A memorial event honouring veteran Tamil nationalist singer and lyricist Thenisai Sellappa was held in T Nagar, Chennai, on Saturday (June 6), bringing together supporters and members of Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK) to commemorate his life and contribution to the Tamil national cause.
The event, led by NTK chief Seeman, paid tribute to the late artist, who is remembered for dedicating his writing, music and voice to the Tamil Eelam liberation struggle. Seeman reflected on the sacrifices made during the Tamil national movement and hailed Thenisai Sellappa's enduring legacy as a cultural figure whose songs inspired generations.
Addressing the gathering, Seeman described Thenisai Sellappa as a man who devoted his voice to the liberation of the Tamil homeland and the Tamil people.
“We are the children of a race that carried a huge dream,” he said.
Reflecting on the Tamil Eelam struggle, Seeman said that more than 50,000 Maaveerar (great warriors) had sacrificed their lives for “the liberation of the homeland and the national liberation of the Tamil race”.
“There are many who lost their lives to save our life, that is Tamil,” he said, adding that many others had been left permanently disabled as a result of the struggle.
He further exalted the parents of fallen fighters as having made “the biggest sacrifice”.
Drawing attention to Thenisai Sellappa's role within the liberation movement, Seeman said that while others took up life and knowledge as weapons in the struggle, the singer had chosen his voice as his weapon.
"When life and knowledge were taken as weapons for liberation, our father Thenisai Sellappa took his voice as the weapon and sacrificed even his last breath for the liberation of the homeland,”
Seeman further stressed on the enduring influence of Thenisai Sellappa’s work on younger generations.
“Revolution stays under every single human’s feet as withered leaves, waiting for the friction of a single matchstick,” he said.
Recalling the impact of the singer’s music during the armed conflict, Seeman added, “His songs pulled thousands of soldiers to the field.”
Thenisai Sellappa continues to be remembered by Tamils across the world for his contribution to the Tamil national cause, with his songs remaining closely associated with the Tamil liberation struggle decades after they were first performed.