Put Chutney Rajmohan is Tamil Nadu’s School Education Minister
These days, a name is being discussed in Tamil Nadu politics, one who neither comes from a traditional political family nor rose to power directly through film stardom. This name is Rajmohan Arumugam, known throughout Tamil Nadu as “Put Chutney Rajmohan.” Today, he is the Minister of School Education in the Tamil Nadu government, but his journey is quite interesting and inspiring.
Rajmohan began his career in a television speaking competition, then became a household name on YouTube for his sharp satire and straightforward discussion of social issues. He acted in Tamil films, directed web series, served as a mentor on stand-up comedy platforms, and finally became an MLA by winning the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections from the Egmore constituency on a Tamil Nadu Vettiri Kazhagam (TVK) ticket.
His victory wasn’t solely due to his popularity, but also to the video he made years ago, “Who Killed Anitha?” This video sparked a debate across Tamil Nadu on the education system, the NEET exam, and government negligence, echoes of which still resonate today. Now that he has become the Deputy Education Minister himself, the public expects him to implement the issues he raised on YouTube at the government level.
Let’s explore in detail who Rajmohan Arumugam is, his early life, what the Put Chutney channel is, why the Anitha video became so influential, his work in films and web series, and how he ultimately won the 2026 election and made his way to the position of Deputy Education Minister.
Rajamohan Arumugam was born and raised in Chennai. His father’s name is RP Arumugam. Chennai has a long-standing tradition of “Pattimandram,” where televised debate competitions are held during festivals. This tradition also influenced Rajmohan, who developed an interest in public speaking from a young age. As he grew older, he developed a keen interest in media and communication alongside his formal education. In 2010, he earned a Diploma in Business Management from IIT Chennai, and then a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from Madurai Kamaraj University in 2018. This means he combines technical experience from a prestigious institution with formal media education.
This combination later helped him become a prolific content creator. His rise to public recognition began with Star Vijay’s reality show “Tamil Pechu Engal Moochu,” a speaking and oratory competition. The show tested his command of the Tamil language, his reasoning, and his persuasive skills, and Rajmohan won its second season between 2008 and 2009. This victory established him as a brilliant speaker throughout Tamil Nadu. He then began regularly participating in traditional Pattimandram programs, especially those televised during religious festivals. This period served as a training ground for Rajmohan, where he learned the art of public speaking, debating, and convincing audiences.
‘Put Chutney’ changed the course of his life, laying the foundation for his political journey.
The real breakthrough came when Rajmohan joined the YouTube channel ‘Put Chutney’. Put Chutney is a Tamil-language YouTube channel known for its political satire and social commentary. Rajmohan became the channel’s director and primary face, and under his leadership, Put Chutney became one of Tamil Nadu’s most-viewed digital platforms.
The channel’s hallmark was its discussion of political and social issues in a way that made the common man understand them in a humorous way, yet at the same time maintained a sharp edge. Rajmohan’s style was remarkably fearless. He spoke openly on issues that people would typically either remain silent or dismiss lightly. His historic video which changed everything came on this channel.
It was 2017, and there was an atmosphere of outrage in Tamil Nadu over the NEET exam. NEET, a national-level entrance exam made mandatory for admission to medical colleges, was facing strong opposition in Tamil Nadu because it was harming students from rural and government schools. Meanwhile, Anitha, a medical aspirant, committed suicide in protest against NEET. This sent shockwaves through the state.
Rajmohan made a video about this incident, titled “Who Killed Anitha?” This video wasn’t just a video; it was a question. In it, Rajmohan targeted political power, highlighted the growing inequalities in the education system, and asked society to what extent we were collectively responsible for this girl’s death. The video quickly spread like wildfire. Millions of people watched and shared it, reigniting the debate over NEET. At that point, Rajmohan was no longer just a YouTuber; he emerged as a voice that directly questioned the powers that be. This video laid the foundation for his political journey.
After this incident, Rajmohan’s influence grew. In 2018, he created content on sensitive issues like the Cauvery water dispute and spoke directly about the political turmoil between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. That same year, Telugu actor Vijay Deverakonda also appeared on his channel for a promotional video promoting the political film “NOTA.”
Rajmohan launched another YouTube channel, “Tamil Vanakkam,” specifically targeted at college students, presenting discussions on social issues in a simple manner. When the COVID-19 pandemic struck and schools and colleges were closed, Rajmohan launched a new channel focused solely on students whose studies had been affected.
This reflects his vision and sensitivity, as he didn’t stop at just making videos but instead adapted to every need.
Alongside his digital journey, Rajmohan also entered the Tamil film industry. He appeared in several notable films in supporting roles, including “Thaana Serndha Koottam,” “Velaiilla Pattadhari 2,” also known as VIP 2, “Natpe Thunai,” “Ispade Rajavum Idhayaraniyum,” and “Nenjamundu Neramaiyundu Odu Raja.” While these weren’t major roles, they strengthened his screen presence and established him in the film industry. In 2023, he directed the film “Baba Black Sheep,” a project he had been developing for a long time. This marked his directorial debut. In 2022, he starred in the web series “Fall,” and also made his presence felt in the OTT space. He also appeared as a judge and mentor on the Amazon Prime Video show “Comicstaan Semma Comedy Pa.” The show was the Tamil version of the popular Hindi stand-up show “Comicstaan,” and Rajmohan’s appointment as a judge further enhanced his credibility in the Tamil comedy ecosystem.
Joining Vijay and Taking on the Responsibility of Party Promotion
Rajmohan’s biggest leap was his entry into politics. He began his political career with the Tamilaga Vettiri Kazhagam (TVK), the party founded by Tamil superstar Vijay. In 2025, he was appointed the publicity secretary of TVK. This role was a perfect fit for him, as he had long worked in the communications field and had developed a public image as a fearless and straightforward person.
When the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections were announced, Rajmohan was given the ticket from the Egmore Assembly constituency. Egmore is an important and sensitive constituency in Chennai. The seat is reserved for Scheduled Caste candidates, making winning here difficult. Rajmohan contested the election with full force. His strength lay in his direct communication and grassroots connections. He made full use of YouTube and social media, but also engaged in traditional door-to-door meetings with people. The election results were announced, and Rajmohan won a landslide victory. He received a total of 53,901 votes, defeating his nearest rival by a huge margin of 10,804 votes. This was a significant victory for TVK, helping the party gain a foothold in the major city of Chennai. After winning the election, Rajmohan was appointed Deputy Minister of Education in the Tamil Nadu government. This decision was highly controversial because Rajmohan himself had never been a teacher and had no direct educational administrative experience. However, the government and party argued that improving the education system required people who understood the problems and could listen to the public. When Rajmohan made the video “Who Killed Anita,” he spoke most strongly about NEET and the inequalities in the education system. Now that he is in charge of the education department, public expectations have risen even further.
Summary
Now, people are eager to see if the videos he made will have a policy-level impact. There’s still unease in Tamil Nadu about NEET, and the growing dominance of private schools is weakening the condition of government schools. Rajmohan himself didn’t attend a government school, but in his videos and talks, he has consistently stated that equality in education cannot be achieved without strengthening government schools. It will be interesting to see what kind of changes he brings about in his position.
Geetha Sunil Pillai
Courtesy: Hindi News