Independent Music Artistes Arivu & Dhee Fall Out Over 'Enjoy Enjaami' Sung At FIDE Chess Olympiad

The controversy erupted after music director Santhosh Narayanan was given the credit for composing the song at the inaugural function of the chess olympiad in Chennai.

Arivu (A screengrab of the song/ABP Nadu)

Chennai: A major controversy has erupted over the credits for the chartbuster, 'Enjoy Enjaami', with rapper Arivu taking to social media to say that it was he who had composed, written, sung and performed the immensely popular 'Enjoy Enjaami' and that no one had given him a "tune", "melody" or "single word" to write the number.

The controversy erupted after music director Santhosh Narayanan was given the credit for composing the song at the inaugural function of the chess olympiad in Chennai, where singers Dhee and Kidakuzhi Mariyammal performed the number. However, there was no mention of Arivu.

Taking to Instagram, Arivu broke his silence on the issue and said, "I 'Composed' , 'written' (sic), 'sung' and 'performed' 'Enjoy Enjaami'. Nobody gave me a tune, melody or a single word to write this one. Spent almost six months of sleepless and stressful nights and days for everything it is right now.”

"No doubt, it's great team work. No doubt, it calls everyone together. But it doesn't mean that's not the history of Valliammal or the landless tea plantation slave ancestors of mine. Every song of mine will be having the scarmark of this generational oppression. Like this just one.(sic)”

Further, Arivu said: "There are 10,000 songs of folk in this land. The songs that carry the breath of ancestors, their pain, their life, love, their resistance and all about their existence. It's all speaking to you in beautiful songs. Because we are a generation of blood and sweat turned into melodies of liberating arts. We carry the legacy through songs.”

"Anyone can snatch away your treasure when you're alseep. Never when you are awake. Jaibhim. Truth will always win in the end!" he ended.

The strong statements from the rapper prompted a response from music director Santhosh Narayanan and singer Dhee, both of whom have issued statements of their own.

Dhee, for her part, said in her two page statement, "...I have full control over what I say, do, and the things I share on my social media and I have always made sure I give credits to Arivu as the writer/singer and Santhosh Narayanan as the producer composer at every point.”

"I have proudly spoken about them, specifically Arivu, every chance I got. At no point have I diminished or downplayed both of their importance in 'Enjoy Enjaami'. I've only ever wanted to celebrate and highlight their work and I've been doing that at every step and stage. I don't have any control over the way our work is being shared and promoted by external sources."

The singer also spoke about what had happened at the Chess Olympiad. She said, "About the Olympiad chess performance, the event organisers approached Arivu and me to perform for the event but as he was not available and in the US, we played his voice track for the performance. He was spoken about at the event for his words and his performance of 'Enjoy Enjaami',” she said.

She also said that she’s ready and have always been ready to sit down and have a conversation about the issue with all parties involved either publicly or privately, with or without media with an unbiased mediator.

'Enjoy Enjaami', one of the most popular chartbusters to capture the imagination of the youth, was a phenomenal success. The number has a whopping 430 Million views on YouTube, with over 4.8 million people giving it a thumbs up.