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Tamil rapper Arivu detained during bid to protest against NEET near Secretariat in Chennai, CM Vijay meets him

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay invited Arivu — who is best known for his Tamil independent music including the hit song Enjoy Enjaami, Thalapathy Kacheri from ‘Jana Nayagan’ — to his chamber and listened to th

By Project Chintan Newsroom
21 July 2026 · 2 min read
Tamil rapper Arivu detained during bid to protest against NEET near Secretariat in Chennai, CM Vijay meets him
Tamil rapper Arivu. File

Tamil rapper Arivu. File | Photo Credit: Akhila Easwaran

Popular Tamil rapper Arivu (Arivarasu Kalainesan) was detained by Greater Chennai City police after he and three others attempted to stage a protest near the Secretariat on Tuesday (July 21, 2026), demanding the abolition of the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET).

Arivu and the three protesters gathered at the entrance of the Secretariat and raised slogans demanding that NEET be scrapped. They also sought action against the police over the crackdown on protesters during the march to Parliament in Delhi.

I strongly condemn the TN Government led by @actorvijay for arresting rap singer and my dear brother 'Therukkural' Arivu for speaking out against NEET.

His voice reflects the sentiments and demands of not just Tamil Nadu, but millions of people across India.

At a time when the… pic.twitter.com/aIJyzewZAC

— Udhay (@Udhaystalin) July 21, 2026

CM Vijay invites to chamber

A senior police officer said, “We picked up Arivu and three others as they were staging a protest near the Secretariat, a high-security zone. They were later released.” Later, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay invited Arivu to his chamber in the Secretariat and listened to his concerns.

Arivu is best known for his Tamil independent music including the hit song Enjoy Enjaami, and for film tracks such as Vaathi Raid from Vijay-starrer Master (2021), Single Pasanga from the movie ‘Natpe Thunai’ (2019), Neeye Oli from ‘Sarpatta Parambarai’ (2021), Golden Sparrow from ‘Nilavuku En Mel Ennadi Kobam’, and Thalapathy Kacheri from ‘Jana Nayagan’ (2026), starring the Chief Minister.

Rap singer Arivarasu Kalainesan also known as Arivu was detained by police when he along three others staged a protest near TN Secretariat demanding to scrap NEET. Later, Minister Aadhav Arjuna called him to his chamber and heard him. @THChennaipic.twitter.com/JYqqZaUNdx

— R SIVARAMAN (@SIVARAMAN74) July 21, 2026

Published - July 21, 2026 05:22 pm IST

Source: The Hindu – Entertainment

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