Chennai, March 13 (NationPress) The debate surrounding the credits for the immensely popular hit 'Enjoy Enjaami' continues to spark controversy even after four years. Recently, a heated exchange unfolded on social media between music composer Santhosh Narayanan and rapper Arivu regarding the song's credits and royalties.

It all began when a user shared the song on platform X, praising how the Tamil Indie album had transcended borders and gained global acclaim during the lockdown. In response, another user accused that "Dhee and her father literally stole this song from Arivu anna."

This comment caught the attention of music director Santhosh Narayanan, who promptly addressed the allegations against singer Dhee. Quoting the tweet, he stated, "Konjam rest edunga thambi (Take some rest younger brother). There’s useful information available everywhere if you just look. The idea for this song was conceived by Dhee, and it includes some of her melodies. The core storyline and concept were crafted by director Manikandan, who was collaborating with me on 'Kadaisi Vivasayi' at that time. I composed, produced, and created all the melodies in the track. Arivu wrote nearly all the lyrics and also performed. Some traditional Oppari lines were also adapted by him. I merely suggested the term 'Enjaami,' as I often do for my songs like Rakitaa and Kanimaa. Thankfully, we live in a digital age where every claim can and should be substantiated."

Santhosh Narayanan's response drew a reaction from rapper Arivu, who tweeted a clarification about the events surrounding 'Enjoy Enjaami.' He stated, "To clarify regarding 'Enjoy Enjaami' (released five years ago): The beat was sent to me. I wrote the lyrics, composed the main vocal melody, and performed based on my cultural heritage and experiences. Music is a collaborative effort, but credit and compensation must be equitable. The song was filmed in my village, reflecting stories from my community. I shared that narrative hoping it would resonate with many. However, I was listed merely as a 'featuring artist' despite writing the entire song and composing the main melody."

Arivu continued, "At that time, I didn’t grasp the implications. Now, five years later, the collaborators hold the rights and receive royalties while I have received no payment or ownership for my contributions. This isn’t about seeking sympathy; it’s about credit, rights, and the dignity of labor. Independent artists: safeguard your work, establish agreements, and understand your rights. - Arivu Valliamma Perandi."

In a strong rebuttal, Santhosh Narayanan replied to Arivu's tweet, expressing skepticism about his claims: "You are entitled to your opinions, but nearly all of your technical, ownership, and legal assertions are misleading and absurd. Are you willing to debate this in any medium of your choosing with evidence to support your claims? Since you’ve blocked me everywhere else, you can respond here, and I’ll be available anytime."

Arivu countered, saying, "My statements regarding credit, ownership, and compensation have been made public. I attempted several times to resolve this privately, even visiting your home, but those efforts went unanswered. This is not merely a social media dispute; the facts are clear, and appropriate channels exist for resolution."

Santhosh Narayanan responded, "This should have never been a topic for social media unless you made it one with blatant lies. Your claim of trying to resolve this is a beautiful fabrication. You never responded during the times I was forced to remain silent. You visited my home last year to invite me to your wedding (I was abroad, and my staff informed me later). This was after you had blocked me and created a song about it. Anba dhan pesuven (I will only speak with love) — I promise, let’s debate this, man."

For those unfamiliar, 'Enjoy Enjaami' is one of the most popular Tamil hits captivating the youth, amassing an astounding 521 million views on YouTube, with over 5.1 million likes.

The controversy initially erupted in 2022 when music director Santhosh Narayanan was credited for composing the song during the inaugural event of the chess olympiad in Chennai, where singers Dhee and Kidakuzhi Mariyammal performed. Notably, there was no acknowledgment of Arivu.

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IANS

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