# Enjoy Enjaami Turns 5 — But the Celebration Turns Sour: Arivu Says He Wrote It All, Got Nothing in Return

URL: https://technosports.co.in/enjoy-enjaami-turns-5-but-the-celebration-turns-sour/  
Published: 2026-03-14  
Updated: 2026-03-14  
Author: Reetam Bodhak

Five years ago, [Enjoy Enjaami](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enjoy_Enjaami) shattered borders, streamed across the globe, and became the anthem of Tamil lockdown culture. But on its anniversary in March 2026, the song is making headlines for all the wrong reasons — a raw, public clash between composer **Santhosh Narayanan** and singer-lyricist **Arivu** over who truly made it, and who earned from it.

## The Enjoy Enjaami Dispute at a Glance

| Detail | Info |
| --- | --- |
| **Song** | Enjoy Enjaami |
| **Released** | 2021 (during COVID-19 lockdown) |
| **Composer / Producer** | Santhosh Narayanan |
| **Performer / Lyricist** | Arivu (feat. Dhee) |
| **Dispute Trigger** | Song’s 5th anniversary post on X (Twitter) |
| **Arivu’s Credit on Song** | “Featuring artist” only |
| **Royalties Received by Arivu** | None (as per Arivu’s claim) |
| **Santhosh’s Upcoming Projects** | Seyon (with Sivakarthikeyan), Kalki 2898 AD Part 2 |

## What Started the Fight?

It began simply enough — a fan on X shared a clip of the song calling it a Tamil indie track that went global. Another user alleged that singer Dhee and her father had “stolen” the track from Arivu. That allegation was the spark that set off a very public firestorm.

![Enjaami](https://technosports.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/eanan-1024x576.avif)

## Santhosh Narayanan’s Version

Santhosh pushed back quickly. According to him, the idea for Enjoy Enjaami was conceived by **Dhee**, who also contributed tunes, while **director Manikandan** developed the core narrative during their work on *Kadaisi Vivasayi*. Santhosh says he composed, produced, and crafted the song’s melodies — and that his only lyrical contribution was suggesting the word **“Enjaami.”** He added that in the digital age, every claim can and should be verified with evidence.

## Arivu’s Version: Credit, Rights, and Dignity

Arivu’s response was more personal — and more damning. He says the beat was sent to him, after which he **wrote almost all the words**, composed the main vocal melody, and performed the track drawing from his own cultural roots and lived experience. The song was even filmed in his village.

Despite all of this, he was billed only as a **“featuring artist”** — and five years on, the collaborators hold the rights and collect royalties while Arivu says he has received **neither ownership nor payment.** His final point was pointed and precise: this isn’t about sympathy — it’s about the **credit, rights, and dignity of labour.**

## Why This Matters Beyond the Controversy

This dispute cuts to the heart of how the Indian music industry treats folk and independent artists. When a song draws from the stories of a community, performed by someone from that community — who truly owns it?

For more South Indian music and entertainment news, keep up with [TechnoSports](https://technosports.co.in) and explore our full [South Indian entertainment coverage](https://technosports.co.in/category/entertainment/).

## FAQs

### **Q: What is the Enjoy Enjaami controversy about?**

A: Composer Santhosh Narayanan and singer-lyricist Arivu publicly clashed on X over creative credit and royalties for the viral 2021 Tamil song, with Arivu claiming he wrote most of the words, composed the main melody, and received no ownership or payment despite being central to the song.

### **Q: What does Arivu say about his role in Enjoy Enjaami?**

A: Arivu states that he received the beat, wrote nearly the entire song drawing from his cultural heritage, composed the vocal melody, and performed it — yet was only credited as a “featuring artist” and has not received any royalties or rights over the track.