[2] Ever since the Tamil Nadu government under M. Karunanidhi issued an order on 23 November 1970,[3] the official functions of the Government of Tamil Nadu, and those functions organised by educational institutions and public establishments, have started with this song, and ended with the Indian National Anthem.

The song is sung daily in schools all over Tamil Nadu during the assembly in the morning.

On 17 December, 2021, the Tamil Nadu government under chief minister M.K.Stalin, formally declared the song as the official state song, stating that it would be sung at all public events in educational institutes and government offices.

nīrāruṅ kaṭaluṭutta nilamaṭantaik keḻiloḻukum sīrārum vataṉameṉat tikaḻ paratak kaṇṭamitil tekkaṇamum atiṟciṟanta tirāviṭa nal tirunāṭum takkasiṟu piṟainutalum tarittanaṟun tilakamumē attilaka vāsaṉaipōl aṉaittulakum iṉpamuṟa ettisaiyum pukaḻ maṇakka irunta perun tamiḻaṇaṅkē!

Praise thou, beauteous Tamil, youthful forever!

Before declaring this poem as the state song of Tamil Nadu, the government redacted verses containing the following references due to political reasons: நீராருங் கடலுடுத்த நிலமடந்தைக் கெழிலொழுகும் சீராரும் வதனமெனத் திகழ் பரதக் கண்டமிதில் தெக்கணமும் அதிற்சிறந்த திராவிடநல் திருநாடும் தக்கசிறு பிறைநுதலும் தரித்தநறுந் திலகமுமே அத்திலக வாசனைபோல் அனைத்துலகும் இன்பமுற எத்திசையும் புகழ்மணக்க இருந்தபெருந் தமிழணங்கே!

nīrāruṅ kaṭaluṭutta nilamaṭantaik keḻiloḻukum tīrārum vataṉameṉat tikaḻ bharatha kaṇṭamitil tekkaṇamum atiṟciṟanta dravida nal tirunāṭum takkaciṟu piṟainutalum tarittanaṟun tilakamumē attilaka vācaṉaipōl aṉaittulakum iṉpamuṟa etticaiyum pukaḻmaṇakka iruntaperun tamiḻaṇaṅkē!

palluyirum palavulagam padaithalitu tudaikinamor ellayaru paramporulmun irunthapadi irupadhupol kannadamum kalithelungum kavinmalayalamum tuluvum unnutarat teyutite onrupala vākitinum ariyampol ulagavaḻakhaḻint toḻindhusidhaiyāun sērilamai tiram veyantu seyal marantu vāḻttutumē!

Aesthetic tilaka on thy beauteous half-moon forehead!

Fragrance of tilaka makes entire world delirious!

Kannada, Joyous Telugu, Dainty Malayalam with Tulu!

Born of thy lips, the one that became many Just like Aryan (language) you don't go out of use, your Everlasting and undying youth!

Praise thou beauteous Tamil, youthful forever!