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EPR Iyer Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated September 4, 2026 • 6 min read

Quick Info

Date of birth3 April 1989

Age34 Years

BirthplaceTiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, India

ProfessionRapper, Poet, Hip-Hop Artist, Singer, Songwriter

NationalityIndian

Marital statusUnmarried

FamilyFather is a former classical singer

EPR Iyer Biography

EPR Iyer is an Indian rapper, poet and hip-hop artist known for politically charged lyrics and a career that spans bands, reality TV and solo work. Born in

Early life and background
Yagya Swami Krishna Swami Santhanam Srinivasan Iyer, better known by his stage name EPR Iyer (also referred to as Santhanam Srinivasan Iyer or Svnslas), was born on 3 April 1989 in Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu. Raised in a Tamil family in Kolkata, he attended A. K. Ghosh Memorial School and went on to study at Asutosh College and NSHM Knowledge Campus, where he completed a master’s degree in broadcast journalism. His father worked as a classical singer, and music figured early in his life: EPR says he began writing songs in 2002 and was influenced by English rock and music television channels during his school years.

Career
EPR’s musical path has included bands, reality shows and solo projects. While at school he formed a band called Miasma to compete in inter-school festivals. In 2009 he fronted a rap-metal band named !Banned, which performed across college festivals and won several competitions before disbanding in 2010. That same year he and friends formed Underground Authority, a group that reached the finals of India’s Got Talent and toured colleges across India for roughly a decade. After around 700 gigs with Underground Authority, EPR left the band in April 2023 to pursue a solo career; his last performance with the group was on 13 May 2023.

Alongside band work, EPR has been active in collective hip-hop projects. In March 2018 he and producer GJ Storm formed Adiacot (Adiacot Entertainment), a hip-hop group created to address social issues. The group released a diss-track video that quickly garnered wide attention online.

EPR first appeared on national television as a contestant on MTV Hustle in 2019, where he finished as runner-up. He later returned to the program as a squad boss in seasons 2 and 3 (2022 and 2023). In 2020 he released his debut solo album, Protest Poetry, a 17-track collection that included collaborations with other singers and rappers and helped cement his reputation as a protest-minded artist.

Artistic approach and themes
EPR describes himself as a “reporter from the streets,” using rap to communicate social and national concerns. His writing often examines socio-political topics such as corruption, communalism, poverty and unemployment. He has said he focuses on socio-political writing within hip-hop and does not subscribe to any single visual stereotype of what a rapper should look like.

Notable events and challenges
In 2013 EPR was diagnosed with cholesteatoma, a condition that affected his hearing and raised doubts about whether he could continue performing. Following surgery and recovery, he returned to the stage in December 2013 with Underground Authority, and the band won the Hornbill International Rock Contest, along with several individual awards.

Public profile
EPR’s work has at times provoked strong public reaction. A performance of his song ‘‘Religious Extremism’’ on MTV Hustle 2.0 in 2022 drew both praise for addressing sensitive issues and criticism from some quarters. He has engaged in rap battles, diss tracks and public debates with other artists early in his career, though he has said relationships with some peers later improved. EPR teaches rap and poetry in his spare time and has run classes in Kolkata.

Personal life and interests
EPR is unmarried and is described in sources as a non-vegetarian. He has multiple tattoos and has acknowledged occasional alcohol use and frequent cigarette smoking. He is multilingual, proficient in English and Japanese, and has a fondness for cats, travel and hiking. He was formerly a member of the theatre company Hypokrites.

Latest updates
After leaving Underground Authority in April 2023, EPR has focused on his solo career. He served as a squad boss on MTV Hustle seasons 2 and 3 in 2022 and 2023, and his last recorded performance with Underground Authority took place on 13 May 2023. His debut solo album Protest Poetry, released in 2020, remains a key part of his catalog and public identity as a protest poet.
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Recent Work

Protest Poetry

Debut solo album (17 tracks) featuring collaborations and socio-political themes.

2020
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Career Highlights

  1. Runner-up on MTV Hustle (2019)
  2. Frontman of Underground Authority; finalists on India’s Got Talent
  3. Winner of Hornbill International Rock Contest with Underground Authority (2013)
  4. Formed Adiacot hip-hop collective (2018)
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Frequently Asked Questions

When was EPR Iyer born?

3 April 1989

What is EPR Iyer known for?

Rapper, Poet, Hip-Hop Artist, Singer, Songwriter

What is EPR Iyer’s marital status?

Unmarried