Chennai rapper targets Unilever with ‘Anaconda’ protest anthem

A new, angry, three-minute rap song in English has a simple message for the global consumer product company Unilever: clean up.

The latest issue being spoken about on the social media is about Unilever putting the residents of Kodaikanal at risk of mercury poisoning. Hindustan Unilever, however, accepts that the mercury containing glass waste approximated to be 5.3 tonnes at the Munjikal scrapyard originated from its thermometer factory. Ashraf became popular in 2008 when she rapped against Islamic extremism. They sing, “Kodaikanal won’t step down until you make amends now”. The said factory in question was shut down in 2001 by Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board for crossing the limits of environmental pollution, but the contamination is yet to be cleared from KodaiKanal and surrounding hills. This was an attempt to convince the shareholders to make the company address its liabilities (the death toll stands at 45 workers of the Unilever factory besides 12 of their children).

A new study, released in June by a group called Community Environmental Monitoring, found high levels of toxic mercury in vegetation, river and sediment collected from the vicinity of the thermometer factory in Kodaikanal. However, the company rejects the health-related accusations of former employees.

To protest against the lethargic attitude of the MNC, a 27-year old Chennai-born rapper Sofia Ashraf made a rap video, stating how Kodaikanal won’t (sit silent anymore) and set it to the tune of Nicki Minaj’s “Anaconda”.