“I believe there are contextual restrictions to each self. And there are mature boundaries for self expressions in art and it is highly subjective.

I’m Vijay—Chennai born and raised, straight out of St. Thomas Mount. While I did my engineering in Electronics and Communication, my real connection was always with hip hop. It began as a fascination in 10th grade—watching dance crews, following international communities—and slowly became a part of who I am.

Around 2010, I stumbled upon graffiti. Very few in India were doing it then, but I was looking at walls from all over the world. I realised that art isn’t just art—it’s culture. It’s expression. It’s rebellion.

I began designing outfits for dancers, and then… I started painting walls.

My first official wall art happened in 2014 at SRM University for their tech fest. My most recent? A piece for Greenhouse Barbeque. Fourteen years in the game, and the walls keep talking.

Graffiti is often seen as illegal—and that’s true if you don’t have permission. But that perception comes from how it was used as a political weapon in other parts of the world. To me, and to a few others in Chennai, it’s about storytelling, soul, and serious commitment.

The hip hop scene here is still growing. Much of it is born from the internet—but the roots are deeper. Tamil. Culture. Identity. That’s what I try to bring into every wall, whether I’m in Chennai or somewhere else. Art should be raw, real, and you.

Chennai’s changing. The streets are more vibrant, artists are getting recognition, and there’s growing support from communities and the government alike. Sculpture, mural, or graffiti—it’s all part of our culture. Street art is just today’s language.

So to every aspiring artist: Be authentic. Be bold. And remember, the walls are waiting.”