The etymology of the term 'gaana' is unclear, though it may have come from Tamil word Kaanam - கானம் - which means “tune”, or Hindi, where the word means 'song'. Contemporary gaana bands are bringing the genre to new audiences while using it for social activism, especially against caste discrimination. It's popularity rose when it was brought to the music of the mainstream Tamil film industry. It is rap-like 'collection of rhythms, beats and sensibilities native to the Chennai people.' It evolved over the past two centuries, with influences ranging from the siddhars (tantric adepts) of ancient Tamilakam to rural Tamil folk music to Tamil sufi mystics. Gaana (or Gana) is a style of Tamil music from Chennai, India. Tamil Sufi songs, siddhars of ancient Tamilakam, music of rural Tamil Nadu She participated in Tamil Bigg Boss Season 5.Not to be confused with Ganna or Ghana. In 2020, Isaivani was recognised for her contributions to gaana music with a BBC 100 Women Award. Her presence on stage has led to other women coming forward as gaana performers. The music she sings with The Casteless Collective is political: in 2018 they released 'Beef Song' in protest at the lynching of dalit people in 2019 they released 'I’m Sorry Ayyappa' about the Sabarimala temple controversy. In addition she is a woman succeeding in a male dominated genre of music, despite initial opposition from people who felt that gaana should be preserved as male-only artform. īy joining the band, Isaivani became one of the first professional female gaana singers in the world. In 2017, gaana musician Sabesh Solomon contacted her and encouraged her to audition for a new band that was being formed by Tenma - this band became The Casteless Collective. She began sing Tamil film songs and to cover gaana songs as a teenager because audiences responded well to them.

Her performance career began at the age of six, alongside her father and by 2018 she had performed approximately 10,000 shows with him.

Her father, a self-taught keyboardist, encouraged her musical ability and singing from a young age, encouraging Selvi to sing to Isaivani and her brother while they were in the womb. Isaivani was born in Royapuram in Chennai in 1996 to Sivakumar D and Selvi. In 2020 she was recognised for her achievements with one of the BBC 100 Women Awards. Isaivani (born 1996) is a gaana singer from Chennai, who performs with The Casteless Collective.

List tamil gana songs