The inspiring story of Tamil rapper Vengayo whose single ‘Chikkama’ is gory yet wildly entertaining

It was 2004 when eight-year-old Issac Naveen was first transplanted from the streets of Worli, Mumbai to Otteri, Chennai to live a vastly different life. Over there, he would go out fishing and lounge with at least 10 other children who would tackle and terrorise the streets of Mumbai. “It is in Bombay that I learnt hip hop, rap and dancing. This massive gang would all gather to watch videos of dance-offs from across the world on YouTube. My aspiration was to join a dance crew and be cool. The dream stayed on even when I arrived in this city,” he says.

As a youngling without any serious knowledge of Tamil and only a crude Bombay Hindi, Issac says that he found Chennai alien. Yet, it was during the early days where he got two opportunities to meet his idol — Vengayam Perumal. “My grandfather was a thug, a benevolent one. Everyone knew him on the streets of Otteri. He’d stop at a shop and eat whatever he pleased. He’d give away all the money in his pocket to anyone who asked. He’d wear thick gold chains and several rings. He’d also drink a lot which is why he died when I was young. When there was a need to christen a stage name, I wanted it to be rooted in something meaningful but also keep it fun. That is how I arrived at Vengayo,” he says.

Issac’s homage to his grandfather’s name is now echoing in many corners of the internet and across the world. His latest single ‘Chikkama’ directed by his friend and popular Tamil rapper Paal Dabba released in June is now charting at a million views. The video, based on a gangster and his trigger-happy gang of friends taking over a red carpet, is absurd, gory and wildly entertaining. 

All about the gore in ‘Chikkama’
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Special Arrangement

The visual language, style and the influence of old school hip hop (he used the beat from 50 Cent’s ‘In Da Club’) and gaana is suave, telling us a story full of blood, death, caution and revenge. While it is hard to catch it all in one viewing, the hook line with the word ‘Chikkama’ tends to loop in one’s head.

What does ‘Chikkama’ mean? “’Chikkama’ can be used to denote many things. Chikkama iruke could mean both ‘I’m sorted’ or ‘I’m in trouble’. My mother, who works in a marriage catering service unit, was recently telling her co-worker ‘edhukku ivlo chikkama iruku’. It was the first time I heard her use the line and I was thrilled,” he says.

‘Chikkama’s visual language developed when Paal Dabba randomly heard the song at a music producer’s house. “He was in Paris when he said that he’d like to direct the video. He said he really liked the song and was showing me around the city on one of our video calls. I was happy he was getting to visit these places. We had only seen such sights on Grand Theft Auto [videogame]before this,” he says. The two struck a friendship back in 2015 when they started dancing for Bfab, a dance crew in Chennai. They have been tight ever since, with Issac choreographing many of Paal Dabba’s dance videos. The two even collaborated for Vengayo’s first single ‘Ai’ in 2022.

Rapper Vengayo
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Special Arrangement

Since Chikkama’s release, Vengayo has been receiving support and appreciation from several members of the film industry including Aishwarya Lekshmi and Sid Sriram. He is intent on quickly moving to the next project with Think label that released his previous single. “Money is important for me because my father is a Dunzo driver, mother works in the catering industry and brother works at the harbour. However, I really do not want to chase wealth. Let it take its time and find its way to me,” he says.

For inspiration, he often watches videos and reels on Instagram. But this year, Vengayo wants to read about BR Ambedkar and Pablo Escobar. “In Otteri, Ambedkar is everywhere — in our houses, on the streets. I have heard so much about him. I want to read him,” he says.

“I am not much of a reader though. If this interview comes out, it will be the first time I read a paper,” he says, breaking into a laugh.