Who Is Kerala Rapper Vedan Aka Hirandas Murali, In The News Over Controversial Song?

In a state known for its vibrant political discourse and cultural diversity, Kerala's rap scene has found its most fearless voice in Hirandas Murali - better known by his stage name, Vedan. Emerging from the dusty lanes of Thrissur's Dalit settlements, Vedan's music is a bold, unvarnished reflection of the struggles and indignities that continue to shape the lives of the marginalised.

He is currently in the news after his a song that he sung at a temple in Kundara in Kollam drew the ire of the right-wing groups. NR Madhu, editor of Kesari, was arrested after he made alleged hate speech against the Kerala singer over the Temple song.

Who Is Vedan?

Vedan first burst onto the scene with his 2019 album Voice of the Voiceless, a raw and unflinching take on caste discrimination and the contradictions of modern Kerala. But it's in recent years, amid a shifting political climate, that he's truly become a phenomenon. His track The Shirt Stitched with Sweat, which resonated far beyond Kerala after cricketer Sanju Samson quoted its lines on social media, marked his arrival as a national voice of dissent.

Unapologetically Ambedkarite, Vedan's lyrics pull no punches, challenging both the caste system and the convenient silences of so-called progressive spaces. His verses draw inspiration from the struggles of icons like Ayyankali, who fought for Dalit rights in Kerala, and channel the pain of generations forced to endure systemic injustice.

But Vedan's defiance hasn't come without backlash. Recently, his songs - often interpreted as calls for resistance - drew fire from right-wing circles, with local leaders accusing him of fomenting social divisions. A temple event in Kollam district saw RSS-affiliated journalist N.R. Madhu label Vedan's art as "toxic," prompting the CPI(M) to file a complaint that ironically placed the rapper at the heart of a political tug-of-war.

Controversy is not new to Vedan. He's faced legal hurdles in the past - from a cannabis possession case, to criticism for wearing a tiger tooth necklace, to allegations of sexual assault during a music project. Each time, he's responded with a mix of apology and defiance, never fully retreating from his mission to challenge Kerala's social order.

Beyond his run-ins with the law, Vedan's politics have also ruffled feathers. His open support for Palestine, displays of the Palestinian flag at concerts, and ties to the Fraternity Movement - an organisation linked to Jamaat-e-Islami - have further cemented his image as a polarising figure. Yet for his supporters, these are marks of authenticity, proof that he stands with the oppressed regardless of popular opinion.

Vedan's rise also highlights a deeper shift in Kerala's political landscape. For decades, mainstream left parties downplayed caste as a mere subset of class, only to later embrace identity politics in the post-Mandal era. Today, the same parties that once dismissed caste concerns have formed their own Dalit and Adivasi wings, reflecting a grudging acknowledgment of the continuing relevance of identity.

For Vedan, however, caste is not a rhetorical device - it's a lived reality that shapes every bar he spits. His music serves as both testimony and challenge: to listen is to confront the uncomfortable truths of Kerala's progressive facade.

In a world quick to dismiss the struggles of the marginalised as "identity politics," Vedan's voice reminds us that these identities are not abstractions but deeply rooted in everyday oppression. As Kerala grapples with its contradictions, Hirandas Murali stands at the mic, refusing to be silenced.