Song Ratings



The Song Ratings division of the CM’s SATC rates Tamil cine songs at the end of each year to curate a list — Top 100 Songs. Songs are then ranked based on their ratings. These ratings are purely based on the quality, appeal, and transcendental nature of a “song” and not the music itself. Therefore, please be informed that, a song which is rated low by the CM’s SATC can still be good “music” and can have a much better rating for its musical quality.

IMPORTANT UPDATES:


From 2017 onward, the reprise/female/male/other versions of a song are considered along with the original song as a single entry and the version which is rated higher is mentioned if it gets into the Top 100 list.

1) We had stopped curating songs from 2020 onward, as the general quality of the songs have plummeted in the recent years.
2) We have decided to resume the process of rating & ranking again from 2023 as there’s a slight improvement in the quality of songs produced in 2023. However, the general trend is still unfavourable for “Tamil cine songs” and therefore we have reduced the number of Top Songs from 100 to 50* from year 2023 onward.
3) All decisions are taken by the Song Ratings division only but the CM’s SATC will always take into account the valuable opinions provided by its members before approving of the decisions.
* – subject to change



Eligibility Criteria

The criteria laid out for songs to be considered for rating and subsequent rankings are as follows:

(1) Song release period:
The song should be released between Dec. 16 (of the previous year) and Dec. 15 (of the current year)
Exceptions: A song which gets missed out on the year of its release may feature in the next year’s list, provided it gets rated above 8/10.

(2) The track should be listed in the Original Soundtrack album of a Tamil movie or a movie dubbed into Tamil.

(3) Rights (digital or otherwise) should have been sold to any of the following music companies/labels (OR) the producer of the song must have digitally partnered with any of the following music companies/labels:

  • T-Series
  • Sony Music
  • Think Music
  • divo
  • Times Music (Junglee)
  • Saregama
  • Lahari Music
  • Trend Music
  • Muzik247
  • Star Music
  • SS Music
  • Zee Music
  • Mango Music
  • Triple V Records
  • Aditya Music
  • Jio Studios

(4) Minimum length: 121 seconds

In tune with the recent changes in trend and treatment of songs, the following clause (5) has been REMOVED and will no longer affect the eligibility of a song.

(5) Should NOT contain more than 40% of lyrics in English and 10% of lyrics in other South Indian languages – in Tamil songs;
&
Should NOT contain more than 20% of lyrics in Tamil or other South Indian languages – in English songs.


Preferences:

1. Conventional format of a song: raaga based with thogaiyara (optional), pallavi, anu pallavi, charanam with or without chittaswaram.
2. Domination of lyrics — the tune accommodating the lyrics and not the other way around.
3. Two charanams.
4. High and clear audibility of lyrics.
5. Usage of unobjectionable words.