Latest news with #VoiceoftheVoiceless'
The Hindu
23-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Kerala BJP leader seeks NIA probe against rapper Vedan for ‘disparaging' PM Modi in his songs
: Ambedkarite rapper Vedan, who courted controversy with law enforcement and Sangh Parivar organisations, drew the spotlight on Friday (May 23, 2025) after a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader in Kerala sought a National Investigation Agency (NIA) probe against the artist. The complainant, V.S. Minimol, BJP's counsellor in the Palakkad Municipality, told The Hindu that the Hirandas Murali alias Vedan's 'divisive lyrics which lampooned Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a fake patriot' had prompted her to write to the Union Minister of Home Affairs, Amit Shah, seeking an NIA investigation under the provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention Act). Mr. Vedan, who had recently risen to levels of stardom arguably unmatched by anyone in the relatively nascent but developing Malayalam poetry and rhythm hip-hop genre, had voiced an oblique critique of those at the apex of the Central government in the song 'Voice of the Voiceless' in 2019. Ms. Minimol said that Indian society had relegated caste prejudice to the dustbin of history. She accused Mr. Vedan of seeking to promote caste hate at the behest of forces seeking to divide Hindu society. Mr. Vedan had rocketed quickly to becoming a youth icon by poignantly rapping about the 'subtle but strong undercurrents of skin tone bias and allied casteism in Kerala society', earning accolades from the ruling front and opposition and brickbats from the Sangh Parivar leadership. The Left Democratic Front (LDF) government had provided stages for Mr. Vedan at its fourth-anniversary celebrations across the State, drawing huge crowds trending towards the young demographic. Leader of the Opposition V D Satheesan and Kerala Pradesh Congress President (KPCC) lauded Mr Vedan's social criticism through music. In contrast, Mr. Vedan earned the ire of the Sangh Parivar organisations. The BJP-controlled Palakkad municipality demanded the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (SC/ST) department compensate for the public property allegedly damaged by the audience at Mr Vedan's government-sponsored event in Palakkad. At a Hindu Aikya Vedi meeting in Palakkad, the organisation's chief trustee, P. Sasikala, recently stated that Vedan music was a blot on the rich heritage and folk culture of scheduled caste and scheduled tribe communities in Kerala. The Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] has demanded the police book Ms Sasikala for making insulting and casteist insinuations against Mr Vedan, who hails from an SC/ST community. On May 17, the Kolam police indicted the editor of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) mouthpiece, Kesari, N. R. Madhu, for allegedly committing the offence of promoting enmity between different groups and doing acts prejudicial to the maintenance of communal harmony, as specified in Section 196 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) by 'denigrating' Vedan as a caste terrorist. The Democratic Youth Federation of India's (DYFI) national president and CPI(M) State committee member, A A Rahim, MP, told the Hindu that the NIA complaint against was emblematic of the BJP's intolerance to dissent and opposition to the RSS's revanchist Hindu majoritarian ideology, rooted deeply in the socially abhorrent and outlawed caste system. 'Vedan's massive acceptance in Kerala society, especially among youth, for his critique of society and power has given the regressive BJP and Sangh Parivar sleepless nights. The BJP's threat that it would jail an artist for criticising Modi through his art would not pass muster among the masses', he said.
The Hindu
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Rapper Vedan and friends were caught smoking ganja, says police FIR
Rapper Vedan (Hirandas Murali) and his eight friends were allegedly caught while smoking suspected ganja using rolling papers, as per the first information report (FIR) registered by the Hill Palace police. All nine were arrested from the sixth-floor flat of an apartment complex along the Vytilla-Kaniyambuzha Road with 6 grams of suspected ganja on Monday (April 28). According to the FIR, they were found seated and smoking around the dining table when the police team barged in around 11.45 a.m. The police had seized the suspected ganja that was found on the table. Besides, ₹9.52 lakhs were also seized from the apartment, which the accused said was the remuneration received for a program they staged a day before. All the accused were released on station bail after medical examination since the ganja seized was of a small quantity. However, Vedan found himself in fresh trouble over a leopard tooth on his chain, following which the police alerted the Kodanad Forest Range office. Vedan reportedly confessed to having procured it from Thailand. As soon as he was released on bail by the police, a team led by the Kodanad Range Officer arrested him. He had since been booked for wildlife hunting and illegal possession of wildlife articles under the Wildlife Protection Act. A native of Thrissur, Vedan's 'Voice of the Voiceless' rap video was a hit online. He had also collaborated with music director Sushin Shyam for the promo song Kuthanthram for the hit film Manjummel Boys.
