Indian rapper Hanumankind has gained worldwide acclaim for his English song Big Dawgs, which was released last month.
Its music video features him performing at the centre of a carnival attraction known as the Wall of Death (Marana Kinar in Malayalam), where riders drive motorcycles and cars along the vertical walls of a barrel-shaped wooden cylinder, performing stunts.
The track has taken over the airwaves and Internet alike, with its addictive rhythm and unforgettable opening notes drawing millions of fans.
With 70.2 million streams on Spotify and over 59 million views on YouTube, it currently ranks No. 4 on the list of global top music videos.
The song, written and composed by Hanumankind, whose real name is Sooraj Cherukat, gained popularity for its politically charged lyrics addressing the theme of identity.
The video is a visual feast. The music, featuring music producer Kalmi, is a mix of desi swagger and western – a hard-hitting explosion of punk rage and high energy drum beats.
“A lot of things are happening in this video,” Hanumankind, 32, told Rolling Stone magazine. “But mainly, if you want something, take that risk, man, or else it won’t happen. Even if you fail, it’s still the act of doing.
“For me, even if this video didn’t work out, I get to tell my grandchildren that I actually sat inside the Well of Death and did this. At the very least, if nothing worked out, I’m happy about that.”
The neat production work, directed by his frequent collaborator Bijoy Shetty, is matched by the gritty visuals shot by Abhinay Pandit. It is complete with slick editing work.
What adds value to the entire production is Hanumankind’s performance, ever-present in the thick of the electrifying chaos – his goofy, grill-filled grin captivates as the camera swerves around him while he stomps and swaggers in the gritty arena.
“We knew the song was going to do well, but we did not know it was going to be like this,” he told Rolling Stone. That has been surprising for sure.
“I knew the video would have an impact though because we literally put our lives on the line.”
Hailing from Kerala, Sooraj’s journey has been anything but ordinary.
Born in Malappuram, a town in Kerala, his family moved across the globe, eventually landing in Houston, United States, where he spent his formative years.
Raised by parents who valued a traditional path to success – education, a secure job and a settled life – Sooraj appeared to be on that exact track.
After returning to India in 2012 to finish his degree, he found himself in the corporate world, working a stable job at Goldman Sachs by day. But by night, he was Hanumankind, an emerging rapper with a burning passion for music.
He went on to make his debut with EP Kalari and released the collaborative project Surface Level with Kalmi. They also released the single feature Rush Hour in 2022.
Now based in Bengaluru, little did Hanumankind know that his after-hours hobby would soon become his main gig. A signing with Def Jam India turned his dreams into reality, and the release of Big Dawgs catapulted him to global fame.
“I’m not a very religious person at all. I would say I’m spiritual. I do like what the name Hanuman implies when it comes to the Hindu deity because he personifies honour, courage and loyalty,” Hanumankind told Rolling Stone about his performer name. “He puts it all on his chest.
“From this side of the world, Hanuman is a name that so many people know. Even if you don’t hold the same path, everyone has seen it or heard it or is aware of it. It’s something that everyone can associate with being Indian. And mankind is the rest of the world. It was a combination of both things. To bring two things together in a way that ties into my purpose.”
Because of his recent virality, Hanumankind - whose musical taste, rhythm and flow have been shaped by his southern Indian and American upbringings - has now a horde of fans across the globe.
“If you look at the YouTube comments, they’re one of the most wholesome things I’ve ever seen,” he proudly told Rolling Stone. “Everyone from everywhere came together, and it’s an outpouring of love, man. I am in awe of that, and I’m glad that is the kind of impact we are able to have here.”
The rapper is now all set to make his film debut in director Aashiq Abu’s Malayalam movie Rifle Club.
On Sunday, the director revealed the rapper’s first look from the film, reported the Hindustan Times.
The poster, awash in deep red and golden hues, shows Hanumankind holding a pistol and wearing stylish shades. A closer look reveals smoke rising from the gun’s barrel, suggesting that he has just fired it.
Sharing the image via his official Instagram account, Hindi filmmaker Anurag Kashyap, who plays a major character in Rifle Club, revealed that the rapper plays the role of his “volatile son.”
