‘My political ideology is clear’: Hanumankind finally breaks silence

Indian rapper Hanumankind has addressed the backlash surrounding his performance at a 2024 event in New York attended by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Some fans expressed disappointment, viewing his participation as a political endorsement. But Hanumankind—real name Sooraj Cherukat—has now clarified that his presence was strictly artistic. “It was nothing political,” he said in a recent interview with The Guardian. “We were called to represent the nation, and we did that.”

Despite his explanation, questions lingered about his stance, particularly given Modi’s association with Hindu nationalism and allegations of democratic backsliding. But Hanumankind now states firmly: “My political ideology is pretty clear” to anyone following his work.

In fact, his music has long reflected a progressive, activist outlook. One of his earliest singles, Catharsis (2020), takes direct aim at systemic corruption, police brutality, and state violence. “I’m not just trying to speak to people who already agree with me,” he explains. “I’m trying to give people who are otherwise not going to be listening a chance to be like, ‘OK, there is some logic to what he’s saying.’”

Kerala-born Hanumankind, hails from Malappuram and spent his formative years between India and the United States. His bicultural upbringing deeply influenced his music—rooted in Indian ethos yet shaped by global hip-hop sensibilities. Drawing from both Kerala’s traditions and international experiences, he blends activism, culture, and lyricism into a powerful musical voice now resonating worldwide.

Global recognition and Modi’s praise

Hanumankind's music has been making global waves, most recently with his chart-smashing single Run It Up, a fierce track that also pays homage to India’s martial heritage. The song incorporates references to indigenous combat forms like Kalaripayattu, Gatka, and Thang-Ta—an approach that caught the attention of none other than Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

During the 120th episode of his monthly radio programme Mann Ki Baat, aired in March 2025, Modi praised the rapper’s cultural impact: “Our indigenous games are now becoming a part of popular culture. The new song of the renowned rapper Hanumankind, Run It Up, is becoming quite famous these days... I congratulate Hanumankind that due to his efforts, people of the world are getting to know about our traditional martial arts.”

This high-profile endorsement boosted Hanumankind’s already growing fame. Run It Up topped the Official Asian Music Chart for three consecutive weeks and followed the momentum of his earlier hit Big Dawgs, which briefly surpassed Kendrick Lamar’s Not Like Us on Spotify’s Top 50.

Mixtape: Monsoon Season

Hanumankind’s blend of political awareness and genre-fluid rap reaches a new high on his debut mixtape, Monsoon Season, released in July 2025. The 12-track project features collaborations with Denzel Curry, Maxo Kream, and Indian producers Kalmi, Parimal Shais, and Hisab. Tracks like Reckless and Run It Up channel rage and resilience, while Cause and Someone Told Me explore grief, purpose, and solidarity. An interlude featuring a voice message from his mother adds a deeply personal touch.

Though much of Monsoon Season is braggadocious and globally ambitious, it remains rooted in Hanumankind’s Indian identity—whether through Kerala’s chenda or multilingual references to cities from Bengaluru to Houston. “I’m still adjusting,” he says. “The attention, the conversation, the responsibility, the lifestyle—all this sh*t. So I just want to go back to the source—and make music.”