With the aim of promoting Tamil language songs in Tamil classical concerts, the Tamil Isai Sangam conducts a 12-day music festival in December every year. The festival is conducted in Chennai where a number of concerts are held during what is known as the December Season.
Tamil Isai Sangam selects an exemplary musician for that year. On the first day of the festival, it awards the title of "Isai Perarignar" along with a gold medal and a purse to the selected musician.
| Year | Artist | Field |
|---|
| 2016 | Sanjay Subrahmanyan | Vocalist |
| 2015 | Haridwaramangalam AK Palanivel | Tavil |
| 2014 | Sirkazhi G. Sivachidambaram | Vocalist |
| 2013[2] | Krishnakumari Narendran | Bharathanatyam Teacher |
| 2012[3] | M. P. N. Ponnusamy | Nadaswaram |
| 2011[4] | Sudha Ragunathan | Vocalist |
| 2010 | T. N. Krishnan | Violin |
| 2009 | Aruna Sairam | Vocalist |
| 2008 | Sembonnarkoil S. R. D. Vaidyanathan | Nadaswaram |
| 2007 | Saidai T. Natarajan | Devotional song |
| 2006 | Bombay Sisters | Vocalist |
| 2005 | Thiruvidaimarudur P. S. V. Raja | Nadaswaram |
| 2004 | K. J. Sarasa | Choreographer |
| 2003 | M. S. Viswanathan | Music Director |
| 2002 | M. Balamuralikrishna | Vocalist |
| 2001 | Kanchipuram M. N. Venkatavaradhan | Vocalist |
| 2000 | Madurai T. N. Seshagopalan | Vocalist |
| 1999 | Kanchipuram A. Vinayaga Mudaliar | Vocalist |
| 1998 | N. Ramani | Flute |
| 1997 | Tiruvizha R. Jayashankar | Nadaswaram |
| 1996 | T. R. Pappa | Music Director |
| 1995 | Dr. Thirupampuram S. Shanmugasundaram | Traditional Music |
| 1994 | Dr. Padma Subramanyam | Bharathanatyam |
| 1993 | Sheik Chinna Moulana | Nadaswaram |
| 1992 | K. J. Yesudas | Vocalist |
| 1991 | Maharajapuram V. Santhanam | Vocalist |
| 1990 | Valayapatti A. R. Subramaniam | Tavil |
| 1989 | Kunnakkudi Vaidyanathan | Violin |
| 1988 | A. K. C. Nadarajan | Clarinet |
| 1987 | R. S. Manohar | Drama |
| 1986 | Dharmapuram P. Swaminathan | Devotional song |
| 1985 | Thanjai K. P. Kittappa Pillai | Choreographer |
| 1984 | Lalgudi Jayaraman | Violin, Music Director |
| 1983 | Namagiripettai K. Krishnan | Nadaswaram |
| 1982 | Seergazhi Govindarajan | Vocalist |
| 1981 | Dr. S. Ramanathan | Vocalist |
| 1980 | M. P. Somasundaram | Devotional Music Co-ordinator |
| 1979 | Ramanathapuram C. S. Murugapoopathy | Mridangam |
| 1978 | M. L. Vasanthakumari | Vocalist |
| 1977 | Thiruveezhimizhalai S. Natarajasundaram Pillai | Nadaswaram |
| 1976 | Mayavaram V. R. Govindaraja Pillai | Violin |
| 1975 | T. Balasaraswathi | Bharathanatyam |
| 1974 | Thiruveezhimizhalai S. Subramania Pillai | Nadaswaram |
| 1973 | D. K. Pattammal | Vocalist |
| 1972 | M. P. Periyasamy Thooran | Lyricist |
| 1971 | Madurai S. Somasundaram | Vocalist |
| 1970 | M. S. Subbulakshmi | Vocalist |
| 1969 | Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer | Vocalist |
| 1968 | Palghat T. S. Mani Iyer | Mridangam |
| 1967 | Kirupanandha Variyar | Devotional Musical Discourse |
| 1966 | K. B. Sundarambal | Vocalist |
| 1965 | Papanasam Sivan | Vocalist, Lyricist |
| 1964 | Chittoor Subramania Pillai | Vocalist |
| 1963 | Musiri Subramania Iyer | Vocalist |
| 1962 | Madurai Mani Iyer | Vocalist |
| 1961 | Vazhuvoor B. Ramiah Pillai | Choreographer |
| 1960 | Ariyakudi Ramanuja Iyengar | Vocalist |
| 1959 | P. S. Veerasamy Pillai | Nadaswaram |
| 1957 | Kumbakonam Rajamanickam Pillai | Fiddle |
| 1957 | P. Sambamurthy | Musicologist |
| 1957 | M. M. Dandapani Desigar | Lyricist |
1. ^{{cite web|url=http://www.tamilisaisangam.in/virudhukal.html|title=Welcome to Tamil Isai Sangam - Virudhugal|publisher=|accessdate=19 October 2016}}
2. ^{{cite web|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/artistes-honoured/article5487580.ece|title=Artistes honoured|date=22 December 2013|publisher=|accessdate=19 October 2016|via=The Hindu}}
3. ^'Dinamani' Article
4. ^{{cite web|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/festival-highlights-rich-tamil-isai/article2736869.ece|title=Festival highlights rich Tamil isai|date=22 December 2011|publisher=|accessdate=19 October 2016|via=The Hindu}}