Arivu

Arivarasu Kalainesan, more commonly known as Arivu, is an Indian rapper, singer, songwriter and composer. He is best known for his Tamil independent singles, including "", and for his work on film numbers like "Vaathi Raid" from Master, "Single Pasanga" from (2019), "Neeye Oli" from (2021), "Golden Sparrow" from Nilavuku En Mel Ennadi Kobam and "Thalapathy Kacheri" from Jana Nayagan (2026).

Early life Arivu was born in Arakkonam, a town in Tamil Nadu, India, into a family rooted in education and social service. His early exposure to Tamil folk music, Ambedkarite songs, and Arivoli Iyakkam (literacy awareness campaign) songs played a vital role in shaping his musical and ideological outlook. Starting from his teenage years, Arivu developed a deep understanding of socio-political issues, which became one of the central themes in his music. At the age of 18, Arivu released his debut poetry collection titled "Kuninthi Varaverkum Kudisaigal" which dealt with a range of topics spanning from love to socio-political issues.

Career Casteless Collective (2017–) Arivu gained widespread recognition through his association with The Casteless Collective, a Chennai-based band that uses music to address caste oppression, inequality, and social reform. Formed by film director Pa. Ranjith in 2017, the collective consists of artists who challenge caste discrimination through a mix of Tamil folk traditions, rock, and rap.In 2017, Arivu auditioned and became a part of The Casteless Collective. Arivu rose to prominence as a songwriter and rapper through his work with the group, including "Jaibhim Anthem" and "Quota Song". Arivu's contributions to The Casteless Collective include songwriting and rapping, where he combines Tamil folklore with modern hip-hop beats to communicate powerful messages. As the prime songwriter for the band, Arivu gained recognition for his powerful lyricism and his ability to draw on multiple storytelling traditions to create a "potent fusion".

Therukural: Debut Album (2019) In 2019, Arivu's debut album (Tamil: Voice of the Street) was released. Songs such as "Anti-Indian" and "Kalla Mouni" were written to highlight political issues in India and "speak truth to power". Therukural received positive reviews and was featured in Rolling Stone India as one of the top ten Indian albums in 2019. "Anti-Indian" was described as a "politically conscious hip-hop song" by Rolling Stone India. His music has won him praise "from commoners and musicians alike" and he has been described as top of the list of people who can to "use the power of music to move the public".

In August 2021, Rolling Stone India called Arivu "the voice of socio-political hip-hop, smashing records and defying social norms", and featured him in its digital cover.

Breakthrough with Enjoy Enjaami (2021) In 2021, Arivu achieved a career milestone with the release of Enjoy Enjaami, a Tamil single produced by the music label Maajja. Enjoy Enjaami broke the glass ceiling for Tamil independent music by garnering more than 500 million views in YouTube (as of November 2024). Collaborating with singer Dhee, Arivu wrote and performed verses that tell the story of Tamil landless laborers, colonial exploitation, and the community's connection with nature. The song's unique blend of traditional and contemporary elements, combined with Arivu's poignant verses, made it a viral hit on streaming platforms, with half a billion views globally. The success of Enjoy Enjaami brought Tamil independent music to the forefront and earned Arivu recognition as a dynamic new artist on the international stage. His contribution of fusing the traditional genre of Oppari with modern rap in his writing and delivery is seen as one of his authentic trademarks.

In Enjoy Enjaami, Arivu explores the complex history of his grandmother Valliyamma, an immigrant tea-plantation labourer from Sri Lanka. According to the lyricist, Arivu, the song was written as a celebration of his roots, harkening back to a time when humanity was a fledgling civilization, living in harmony with the turns of the earth and the many lives that shared it with them. Later, for the occasion of World Music Day, Enjoy Enjaami was remixed by DJ Snake for Spotify Singles.

Arivu and The Band (2022–) Arivu also leads the 10-piece band , founded in 2022. The band draws on modern Western musical elements such as rapping and beatboxing, as well as traditional Indian music traditions such as oppari and gaana.