Time of India
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Rapper Vedan held, ganja seized from flat
Kochi: In yet another incident of the state enforcement authorities targeting celebrities as part of the campaign against drugs, rapper Hirandas Murali , popularly known as Vedan, was arrested by police on Monday. He was released on bail. Meanwhile, forest department officials took him into custody later after a leopard tooth was recovered from him. Forest sources said that non-bailable charges will be invoked against him. They will verify whether the tooth was connected to any instance of hunting or trading. Earlier in the day, Hill Palace police raided an apartment in Vyttila where Murali and eight others were gathered as part of preparations for his music events. Police seized nearly 6g of ganja from the apartment, which is only a small quantity as per the NDPS Act, making it a bailable offence. According to officers attached to Hill Palace police, the group was under the scanner for a while, and the flat was raided based on confidential information. Police seized Rs 9.50 lakh and mobile phones in the raid. The money was reportedly the funds given to them as payment for their shows. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Click Here - This Might Save You From Losing Money Expertinspector Click Here Undo Police sources said that the ganja was found on a table in the apartment and not from anyone specific. The accused were released on bail after a medical examination. Murali shot to fame following his hit 'Voice of the Voiceless' rap video. He is also famous for the 'Kuthanthram' song in the film Manjummel Boys. Vedan's event cancelled The performance of rapper Vedan , which was scheduled to be held at Vazhathope, Cheruthoni, in Idukki on Tuesday as part of the state govt's fourth anniversary celebrations, was cancelled following his arrest. The district administration officials announced the cancellation at a news conference. Vedan was in the news when he urged youngsters not to use synthetic drugs and warned them about its negative impacts.
Hindustan Times
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Kerala rapper Vedan arrested for alleged possession of marijuana
Popular Kerala rapper Hirandas Murali, who goes by the stage name Vedan, was on Monday arrested for the alleged possession of marijuana, a police officer said. The police seized the drugs during a raid conducted by the Hill Palace police at the rapper's apartment in Vyttila, Kochi on Monday. 'Vedan has admitted that he has been using drugs. We seized around 6 grams of marijuana from the apartment. We have recorded his arrest, and he will be released on station bail as the quantity of drugs seized is minimal,' an officer from the Hill Palace police station said. The police have also confiscated around ₹9 lakh in cash from the rapper's apartment where some of his artist colleagues were present. 'They claimed the money was the revenue they earned from a stage show. It collectively belongs to the group. We will have to verify it,' the officer added. The rapper was under their observation for quite some time and the raid was part of a tip-off. While Vedan has revealed the source of the drugs, the police declined to reveal the name. Vedan burst onto the scene in Kerala during the pandemic in 2020 when his first music video on YouTube titled 'Voice of the Voiceless' garnered praise. But it was in 2024 when he became a household name through the rap track 'Kuthanthram' that he wrote and sang for the Malayalam blockbuster film 'Manjummel Boys'. The track was a result of his close collaboration with music director Sushin Shyam. Vedan's arrest comes just a day after two prominent young directors, Khalid Rahman and Ashraf Hamza, were arrested and booked by the excise department for alleged possession of hybrid marijuana. The Kerala police and the excise departments have been engaged in a relentless anti-drug operation across the state for the past few months following reports of major implosion of drugs, especially synthetic substances like hybrid marijuana, methamphetamine and MDMA, into the state. Cases of violence fuelled by drugs and overall seizures have soared in the past two years.
The Hindu
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Kerala rapper Vedan arrested after ganja seized from flat
The police on Monday (April 28, 2025) arrested Kerala rapper Vedan (Hirandas Murali) after recovering nearly six grams of ganja from his apartment near Vyttila in Kochi. The narcotic substance was recovered by the personnel from the Hill Palace police station following a tip-off. It is learnt that he had reached the apartment along with eight of his friends after a stage programme on Sunday night (April 17, 2025). Police were questioning the rapper and his friends at the time of filing of this report. 'He will be booked as per the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act after the interrogation is completed,' they said. He may be released on station bail as the quantity in possession was minimal. Police said that further details related to the ganja seizure will be revealed soon. A native of Thrissur, Vedan's 'Voice of the Voiceless' rap video was a hit online. He had also collaborated with music director Sushin Shyam in the promo song 'Kuthanthram' for the movie 'Manjummel Boys'.
