Hanumankind (born 17 October 1992), whose real name is Sooraj Cherukat, is an Indian rapper from Kerala who is based in Bengaluru. He raps in English with an accent shaped by a childhood in Houston, Texas. In July 2024 his single “Big Dawgs”, made with the producer Kalmi, became a worldwide hit, helped by a video shot inside a “well of death” at a fairground, and reached the top 25 of the US Billboard Hot 100. He is one of the few India-based rappers to have broken into the global charts.
Quick Facts
| Real name | Sooraj Cherukat |
| Born | 17 October 1992, Malappuram, Kerala, India |
| Age | 34 |
| Occupation | Rapper, songwriter |
| Based in | Bengaluru, Karnataka |
| Genre | Hip-hop |
| Language | English (with some Malayalam) |
| Years active | 2019–present |
| Known for | “Big Dawgs”, “Run It Up” |
Early Life
Sooraj was born in Malappuram in Kerala. His father worked in the oil industry, and the family moved often: he spent parts of his childhood in France, Nigeria, Egypt and Dubai before settling in Houston, Texas, where he lived from about fourth grade until college. Houston’s Southern hip-hop scene, with artists such as UGK and Three 6 Mafia, shaped his taste. He returned to India in 2012, took a business degree in Coimbatore and worked for firms including Goldman Sachs in Bengaluru before leaving corporate life to rap full-time.
Career
He first performed as Hanumankind at the NH7 Weekender festival in Pune in 2019 and released the EP Kalari, named after Kerala’s martial art, the same year. Singles such as “Genghis”, “Skyline”, “Damnson” and “Go to Sleep” built him a following in India’s independent scene.
“Big Dawgs” was released in July 2024. Its video, directed by Bijoy Shetty, was filmed in Ponnani, Kerala, inside a maut ka kuan (“well of death”), with cars and motorcycles circling the walls as he rapped. The clip spread across social media, the song entered charts in the United States, Britain, Canada and Australia, and a remix with the American rapper A$AP Rocky followed. He made his film acting debut in the Malayalam film Rifle Club (2024).
In March 2025 he released “Run It Up”, whose video showed martial arts and folk traditions from different parts of India, including Kalaripayattu, Gatka and Thang-ta. Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised it in his Mann Ki Baat radio address for presenting India’s heritage to the world. In April 2025 Hanumankind performed at the Coachella festival in California, and he released the mixtape Monsoon Season later that year.
Stage Name
The name joins “Hanuman”, the Hindu deity known for strength and devotion, with “mankind”. He has said he wanted a name that sounded Indian but spoke to everyone.
Popular Songs
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where was Hanumankind born?
Hanumankind was born on 17 October 1992 in Malappuram, Kerala, India and is 34 years old.
What is Hanumankind known for?
Known for: “Big Dawgs”, “Run It Up”.
Featured image: Hanumankind in a 2025 promotional photograph. Photo by Diego Bendezu / Universal Music Group, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