Discography All works is in Tamil, unless specified otherwise.

Albums

Therukural (2019)

Singles YearTitleComposerSongwriterPeak chart

Films Year Film Song(s) Composer2018 Vada Chennai"Maathiya Seraiyile""Patta Patti"Santhosh Narayanan2019Natpe Thunai "Single Pasanga""Veedhikor Jaadhi" Hiphop TamizhaIrandam Ulagaporin Kadaisi Gundu"Nilamellam" Tenma2020Pattas"Mavane" Vivek-MervinDagaalty "Dagaalty Naa!" Vijay NarainNaadodigal 2 "Varungaalam Engaladhu" Justin PrabhakaranGypsy"Theevira Vyaadhi" Santhosh NarayananTughlaq Durbar"Annathe Sethi" Govind VasanthaMaster"Vathi Raid" Anirudh Ravichander2021Mandela"Yela Yelo" Bharath SankarJagame Thandhiram "Theengu Thaakka""Naan Dhaan Da Mass" Santhosh NarayananSarpatta Parambarai "Neeye Oli""Neeye Oli" (Film Version)Aranmanai 3 "Ratatapata" C. SathyaJai Bhim "Power" Sean RoldanJail"Nagarodi"G. V. Prakash KumarEnemy"Little India"S. ThamanAnnaatthe"A for Annaatthe" D. ImmanMaanaadu "Voice of Unity" Yuvan Shankar Raja 2022 Valimai"The Intense of Fire – Theme" Yuvan Shankar RajaMaaran"Polladha Ulagam" G. V. Prakash Kumar Yaanai"Bodhaiya Vittu Vaale" Selfie"Oorkaran""Badass Bossman""Padippu Thevaillai""Yedakoodam" Prince"Who Am I?" Thaman SCaptain"Akkrinai Naan" D. ImmanSardar"Inky Pinky Ponky" G. V. Prakash Kumar 2023 Vaathi"One Life" GV Prakash KumarMaamannan"Manna Maamanna" A. R. RahmanJawan – Tamil dubbed"Pattasa" Anirudh RavichanderJawan – Telugu dubbed"Galatta" Anirudh Ravichander2024 Singappenney "Ezhundhu Vaa" Kumaran Sivamani"Kanne Yen Kaniyee" Saloon "Mayir Song"Sam C. S. Singapore Saloon"Vandha Mala" Vivek-MervinDeAr"Sleeping Beauty" G. V. Prakash Kumar Teenz"Bibli Bibli Bili Bili" D. Imman Raayan"Raayan Rumble" - Tamil "Raayan Rumble" - Telugu "Raayan Rumble" - Hindi A. R. RahmanThangalaan "War Song"G. V. Prakash Kumar "Thandora Pottanungo" Nilavuku En Mel Ennadi Kobam"Golden Sparrow" G. V. Prakash KumarAmaran"Amara" "Por Veeran" (Azadi)G. V. Prakash Kumar2025Sweetheart!"Torture Pro Max"Yuvan Shankar RajaCoolie"Chikitu"Anirudh Ravichander"Powerhouse"Idli Kadai"Enjaami Thandhaane" "Kulasamy Kaaval Kaaka"G. V. Prakash KumarThandakaaranyam"Kaava Kaade"Justin Prabhakaran2026Jana Nayagan"Thalapathy Kacheri"Anirudh RavichanderThalaivar Thambi Thalaimaiyil"TTT"Vishnu VijayKaruppu"Verappa" & "Verappa Extended"Sai AbhyankkarBlast"Arakkan Thanae"Ravi Basrur

