Arivarasu Kalainesan, more commonly known as Arivu, is an Indian composer, rapper, singer and songwriter. He is best known for his independent singles, including "Enjoy Enjaami", and for his work on film numbers like "Vaathi Raid" from Master (2021), "Single Pasanga" from Natpe Thunai (2019), and "Neeye Oli" from Sarpatta Parambarai (2021).
Career
In 2017, Arivu auditioned and became a part of The Casteless Collective, a band of musicians brought together by film director Pa. Ranjith.[1] Arivu rose to prominence as a songwriter and rapper through his work with the group, including "Jaibhim Anthem" and "Quota Song".[2] His independent singles and contributions to songs for the band led Arivu to gain recognition for his powerful music and his ability to draw on multiple storytelling traditions to create a "potent fusion".[3]
In 2019, Arivu’s debut album 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".[4]Therukural received positive reviews and was featured in Rolling Stone India as one of the top ten Indian albums in 2019.[5][6] "Anti-Indian" was described as a "politically conscious hip-hop song" by Rolling Stone India.[7] His music has won him praise "from commoners and musicians alike"[8] and he has been described as top of the list of people who can to "use the power of music to move the public".[9]
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.[10]
Ambassa
Arivu also leads the 10-piece band Ambassa, founded in 2022. The band draws on modern Western musical elements such as rapping and beatboxing, as well as traditional Indian music as such oppari and gaana.[10]Ambassa is a colloquial term in Tamil for 50 paisa.[9]