Arivu

Arivu was born in Arakkonam, a town in Tamil Nadu, India, into a family rooted in education and social service.{{Cite web |last=Sree |first=Ardra K. |date=2020-09-07 |title=In Conversation With Anti-Caste Artiste Arivu: Rapping For Equality |url=https://feminisminindia.com/2020/09/08/arivu-the-casteless-collective-rapper-interview/ |access-date=2025-01-29 |website=Feminism in India |language=en-GB}} 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.

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".{{Cite web |date=2019-06-24 |title=The Casteless Collective Is Breaking Caste Boundaries With Its Music |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/wjvyq9/the-casteless-collective-india-band-is-breaking-caste-boundaries-with-its-music |access-date=2024-05-04 |website=Vice |language=en}} 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".{{Cite news |last=Sriram |first=Jayant |date=2019-03-15 |title=Ground Zero {{!}} How Chennai's Casteless Collective uses music to talk about social and political issues |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/a-personal-and-political-act/article26548154.ece |access-date=2024-05-04 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201107231937/https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/a-personal-and-political-act/article26548154.ece |archive-date=2020-11-07}}

Arivu wrote his first lyrics for the film Kaala (2018). On the basis of his contributions to The Casteless Collective band, Arivu was offered the opportunity to write the climax song “Urimaiyai Meetpom” for the Rajinikanth starrer Kaala by Director Pa Ranjith. At the age of 24, Arivu is the youngest songwriter ever to write for a Rajinikanth movie. Following this with hit numbers like "Maathiya Seraiyile" and "Patta Patti" in Director Vetrimaran’s Vada Chennai (2018), “Single Pasanga” in Natpe Thunai (2019) and “Vathi Raid” in Master (2021) has solidified Arivu as one of the notable songwriters in the Tamil music industry.

In 2019, Arivu's debut album {{lang|ta|Therukural}} (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".{{Cite news|last=Tagat|first=Anurag|date=2019-08-02|title=Speaking truth to power with Arivu and ofRO|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/music/speaking-truth-to-power-with-arivu-and-ofro/article28795328.ece|access-date=2021-03-15|issn=0971-751X|archive-date=22 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210822180757/https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/music/speaking-truth-to-power-with-arivu-and-ofro/article28795328.ece|url-status=live}} Therukural received positive reviews and was featured in Rolling Stone India as one of the top ten Indian albums in 2019.{{Cite web |last=Xalxo |first=Anurag Tagat David Britto and Jessica |date=2019-12-31 |title=10 Best Indian Albums of 2019 |url=https://rollingstoneindia.com/10-best-indian-albums-of-2019/ |access-date=2024-05-05 |website=Rolling Stone India |language=en-US}}{{Cite web|last=Shekar|first=Anjana|date=27 June 2019|website=The NEWS Minute|title='Therukural' by Arivu-ofRO is a brilliant Tamil hiphop album|url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/features/therukural-arivu-ofro-brilliant-tamil-hiphop-album-104379|access-date=2 October 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241002090350/https://www.thenewsminute.com/features/therukural-arivu-ofro-brilliant-tamil-hiphop-album-104379|archive-date=2 October 2024}} "Anti-Indian" was described as a "politically conscious hip-hop song" by Rolling Stone India.{{Cite web |last=Tagat |first=Anurag |date=2019-04-24 |title=5 New Politically Conscious Hip-Hop Songs Out This Election Season |url=https://rollingstoneindia.com/5-new-politically-conscious-hip-hop-songs-election-season/ |access-date=2024-05-05 |website=Rolling Stone India |language=en-US}} His music has won him praise "from commoners and musicians alike"{{Cite web |last=Seetharaman |first=G. |date=21 July 2019 |title=Rapping truth to power: Arivu pulls no punches in his album 'Therukural' |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/panache/rapping-truth-to-power-arivu-pulls-no-punches-in-his-overtly-political-album-therukural/articleshow/70308836.cms?from=mdr |work=The Economic Times}} and he has been described as top of the list of people who can to "use the power of music to move the public".{{Cite web |last=Sunil |first=Samyukhtha |date=2022-05-24 |title=Arivu's New Band 'Ambassa' Explores The Rich Heritage & Lore Of Tamil Culture |url=https://homegrown.co.in/homegrown-explore/arivus-new-band-ambassa-explores-the-rich-heritage-lore-of-tamil-culture |access-date=2024-05-04 |website=Homegrown |language=en}}

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.{{Cite web|last=White|first=Dan|date=15 September 2023|website=UCSC Newscenter|title=Arivu, the massively popular and groundbreaking Indian rapper, will play an intimate outdoor show at UCSC’s Quarry Amphitheater, presented by the Center For South Asian Studies|url=https://news.ucsc.edu/2023/08/arivu-concert-feature-dan-white.html|access-date=2 October 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240724173344/https://news.ucsc.edu/2023/08/arivu-concert-feature-dan-white.html|archive-date=24 July 2024}}

File:Coke Studio curator.jpg

In 2021, Arivu achieved a career milestone with the release of Enjoy Enjaami, a Tamil single produced by the music label Maajja.{{Cite web |last=Subramanian |first=Lakshmi |date=23 May 2021 |title=How Arivu of 'Enjoy Enjaami' fame is influencing lives of people around him |url=https://www.theweek.in/theweek/leisure/2021/05/13/how-arivu-of-enjoy-enjaami-fame-is-influencing-lives-of-people-around-him.html |access-date=2025-01-29 |website=The Week |language=en}} 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 also leads the 10-piece band {{lang|ta|Ambassa}}, 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. {{lang|ta|Ambassa}} is a colloquial term in Tamil for 50 paisa.

In 2023, Arivu is offered the opportunity to be the curator for the Coke Studio Tamil Season 1 along with Sean Roland. He wrote and performed the single Sagavasi along with Khatija Rahman, which became the most listened-to song of the season with 23 million views on YouTube. Arivu's Ambassa band’s debut song, Tamizh Vazhthu, was premiered on Coke Studio Tamil Season 2.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2nIn0qwVYo&ab_channel=CokeStudioTamil |title=Coke Studio Tamil {{!}} Thamizh Vaazhthu {{!}} Arivu & Ambassa Band |date=2024-04-10 |last=Coke Studio Tamil |access-date=2024-11-14 |via=YouTube}}

• All works is in Tamil, unless specified otherwise.

• Therukural (2019)
• Valliamma Peraandi - Vol. 01 (2024) {{Cite web |title=Spotify |url=https://open.spotify.com/album/1CUpxD8bx7lF4od9FtAXCG?si=6rUp6PpXTuStP7cpHq_y9Q |access-date=2024-11-13 |website=open.spotify.com}}

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• {{IMDb name|10427535}}

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Category:Indian rappers

Category:Indian lyricists

Category:Tamil playback singers

Category:Tamil film poets

Category:Tamil rappers

Category:Tamil-language lyricists

Category:Tamil poets

Category:Indian male singer-songwriters

Category:Indian singer-songwriters

Category:21st-century Indian male artists

Category:Living people

Category:Year of birth missing (living people)