“Bigson.. Bigsu.. Bigsappa. Where did he go?” A mother’s voice echoes, calling three variations of a name known to the music world as Arivu. But who exactly is Brother Bigson Mandela? Is he a character in Arivu’s newly anticipated album set to release on July 18, or is he, perhaps, an electrifying rockstar reminiscent of David Bowie’s alter ego, Ziggy Stardust?
In the opening track “Local Jackson” from the 12-track album ‘Valliamma Peraandi,’ Arivu, adopting the persona of ‘Bigson,’ surfaces as a nonchalant artist who wants nothing more than to make the listeners groove. With a cool, composed demeanor, Arivu declares his confidence in his music. “Bigson is frankly just a confident Arivu,” explains the hip-hop artist as he strolls through The Hindu’s office in Chennai, just two days before the album’s launch.
“I am my mother’s oldest child. Hence, I am Bigson,” Arivu says. Reflecting on his past, he shares, “When I was young, I was extremely naughty. I realized at some point that being ‘Arivu’…someone who thinks…is the problem. Why not remain the childlike Bigson? Society has placed numerous restrictions on Arivu. But as Bigson, I am free.”
With ‘Enjoy Enjaami’ still caught up in legal battles and five years after his first major success with the album ‘Therukural,’ Arivu is now ready to unveil ‘Valliamma Peraandi’ under the record label Sony Music India. This album promises a diverse range of genres, themes, and vibes. Imagine EDM at a village festival, a powerful drill number tackling untouchability, a wordless meditation on the origins of language for prehistoric humans, four love songs with lyrics in Malayalam and Punjabi, and even a track titled ‘Block Panniten.’
“As a child, I didn’t know rap. Most of the music I listened to were sounds of the street—Mariamman songs and other devotional music by LR Eswari. These sounds are still a part of me. I always tell everyone that it’s crucial to familiarize themselves with these regional tunes. They help you understand the soil and become one with the earth. This is what I am attempting to revisit,” he states.
Creating and recording this new music, however, hasn’t been without its challenges. Arivu admits that this time he has chosen to collaborate only with people he is familiar with, reflecting on past experiences where he felt burned.
. In ‘Valliamma Peraandi,’ he features tracks with Punjabi singer and friend Rashmeet Kaur in ‘Raasathi,’ which was recorded in just two hours, and Gaana Balachander and Chellamuthu, with whom he shares a close bond from their Ambassa band days, in the track ‘Saarbaga.’ The list of producers on this album includes Gachi B from Tanzania, London-based Quasimode, DopeBoyzMuzic, Preetesh Hirji, and long-time friend Anto Franklin.
“There is a difference between collaboration and control,” Arivu clarifies. “In the past, I had only focused on going into a studio and creating a song from a particular part of my consciousness. I didn’t consider whether I would receive the proper rights, credits, or compensation for my work. This independent album, with fewer collaborators, finally allows me to create songs that are entirely my own. This is the purest form of who I am.”
Post ‘Enjoy Enjaami,’ Arivu encountered several significant setbacks, which taught him valuable lessons about human nature. “People are not defined by the words they speak, but by the actions they take. I always knew about human inequality, but I received firsthand evidence of it after the song was released. Despite my education, I didn’t have the tools at a young age to handle and combat such issues,” he reflects.
Now, Arivu’s vision is crystal clear. He is here to share the stories of his ancestors, determined to do so with flair. Being Valliamma’s peraandi (grandson) helps his mission. Arivu notes, “It was through my grandmother’s eyes that I was first seen as an artist.” His grandmother, originally from Salem, was taken as an indentured laborer to the tea estates of Sri Lanka during British rule. Despite being forced to return to India, she thrived despite her displacement.
A poignant moment came when Arivu visited those tea estates, experiencing a sense of dislocation himself. This trip seeded ‘Enjoy Enjaami,’ but the new song ‘Kangaani’ delves deeper into his grandmother’s story, focusing on laborers who used wordplay to mock their supervisors. “She raised me as my mother had to work. She provided care, love, and the chance for me to perform before her. She called me Ballvaya,” Arivu recounts.
Through this album, Arivu also solidifies his identity as an artist who seeks joy. “Imagine if there was no caste. What type of songs would I create? I’d be making joyful songs, but my pen does not allow it. At the end of the day, I am a casteless man. I want to make music that is fun and connect with people through love. My band, Ambassa, and its members, show how one can create joyous music using folk and ganaa, without overlooking what is important.”
With plans to start touring soon and already working on the next volume of this album, Arivu is most excited for people to hear and embrace ‘Valliamma Peraandi.’ “I am looking to serve people music that suits their tastes and aligns with my thoughts,” he says. Ultimately, he seeks to create fun songs, and his new persona, Brother Bigson Mandela, is ready to make an indelible mark in the music world.
