Arivu

Biography:

Arivarasu Kalainesan, who goes by Arivu, is an Indian rapper, singer, songwriter, composer, and rapper. In addition to his hit songs from movies like “Vathi Raid” from Master (2020), “Single Pasanga” from Natpe Thunai (2019), and “Neeye Oli” from Sarpatta Parambarai (2021), he is best known for his solo singles Enjoy Enjaami, Sanda Seivom, and Kalla Mouni.

Arivu applied and was accepted into The Casteless Collective in 2017, a project started by filmmaker Pa Ranjith. Arivu became well-known as a rapper and songwriter after releasing hit songs including Quota and the Jaibhim Anthem. Through his solo releases and his contributions to several of the band’s successful songs, Arivu became well-known for his fierce delivery and socially minded lyrics.

“Therukural” (Voice of the Street), Arivu’s first solo album, was produced by Ofro and released in 2019. It was well-received for its strong themes and creative blending of hip-hop and traditional Tamil folk music elements. Songs like “Anti-Indian” and “Kalla Mouni” spoke truth to power and captivated young people’s political imagination.

Therukural was one of the top ten Indian albums of 2019 according to Rolling Stone India, and it garnered positive reviews. Rolling Stone India selected the anti-Indian song as one of the “politically conscious hip-hop songs” that are currently popular. Thanks to his songs, which are renowned for their moving tales and provocative storytelling, Arivu has a devoted following in Tamil Nadu as well as throughout India.

In addition to his career as an independent musician, Arivu rose to prominence in the South Indian film business as one of the most in-demand rappers and songwriters. In Director Pa Ranjith’s Kaala (2018), Arivu, at 24, became the youngest lyricist in history to write lyrics for Superstar Rajnikanth. With the Single Pasanga song for Natpe Thunai (2019), Arivu crossed the 100 million mark on YouTube.

One of the fastest Tamil rap songs, Vathi Raid from Master (2020), features Arivu’s skillful rapping. For Maamannan (2023), Arivu worked with the renowned AR Rahman, a two-time Oscar winner in the music director category. Since then, he has composed music for Tamil-language movies in addition to releasing a number of solo singles.

Enjoy Enjaami, a song by Arivu featuring playback vocalist Dhee and music director Santhosh Narayanan, broke through the barrier of independent Tamil music with over 490 million views on YouTube.

One of his genuine signatures is his ability to blend the traditional Oppari genre with contemporary rap in both his writing and delivery, which is highly praised. In Enjoy Enjaami, Arivu delves into the intricate past of his grandmother Valliyamma, a Sri Lankan immigrant who worked as a tea plantation worker. Enjoy Enjaami was later remixed by DJ Snake for Spotify Singles in honor of World Music Day.