Still humming 'Ninte Nunakuzhi Kandappo'? The Kalyani gang’s new track 'Chillara Flex' has a rebellious streak

A few months ago, there was no way you could open your phone or scroll through social media without hearing the infectious beat of 'Kalyani.' It wasn’t just a song—it was an entire vibe, a rhythmic pulse that seemed to echo in every corner of the digital world. From toddlers trying to mimic the catchy lyrics 'Ninte Nunakuzhi Kandappo' to adults nodding their heads in perfect sync, the song was dominating the charts, racking up a mind-blowing half a million streams daily on Spotify alone. And on YouTube? It crossed the one-crore mark in views, a testament to its staying power and universal appeal.

Fast forward a few months, and the Kalyani gang is back with another track, 'Chillara Flex.' Behind ‘Chillara Flex’ is the brilliant minds of Arjn, KDS, along with lyricist Fifty4 (Suhas Moideen.) Arjn (full name Arjun Sunil) is a physiotherapist from Thrissur, while KDS (Kiran Das) is a Malappuram-based entrepreneur. Add in the impeccable production by Ronn and the mastery of Akash Shravan behind the mixing and mastering, and you have an enthusiastic track that is equally powerful.

While 'Kalyani' celebrated love, flirtation, and the intoxicating nature of attraction, 'Chillara Flex' takes a bold, rebellious turn. The team, in a freewheeling interview with Onmanorama, describes the song as a ‘powerful response’, an anthem of defiance and freedom, challenging norms and celebrating individuality.

‘Chillara Flex’ has a rebellious vibe, celebrating personal victory despite setbacks. Can you share the story behind the track?
‘Pathaam classile mash’ isn’t just one person—it’s a symbol. It represents anyone who doubted us, told us this wouldn’t work, or didn’t take us seriously. We’ve all had those moments growing up where people question your path. Instead of letting that bring us down, we turned it into motivation. Chillara Flex is like our response—it’s that small but powerful “chillara” revenge, where you prove things through your work, not words.

You’ve described the song as an anthem to remind listeners that success is built on years of unseen hustle. When did you first decide to fuse these themes into your music?
We never really sat and decided that we’ll make music with a specific message. It all came from real life. The struggles, the grind, the small wins—everything naturally became part of our music. Over time, as we kept creating, our sound and voice started shaping on its own. It wasn’t forced, it just grew with us. That’s why it feels honest and relatable.

Your music blends melodic pop with rap beats, creating a signature rhythm. How experimental do you get with genres?
Our music taste has always been mixed—we’ve listened to everything from local sounds to global music. That naturally pushed us to experiment. We don’t like putting ourselves in one box, so we keep blending melodies, rap, and different styles. When we work together, it’s very organic—everyone brings their own ideas, and we build on that. We’re still exploring, and that’s what keeps it exciting.

You’re all still so young but have already achieved so much—what keeps you motivated to push the boundaries?
We genuinely feel like we’re just getting started. There’s still so much we want to do and achieve. That hunger keeps us going. Every new track is a chance to do better, try something different, and grow. Our different backgrounds also help—we bring different perspectives, which pushes us to keep evolving.

‘Kalyani’ took off on Spotify and became a massive social media trend. Why do you think the song resonated with such a wide audience?
At the end of the day, it comes down to quality and vibe. When a song feels right, people connect with it instantly. ‘Kalyani’ had a catchy rhythm, a unique style, and a certain energy that people enjoyed. It didn’t feel forced—it was just something people could vibe to, and that’s why it connected across age groups.

While ‘Kalyani’ is celebrated for its rhythm and style, some critics argue that the lyrics are too suggestive. How do you respond to this criticism?
For us, ‘Kalyani’ was an honest expression of what we wanted to say at that time. Music is subjective—everyone will interpret it differently based on their own perspective. Once a song is out, it belongs to the listeners too. We respect all opinions, but we also stay true to what we want to create.

As public figures with a massive following, do you feel a sense of responsibility in shaping the content of your lyrics, especially considering the younger audience that looks up to you?
We’re definitely aware that a lot of people listen to us, including younger audiences. At the same time, we strongly believe we’re putting out the right message—or at least what we feel is right from our perspective. For us, authenticity matters the most. As we grow, we’re becoming more aware of our impact, and that naturally reflects in our music. It’s about finding that balance between staying true to ourselves and being mindful of the influence we have

Tell us about MVR, your independent music label. What was the spark that led you to create it, and how has it evolved since its inception?
The main reason was independence. We didn’t want to wait for someone to give us a chance or depend on outside validation. We wanted to build something on our own terms. Since we were already interested in music, money, and fashion, creating MVR felt like the right step. It started as a simple idea, but now it’s growing into something bigger—we’re learning, expanding, and building it day by day.

Def Jam Recordings in India is playing a major role in taking Indian, especially South Indian, music to the global stage. What’s it like collaborating with them?
Def Jam has really been pushing the culture forward, especially for South Indian artists. They understand the sound and are helping take it beyond borders. Yash Upadhyay came in at the right time for us, and that connection really helped. Being part of this movement feels bigger than just us—it’s about representing where we come from and seeing our sound reach new audiences globally.

Looking at the rap and music scene today, how do you think it’s evolved over the past decade? What’s changed for the better, and where do you see it going in the next few years?
The change has been massive. Earlier, there were fewer platforms and opportunities, but now the scene is wide open. More artists are coming in, and the quality has gone up a lot. There’s also more acceptance for different styles and languages. We feel the future is even bigger—more global collaborations, more recognition, and more growth for everyone in the scene.