Multi-hyphenate artiste Hiphop Tamizha Adhi’s directorial debut, 2017’s Meesaya Murukku, might have been a commercial potboiler. Still, it interestingly captured one of the most pivotal stories in the history of modern Tamil indie music. The film was a partly fictionalised biopic of how Adhi became a pioneer of Tamil indie music, but through his story, it also reflected the reality of the indie scene. And now, almost a decade later, Tamil indie music is riding a high tide, and Adhi has returned with a sequel, Meesaya Murukku 2, set to hit theatres on September 25.
The second film is a spiritual sequel that follows three generations of musicians. Adhi says the film tries to speak about some personal experiences that affected him, particularly his journey with gaana music. “For quite a few years, I have been working with gaana artistes and trying my best to promote gaana. Every time I tried gaana in the mainstream, the feedback made me wonder why this street art form hasn’t been getting the recognition that other styles of music get.”
Hiphop Tamizha Adhi in a still from ‘Meesaya Murukku 2’
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Special Arrangement
Exploring that question and the lessons learnt along the way form the foundation of Meesaya Murukku 2. “Somebody has to speak about these things, and it has to happen today; back when I started, there wasn’t an industry for Tamil indie music, but we now have an industry for it. So this movie has to come out now, or it would be too late, which is why I paused everything and did this movie,” adds Adhi. If Meesaya Murukku spoke about the lives of the musicians, the sequel will speak about music itself, he says.
Playing a triple role was a challenge Adhi was prepared for. “Playing dual roles in Anbarivu gave us some exposure, but here, we had to shoot the three looks in three different time periods in three different schedules. We planned it in such a way that we could finish one, take time off, and then prepare for the next character.” This gave him the confidence to deliver his best to each role, Adhi adds.
All that said, Meesaya Murukku 2 also brings together three aspects that Hiphop Tamizha Adhi is popularly known for: promoting upcoming artistes, upholding the spirit of friendship, and Tamil cultural advocacy.
Hiphop Tamizha Adhi’s vision to support indie artists
Over the decade, Adhi has paved the way for many budding talents and continues to work with younger generations of artistes through his hip-hop collective, The Underground Tribe, which aims to discover, train, and promote underground artistes. Adhi is aware of how vastly the indie industry has changed; he says the playing field is no longer fair for young artistes. “When the Internet was a free medium, the playing field was level. But now, labels pump in money for views and campaigns. It is a sad time for them.” This is yet another reason why Adhi felt the need to make Meesaya Murukku 2.
“The indie music scene has changed tremendously, but despite the amount being pumped into non-film music, the songs still feel like film songs. Stories aren’t being told.” To change this, Underground Tribe is now gearing up for #Bars2, a sequel to their popular rap battle and freestyle poetry series. “#Bars came when there was no industry for independent music, but now we have an industry, so we will now focus on how indie artistes should be in this climate. We want to conduct more seminars and educate the artistes.”
Hiphop Tamizha Adhi
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Special Arrangement
Adhi too echoes what indie artiste Kaber Vasuki had told us about the record label system being unfair. The very meaning of an ‘independent artiste’ has eroded, Kabir had argued, at a time when record labels own the catalogue and masters, not the artist. But an artist who truly wants to remain independent can still do so, says Adhi. “In the current scene, the infrastructure has developed so much that you can truly be indie. It is a tough route, but it is the route you have to take to stay independent.”
Adhi on online toxicity among music fans
Meanwhile, the mainstream music industry seems to be grappling with a new beast on social media — fan wars, akin to the toxic fan culture that has long surrounded film stars. This environment, Adhi says, might be healthy for business and for privileged artists, “but it is not healthy for artistes who are hustling and coming up.”
‘Natpe Thunai’: Adhi, the role model friend
Anyone who has spoken to Adhi will know he holds his gang of friends in high regard, so much so that he now works primarily with them. “And I make new friends too; every year a bunch of new friends come in. Some come in, some go out. Some of them become directors; some become musicians and indie artistes. At the end of the day, they are all friends,” says Adhi, adding that he wishes to continue working with the gang and grow with them. “My definition of friendship isn’t about knowing more people; it’s about being connected.”
But people usually advise against working with friends and relatives, don’t they? Adhi asks you to be clear about the boundaries. “Everybody will have their expectations, and you will have to be clear on what those are. At the same time, you shouldn’t expect anything from others, because when those expectations aren’t met, we would feel very cheated. But without expectations, if you just keep giving, then there wouldn’t be any problem.”
Some of these friends are also actors who feature in Meesaya Murukku 2. YouTubers Harshath Khan (of VJ Siddhu Vlogs fame) and Vijay Varadharaj (also a filmmaker) play supporting roles in the film. “I always prioritise talent above the attachment I have with them. Popularity is not equal to talent. Vijay Varadharaj may not be as popular as many content creators today, but he is a very talented storyteller.” He adds that becoming a fan of such talented people keeps him young.
Adhi, Harshath Khan and Vijay Varadharaj in a still from ‘Meesaya Murukku 2’
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement
Adhi’s love for Tamil: Porunai and the Tamizhanda Movement
Adhi, through his cultural and social initiative, the Tamizhanda Movement, has been spearheading projects that aim to promote the Tamil language, heritage, and history. After the 2019 documentary series Tamizhi, the initiative is now coming up with Porunai, a documentary nominated for this year’s Foca Film Days, a Turkish festival dedicated to archaeology-related films. Porunai, set to release in 2027, is one of the few documentaries shot during the archaeological excavation, says Adhi. “It shows how a civilisation flourished along the Thamirabarani river earlier than previously believed, and how its people used iron extensively. The iron artefacts found there have been dated to several centuries before the earliest evidence of iron use in Anatolia, challenging the conventional account that places the beginnings of the Iron Age in Anatolia.”
Meanwhile, Tamizhi is now being made into a book. “The Tamizhanda Movement is now actively involved in the UN’s refugee programme regarding Sri Lankan refugees in India. We will start working towards the welfare of the Tamil community from next year. We will reveal more details step by step.”
Adhi has come ar from the young man who sang ‘Iraiva’ and ‘Vaadi Pulla Vaadi’. “That Adhi never cared about anything. He just wanted to have fun. He chose to say whatever he wanted to, but I now have a lot of responsibilities and commitments. Earlier, I was very free, but now I have to think before speaking,” Adhi signs off.
Published – September 19, 2026 03:23 pm IST
