Hanumankind Makes Power-Packed Coachella Debut With Chenda Melam. Watch Video
Indian rapper-singer Hanumankind made waves at Coachella 2025, marking his debut at the iconic music festival in Indio, California, with a performance that celebrated both his music and his cultural roots.
Indian rapper-singer Hanumankind made waves at Coachella 2025, marking his debut at the iconic music festival in Indio, California, with a performance that celebrated both his music and his cultural roots. Known for hits like Big Dawgs and Run It Up, the artist — whose real name is Sooraj Cherukat — not only took the stage by storm but also brought a slice of Kerala with him.
Hanumankind performs at Coachella 2025
Adding a unique Indian flavour to the global stage, Hanumankind surprised audiences by teaming up with 'Kochuveetil Beats', a chenda melam group. The drummers, dressed in traditional white attire, joined the rapper on stage for an electrifying rendition of 'Run It Up'. The thundering beats of the chenda — a traditional cylindrical percussion instrument from Kerala — blended seamlessly with Hanumankind’s dynamic rap, offering a performance that stood out in both sound and spirit.
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View this post on Instagram
Videos from the event, shared by the artist on Instagram Stories, show the crowd vibing to his tracks, phones in the air, singing along. One clip even captures Hanumankind handing over the mic to the audience during Big Dawgs, allowing fans to become a part of his set. In another story, he’s seen performing alongside American rapper Maxo Kream.
“@coachella Thank you for having me,” he wrote in a post, sharing moments from his debut.
What is Chenda Melam?
Chenda Melam is a traditional percussion ensemble from Kerala, featuring the chenda, a cylindrical drum played with sticks. The chenda is known for its loud, rhythmic, and powerful beats, and it's commonly used in temple festivals, religious processions, and cultural performances across Kerala.
A melam refers to a group performance involving multiple chenda players, often accompanied by other traditional instruments like elathalam (cymbals) and kombu (horn). Chenda melams are typically performed by artists wearing traditional white dhotis and are seen as a symbol of Kerala’s rich cultural heritage.
About Hanumankind
Hanumankind is the latest Indian artist to make his mark at Coachella, following in the footsteps of Punjabi stars Diljit Dosanjh and AP Dhillon, who performed last year. The Bengaluru-based rapper first gained attention in 2024 when Big Dawgs, a collaboration with Kalmi, went viral. A remixed version of the track even featured American rapper ASAP Rocky. Earlier this year, Hanumankind dropped his latest single Run It Up and made his acting debut in the Malayalam film Rifle Club.
Coachella 2025, which began on April 11, will wrap up on April 20. But for fans of Indian hip-hop, Hanumankind’s performance has already become one of the festival’s most memorable moments.
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