to the creative stage, quality, ending purpose, story and length.

A play comes to life only when it is acted; but all plays are not written for the stage. Some are meant to be read. A stage play has the following features. Beginning, Rising action, conflict, climax, denouement and end. A stage play ‘ is restricted in time, has a clear storyline and message. A literary play is long; it has several subplots and is meant to be read individually.

Manonmaniam by Professor Sundaram Pillai is a pioneering poetic play. There are poetic plays which are written in simple language. Prose plays are quite different and present our daily life. Famous prose plays are Velaikari C.N. Annathurai and Mullil roja by B. Neelakantan. Cilapathikaram was a powerful dance drama. Radio plays are distinct and they depend mainly on dialogues. T.V. Plays could be considered as film versions of drama.

Plays are also classified according to the end, as tragedies or comedies. Most Tamil plays are comedies.

Based on story line Tamil plays could be classified into social, puranic and historical plays. Social plays became popular from early twentieth century and deal with various social problems like dowry, as well as other themes like politics, and patriotism. Historical plays also foster patriotism.

The rich variety of Tamil plays has made a significant contribution to the history of Tamil drama.