Latest news with #MalayalamLanguage
The Print
17-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Print
Malayalam rap's provocateur, Vedan's battle with the system, his art & a #MeToo past
The reason? As one of Kerala's most popular rap artists, he often finds himself under fire for his political lyrics that challenge caste hierarchies and social injustice. Today, as a 30-year-old, Vedan feels like he's more 'hunted' than hunter in Kerala. Thiruvananthapuram: As a child, he was nicknamed 'Vedan'—Malayalam for hunter—because of his extraordinary fishing skills. The rapper has also had his fair share of controversies. The latest one erupted after Calicut University included one of his songs, Bhoomi Njan Vaazhunna Idam, in the syllabus of the fourth-semester undergraduate Malayalam Language and Literature course last month. The university withdrew the decision Wednesday after an expert suggested its removal, following a complaint by a syndicate member affiliated with the BJP, who alleged that the song was 'inappropriate'. Speaking to ThePrint, Vedan said, 'Personally, I feel like an artist should always be political and socially aware. An artist should be able to use art for both entertainment and the enlightenment of society and people.' Vedan, a Dalit rapper whose real name is Hirandas Murali, said that he kept his nickname as his stage name to 'hunt the same abusive system' through his art. A songwriter since his teenage years, Vedan rose to prominence with his powerful and often controversial lyrics, which are frequently shaped by his Dalit identity and experience of marginalisation. At 25, he made waves with his debut album, Voice of the Voiceless, which featured provocative lines like, 'I am not Paanan, Parayan or Pulayan, and you are no lord. Even if you are, I don't give a f**k'. Dressed in a black shirt, the young artist delivered his colourful verses, taking aim at entrenched casteism and amplifying the voices of communities pushed to the lowest rungs of the social hierarchy—including the three he named. The inclusion and subsequent removal of his song from Calicut University's syllabus isn't his first brush with controversy. In 2021, several women accused Vedan of sexual misconduct through social media as part of the #MeToo movement. After the allegation sparked backlash, Vedan issued a public apology. In the past, too, the artist has clashed with BJP leaders in the state, who alleged that Vedan's songs were creating division among the Hindu community. Vedan, however, remains unfazed and his shows continue to draw massive crowds. According to him, his sole mission is to bring about change through music. 'I've been going through a tough phase mentally; there have been a lot of personal challenges and ongoing issues that have taken a toll on me. But despite all of that, music continues to be my goal. It's the one thing I keep doing, no matter what I'm facing,' he said. Also read: Kerala Left is becoming indistinguishable from Right—turncoats, ideological erosion, hypocrisy Who is Vedan Born in Thrissur, Vedan's mother is a Sri Lankan migrant and his father a daily-wage labourer from Palakkad. A close associate says the family has lived for years in rented houses in Thrissur and doesn't have a native village to call their own. 'Earlier, they were living in settlements for workers. Even now, they keep moving between different houses in and around the area,' the associate said. Vedan studied up to Class 12 and did odd jobs until he became a musician. As a kid, he used to sing with local music troupes as a hobby. A friend of Vedan's said that the artist started writing as a teenager and was introduced to rap music by another friend. 'More than wanting to make a statement, he wanted to write about what he saw around us. Eventually, it became a statement about his surroundings,' the friend said. A few years later, Voice of the Voiceless was released. He added that Vedan's music blends Malayalam folk music with Western rap, giving it a rooted yet contemporary feel. 'Like Bob Marley, Tupac and Michael Jackson, artists whose names still live on. Their music still matters, long after they're gone. I want to be remembered like that. Not just as a musician, but as someone who brought change through his art to society and people,' Vedan said. 'Bhoomi Njan Vaazhunna Idam' & other controversies The latest controversy stemmed from the lyrics of Vedan's song Bhoomi Njan Vaazhunna Idam, which were included in the syllabus for Calicut University's BA Malayalam Literature course. In the Arctic, the ice melted and flowed into the sea, hiding the shores. In New York, the breath of the son of the soil was stilled, and battles raged. In Palestine, exodus upon exodus became a recurring fate. Beneath your red flag, oh China, the scent of the Quran burning spread. The song, which begins with references to the Syrian Civil War, touches upon the Myanmar civil war and goes on to say that 'Mother India is wandering in search of light in the devilry of religion.' The song was included alongside Michael Jackson's iconic protest song, They Don't Care About Us, for a comparative study of the differences and connections between American rap music and Malayalam rap music. However, the university's decision sparked a row after a BJP representative in the syndicate submitted a complaint to Calicut University Chancellor and Governor Rajendra Arlekar. Following this, Calicut University Vice Chancellor Dr. P. Raveendran asked Dr. M. M. Basheer, literary critic and former head of the university's Malayalam department, to look into the matter last week. Speaking to ThePrint, Raveendran said the inclusion of the song was based on the academic board's recommendation. 