Television

Filmography As lyricist Year Film Song(s) Composer2018 Kaala"Urimayai Meetpom" Santhosh Narayanan Vada Chennai"Maathiya Seraiyile""Patta Patti" 2019 Vantha Rajavathaan Varuven "Red Cardu""Modern Muniyamma" Hiphop TamizhaNatpe Thunai "Single Pasanga""Veedhikor Jaadhi" Irandam Ulagaporin Kadaisi Gundu"Thalaimurai"Tenma2020Pattas"Mavane" Vivek-MervinDagaalty "Dagaalty Naa!" Vijay NarainNaadodigal 2 "Varungaalam Engaladhu" Justin Prabhakaran Naan Sirithal "Happy Birthday" Hiphop TamizhaCollege Kumar "College Kumar""Baari Baari" Qutub-E-KripaGypsy "Theevira Vyaadhi" Santhosh NarayananSoorarai Pottru "Maara Theme" G. V. Prakash KumarMaster"Vathi Raid" Anirudh Ravichander2021Mandela "Yela Yelo" Bharath SankarJagame Thandhiram "Theengu Thaakka""Naan Dhaan Da Mass" Santhosh NarayananSarpatta Parambarai "Neeye Oli""Neeye Oli" (Film Version)Aranmanai 3 "Ratatapata" C. SathyaJai Bhim "Power" Sean RoldanJail "Pathu Kaasu" G. V. Prakash Kumar"Nagarodi"Enemy "Pathala" S. Thaman"Little India""Orey Naan Orey Nee" Sam C. S.Annaatthe "A for Annaatthe" D. ImmanMaanaadu "Voice of Unity" Yuvan Shankar RajaEnna Solla Pogirai "Cute Ponnu" Vivek-Mervin 2022 Valimai"The Intense of Fire – Theme" Yuvan Shankar Raja Yaanai"Bodhaiya Vittu Vaale"G. V. Prakash Kumar Selfie "Oorkaran""Imaikkariye""Badass Bossman""Padippu Thevaillai""Yedakoodam" Prince"Who Am I?" Thaman S"Jessica"Captain"Akkrinai Naan" D. ImmanSardar"Inky Pinky Ponky" G. V. Prakash Kumar 2023 Vaathi"One Life" GV Prakash KumarMaamannan"Manna Maamanna" A. R. RahmanJawan – Tamil dubbed"Pattasa" Anirudh RavichanderJawan – Telugu dubbed"Galatta" Anirudh Ravichander2024Singappenney"Kanne Yen Kaniyee" Kumaran SivamaniVadakkupatti Ramasamy "Paravuthu"Sean RoldanSaloon "Mayir Song"Sam C. S. Singapore Saloon"Vandha Mala" Vivek-MervinDeAr"Sleeping Beauty" G. V. Prakash Kumar Indian 2"Come Back Indian" Anirudh Ravichander Teenz"Bibli Bibli Bili Bili" D. Imman Raayan"Raayan Rumble" A. R. RahmanThangalaan "War Song"G. V. Prakash Kumar "Oppari Song" Vettaiyan"Hunter Vantaar" Anirudh Ravichander Nilavuku En Mel Ennadi Kobam"Golden Sparrow" G. V. Prakash KumarAmaran"Amara" "Por Veeran" (Azadi)G. V. Prakash Kumar2025Sweetheart! "Kadhal Adhu Poi"Yuvan Shankar Raja"Torture Pro Max"Coolie"Chikitu"Anirudh Ravichander"Powerhouse"Idli Kadai"Kulasamy Kaaval Kaaka"G. V. Prakash KumarThandakaaranyam"Kaava Kaade"Justin Prabhakaran2026Jana Nayagan"Thalapathy Kacheri"Anirudh RavichanderParasakthi"Namakkana Kaalam"G. V. Prakash KumarBlast"Arakkan Thanae"Ravi Basrur

Awards Year Award Category Work 2022 Filmfare Awards South Best Lyricist – Tamil "Neeye Oli" Edison Awards 2022 Best Tamil Rapper of the Year News18 Magudam Awards 2022 Arts and Culture 2023 Vikatan Nambikkai Awards Top Ten Youth