Rapper Vedan has, without a doubt, been one of the biggest phenomena to emerge in the Malayalam music scene in recent years. He is also arguably among the finest singer-songwriters in Kerala today. However, the Kerala government’s decision to honour him with the 2024 State Award for Best Lyricist has raised questions about the “moral code” the Left government claims to uphold—especially since Vedan continues to face multiple allegations of personal misconduct.
Appropriated icon?
While there have been occasional indie album trends in the past, the Malayalam indie music scene truly came into its own over the last decade, with independent artists gaining market value without the backing of the film industry. Vedan stands out as one of the artists who rose to prominence during this wave.
Another trend that emerged during this phase was the collaboration between film composers and indie artists like Vedan, who had already built a cult following of their own. Even though these artists had established an identity beyond playback singing, their foray into film music further mainstreamed them—bringing voices like Vedan’s to a much wider audience.
As Vedan’s popularity grew further after Kuthanthram, his 2024 song for the pan-India hit Manjummel Boys, there appeared to be attempts from multiple sections to draw him into their fold and project him as a poster boy for contemporary Leftist “artivism.” The strong political subtext and overtones in his lyrics—though his work engaged more with caste politics than class politics—along with his early defiance of saffron politics, made him an ideal choice in that sense.
The many controversies
However, Vedan’s career has also been marked by multiple controversies. He first faced allegations of sexual misconduct in 2021. “Vedan had given us stirring songs about caste discrimination. He was also a sexual predator, by his own admission. Can his songs be separated from misogyny? On one hand, he sings for the downtrodden, and on the other, he remorselessly molests women. In short, he is a fraud; his art fake,” writer N.S. Madhavan had written at the time.
Following the allegations, filmmaker Muhsin Parari shelved the music video From a Native Daughter, which was supposed to feature Vedan. The artist also lost several hip-hop gigs during that period. However, no official complaints were filed against him.
Cut to April 2025: Vedan was arrested in a ganja-related case. In the aftermath, the government removed him from a scheduled event in Idukki. A government-sponsored hip-hop event in Vazhathope, Cheruthoni, was cancelled, and in a joint press conference, Minister Roshy Augustine and the district collector explained that the decision was taken in light of Vedan’s recent arrest. However, within days, there was a flip in the stance of the government and the ruling party.
During the police raid related to the ganja case, a leopard-tooth pendant was found in his apartment, following which the Forest Department arrested and charged him for illicit possession of wildlife articles. As the department’s action began attracting criticism, CPI(M) leaders suddenly started defending Vedan and attacking forest officials.
Subsequently, Vedan was once again invited to perform at the same event—held in connection with the fourth anniversary of the Pinarayi Vijayan government—from which he had earlier been removed.
Meanwhile, the RSS and BJP turned against the hip-hop artist. The RSS alleged that Vedan’s work incited violence, while a BJP councillor from the Palakkad Municipality filed a complaint against him with the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and the Union ministry of home affairs. The councillor argued that Vedan’s four-year-old track Voice of the Voiceless contained lines that were a deliberate insult to the prime minister. CPI(M) then doubled its defence of Vedan, with the party’s state secretary even calling him the “commander general of contemporary music”. Meanwhile, the CPI(M) mouthpiece carried a detailed feature on Vedan in its weekend supplement.
In the aftermath of CPI(M)’s endorsement, Vedan’s songs were included in the syllabus of multiple universities, sparking another controversy. At Calicut University, one of his songs was added to the BA Malayalam third-semester syllabus. As the inclusion became contentious, the university appointed Dr M.M. Basheer, former head of the Malayalam department, to review the matter. Dr Basheer submitted a report recommending the removal of the song from the syllabus. However, his report was forwarded to the Board of Studies, which ultimately rejected the recommendation.
In July 2025, the Thrikakkara Police registered a case against Vedan based on a complaint by a young doctor, alleging that he raped her under the pretext of marriage. The incident reportedly occurred between 2021 and 2023. Vedan was arrested and later released on station bail. Another case was filed by a research scholar who alleged that the artist had sexually assaulted her when she approached him as part of her research on dalit music.
On October 30, the Kerala High Court modified two bail conditions imposed by the Sessions Court while granting Vedan anticipatory bail in a sexual harassment case. The court deleted the conditions that barred him from leaving Kerala and required him to appear before the investigating officer every Sunday. Earlier today, the High Court also granted him permission to travel abroad for performances.
Notably, these sexual assault cases are still pending before the court of law.
It is amidst all this, that the Kerala government has chosen to confer a State Film Award on Vedan. While some netizens argue that the jury did not consider his personal controversies but just art, and that the state government did not interfere in the jury’s decision, another section of social media users questioned whether it was morally right for the Left government to bestow the honour—especially in a year when the Kerala government held a film conclave where one of the key discussion themes was women’s safety? And also since the government had earlier adopted a policy of withholding recognition from those facing serious allegations, by cancelling his participation in the event following his arrest in a ganja-related case.
Celebrities, too, later weighed in on the debate on social media.
