Tamil movies songs are based on Ragas or Ragams that for the basis of Indian Music. Ragas are not found in western music and there is no easy way to talk about them to western music patrons. However the easiest way to describe the raga is to talk about it as a melody note that has been named and been used as a basis for creating songs. There are several ragas in Indian music such as
- Alhaiya Bilaval
- Amritvarshini
- Asa
- Asavari
- Bageshri
- Bahar
- Bairagi
- Bairari
- Barwa
- Bhairav
- Bhairavi
- Bhatiyar
- Bhimpalasi
- Bhinnashadaja
- Bhoopeshwari
- Bhopali
- Bhupal Todi
- Bibhas
- Bihag
- Bihagara
- Bilaskhani Todi
- Bilaval
- Brindabani Sarang
- Darbari Kanada
- Deepak (Poorvi Thaat)
- Desh
- Desi
- Dhanashree
- Durga
- Gauri
- Gond
- Gurjari
- Hameer
- Hem Bihag
- Hindol
- Jaijaivanti
- Jaitsri
- Jaunpuri
- Jhinjhoti
- Jog
- Jogiya
- Kafi
- Kalavati
- Kalyani
- Kedar
- Khamaj
- Kirwani
- Lalit
- Madhukali
- Madhuvanti
- Malgunji
- Malhar
- Malkaush
- Marva
- Megh
- Megh Malhar
- Multani
- Nat Bhairav
- Patdeep
- Pilu
- Puriya
- Puriya Dhanashree
- Purvi
- Rageshree
- Ramkali
- Sahana
- Sarpada
- Shankara
- Shivaranjani
- Shree
- Sindhu Bhairavi
- Sohni
- Sorath
- Suhi
- Todi
- Vasant
- Yaman
- Yaman Kalyan etc