'Many raise doubts about whether he is becoming the puppet of Islamic terrorists. People like Sree Narayana Guru have done much work to eradicate casteism, and casteism has reduced to an extent in Kerala. So, highlighting this again will only split Hindus and create a division of Savarna and Avarna communities,' B. Gopalakrishnan, an advocate and a state BJP leader, said to ThePrint. Vedan has stirred political controversy in the state in the past too. In late May, Palakkad Municipality councillor Mini Krishnakumar filed a complaint with the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, alleging that Vedan insulted Prime Minister Narendra Modi in one of his songs. The complaint related to Voice of the Voiceless, a track released 4 years ago, which includes terms such as 'pseudo-nationalist' and lines that translate to 'The country is in the hands of the one who wields the sword,' which Mini claimed was a direct insult to Modi. Earlier in May, Vedan was arrested along with eight others after police allegedly seized six grams of ganja from his apartment in Tripunithura near Kochi. Though he was released on bail, the rapper was arrested again the same day by Kodanad forest range officials for allegedly wearing a chain with a suspected tiger's tooth. He was booked under non-bailable charges under multiple sections of the Wildlife Protection Act. He was granted bail 2 days later by a court in Ernakulam. However, his back-to-back arrests sparked controversy in the state, with many alleging he was being targeted for his caste and politics. Amid growing controversy, Kerala Forest Minister A.K. Saseendran called the arrest and subsequent incidents unfortunate. The minister said in a statement he had sought explanations from Kodanad forest department officials for interacting with the media and violating the code of conduct. Weeks later, Kodanad forest range officer R. Atheesh was transferred. While admitting that the string of controversies had affected him, Vedan said that it allowed his personality to evolve. 'I also feel there's a big difference between the Vedan who became an artist and the Vedan from before. I don't know if I can ever go back to being the person I was before all of this happened,' Vedan said. (Edited by Sugita Katyal) Also read: How rapper Vedan's arrest in back-to-back cases has sparked debate on caste & suppression in Kerala
The Hindu
12-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
BJP's Syndicate member opposes inclusion of Vedan song in Calicut varsity syllabus
A Syndicate member aligned with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the University of Calicut has sought removal of a song by rapper Hirandas Murali or Vedan, which has been included in the syllabus of the fourth semester undergraduate Malayalam Language and Literature course in affiliated colleges. A.K. Anuraj, the Syndicate member, in a letter to P. Raveendran, Vice-Chancellor, said that Mr. Murali was recently arrested in a drug-related case. 'He is currently out on bail, which does not mean that he has been acquitted. In addition to this, he was also taken into custody by the Kerala Forest department for possessing a leopard tooth,' Mr. Anuraj said. The song Bhoomi njan vazhunnidam, anudinam narakamayi marunnidam, which is a commentary on global issues, is part of the 'Introduction to Comparative Literature', under the module Puthupravanathakal. It will be taught along with Michael Jackson's song They don't care about us, which talks about racial injustice. The Syndicate member said that Mr. Murali's widely circulated videos had visuals showing him consuming liquor in the company of others. The language he used in his songs and public speeches was often unparliamentary and of poor quality, Mr. Anuraj alleged. He claimed that including his work in the syllabus of the university would send a wrong message to students, parents and the academic community, adding that it would also 'question the culture of our country'.
The Hindu
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Vedan's song included in Calicut University syllabus
The University of Calicut has included Bhoomi Njan Vaazhunna idam, a Malayalam rap song by rapper and songwriter Hirandas Murali, aka Vedan, in the syllabus of the fourth-semester undergraduate Malayalam Language and Literature course. A powerful commentary on global issues, the song has been included in Introduction to Comparative Literature, under the module Puthu Pravanathakal (new trends). Bhoomi Njan Vaazhunna Idam is a rap song that reflects on global crises, from the Syrian war and Palestinian genocide to the death of Aylan Kurdi and the brutal murder of Asifa in Kashmir. The lyrics goes like Bhoomi njaan vaazhunnidam anudinam narakamaayi maarunnidam... (Earth is where I bide, which is closer to hell with each passing day...), highlighting the collective suffering of the people of the world. It will be taught alongside Michael Jackson's They Don't Care about Us, which tackles racial injustice, as part of a comparative study of Malayalam and American rap cultures. Vedan who came to the limelight with his debut music video Voice of the Voiceless in 2020, is widely known for his politically charged lyrics, often rooted in his identity as a Dalit man and reflecting the struggles of the marginalised. 'Today's culture is predominantly shaped by digital media, and it is important to incorporate these changes into the curriculum,' said M.B. Manoj, head of Malayalam and Kerala Studies department, University of Calicut. Inclusion of songs 'Many tend to oppose the inclusion of songs in the Malayalam literature syllabus, but to ignore them is to resist cultural shifts. By including these works, we encourage students to critically engage with them rather than remain passive viewers,' he said, stressing the importance of adapting to the changing times. The module also includes comparative study of Kathakali Padam (Kathakali song) Ajita Hare... Madhava by Muringur Shankaran Potti and its modern rendition Ajita Hare by Gouri Lakshmi, analysing how classical art forms have evolved in the current era. Dr. Manoj said that the department had also included Malayalam film songs in its multidisciplinary course (MDC) Cinemayum Sahithyavum (Cinema and Literature), featuring tracks ranging from the classic Pennale Pennale... from Chemmeen to Nadin Nanmakane Ponmakane Muthayavane... from the 2024 film Aavesham.
