Tamil Nadu, or Land of the Tamils, is a state at the southern tip of India. The bordering states/territories are Pondicherry, Kerala, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. The nation of Sri Lanka, which has a significant Tamil minority, lies off the southeast coast.
Tamil Nadu is known for its rich tradition of literature, music and dance which are continuing to flourish today. It is one of the most industrialized states in India. Tamil is the official language of Tamil Nadu (as well as one of the official languages of India).
Tamil Nadu was created from the old Madras State in the 1950s, when India re-drew some state lines according to language. State politics continue to have a lot to do with protecting and celebrating the Tamil (and Dravidian in general) language and culture.
Tamil Nadu is also home to India's second largest film industry after Bollywood, producing a huge number of Tamil language films each year.
Chennai (formerly Madras) is the state capital and the fourth largest city in India. Coimbatore, Madurai, Salem and Tiruchirapalli are the other large cities of Tamil Nadu.