Tamil rapper Arivu detained during attempted NEET protest near Chennai Secretariat, CM Vijay meets him

Tamil rapper Arivu. File | Photo credit: Akhila Easwaran

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

Arivu and three protesters gathered at the entrance of the secretariat and raised slogans demanding that NEET be scrapped. They also sought action against the police for cracking down on protesters during a march to Parliament in Delhi.

I strongly condemn the TN government headed by s @actorvijay for arresting rap singer and my dear brother ‘Therukkural’ Ariva for speaking out against NEET.

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

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

— Udhay (@Udhaystalin) July 21, 2026

CM Vijay invites to chamber

A senior police officer said, “We caught Ariva and three others while 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 Ariva to his chamber in the Secretariat and listened to his concerns.

Arivu is best known for his Tamil indie music including the hit song Enjoy Enjaami and film scores like Vaathi Raid from Vijay-starrer Master (2021), Single Pasanga from ‘Natpe Thunai’ (2019), Neeye Oli from ‘Sarpatta Parambarai’ (2021), EnKiladi Koarrow from and Thalapathy Kacheri from ‘Jana Nayagan’ (2026), starring as the lead minister.

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

— R SIVERAMAN (@SIVARAMAN74) July 21, 2026

“Unambiguous Solidarity”

In a related development, filmmaker Pa. Ranjith called on “artists, activists, students, trade unions, people’s movements and every citizen who believes in democracy” to stand in unequivocal solidarity with the protests taking place across the country. This comes in the wake of police violence against students protesting against the Union government in Delhi.

In a statement, Mr Ranjith said the protest, led by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), began as “a demand for accountability that has become the collective anger and agitation of a generation that refuses to accept a government that continues to gamble with the future of millions of young people”.

“It reflects the shared anxiety and demand for accountability on the part of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and the Union Government for the repeated failures of our public education system,” he said.

Mr. Ranjith added that “The use of violence to suppress peaceful protesters only reveals the unwillingness of the government to respond to legitimate democratic questions.”

Published – 21 Jul 2026 17:22 IST