Popular Malayalam playback singer G. Venugopal has indirectly responded to actor Vinayakan’s recent controversial remarks about legendary singer K. J. Yesudas, the latter the "greatest artistic revolutionary in Kerala".

Venugopal shared his response through a Facebook post, strongly defending Yesudas and criticising the growing trend of pulling down icons on social media.

In his post, Venugopal criticised the current cultural climate where veteran artists are being targeted online.

"In Kerala, we are now demolishing all the old idols and building new ones. Social media workers hunched over behind computer screens are jumping down with drawn swords and cutting them down. If you ask who is the biggest artistic revolutionary in Kerala, you can undoubtedly say Yesudas," he wrote.

He suggested that many respected personalities are being unfairly judged and criticised in the name of political correctness.

In the longer version of his post, Venugopal said: "In Kerala, we are now demolishing all the old idols and building new ones. Most of the celebrities are falling down after hitting their heads on the granite wall of political correctness. Social media workers hunched over behind computer screens are jumping down with drawn swords and cutting them down. Media cameras are laying them on beds of arrows without even giving them time to heal."

He went on to say that people who had spent their lives serving cinema and music are now being "mercilessly hunted" and covered in "vulgarity" in the name of political correctness. Quoting American comedian George Carlin, he added: "If you call a blind man visually challenged, will it change anything about his condition?"

Venugopal also praised Yesudas for breaking through caste and class barriers in the world of music, particularly Carnatic classical music, which was once dominated by upper-caste communities. "At a time when Brahminism was the dominant force in art, music, and especially in Carnatic classical music, a Latin Catholic made a huge breakthrough and established himself there with his own talent alone."

He added that an artist should be judged by the lyricism and depth of their work, not by where they live or how much money they earn.

For those who grew up in the 1970s, Venugopal wrote, Yesudas’ voice was part of daily life. "For many of us born in the 1970s, Yesudas' voice is more familiar and heartwarming than the voices of our own parents. Everything he sacrificed to climb to the pinnacle of music has become essential raw materials for many artists today."

Venugopal recalled an incident from the recording of the film Ee Puzhayum Kadannu, where he witnessed Yesudas’ discipline and approach to singing.

"It's late today. Let's try it tomorrow morning when my voice is fresh," I told music director Johnson, who had suggested I record my song during a short break between Yesudas' recordings.

I still remember what Mr Yesudas said then: "Well, a good singer is like a hunter. He should oil the barrel of his gun, remove the rust, load it with ammunition, and take aim. When he says, 'Shoot,' shoot then and there. Don't say things like, 'No oil, no ammunition!'"

Venugopal also described Yesudas as a karma yogi, whose life and art were deeply connected to discipline and purity of purpose.

Concluding the post, Venugopal said that Yesudas should be remembered purely as a singer, not forced into the mould of a social reformer.

"Yesudas is not Mahatma Gandhi or K Kelappan. Let us not forget that the golden age of Kerala's music was born where Yesudas was just Yesudas."

He ended with a sarcastic line directed at Vinayakan as well: "On earth, blue smoke bows to Sree Vinayaka Guru!"