Dhanji’s ‘Teji’ Video Blurs the Line Between Music and Cinema

In August 2023, Dhanji shook up the Desi hip-hop scene with Ruab, a groundbreaking album that critics couldn’t stop raving about. The album was an artistic tour de force, introducing listeners to new themes, concepts, and visuals that were both refreshing and provocative. The album artwork, featuring a ₹1,000 bond paper, was more than just a design choice—it was a metaphor for Dhanji’s skyrocketing stardom, capturing the essence of his journey in the industry and it was like Dhanji saying, “This is my stardom, and it’s worth every penny.”

Fast forward exactly a year, and Dhanji finally dropped the first music video for “Teji” from Ruab. But let’s be real, calling it just a “music video” would be an understatement and it’s like calling a lion, a cat. What Dhanji has crafted is a six-minute and 30-second cinematic experience that feels more like a film than a traditional music video. It’s no surprise, considering that Dhanji wasn’t just the mastermind behind the album’s audio but also wrote, directed, and edited the video. Yes, the Amdavad Mohawk boy was the one sitting in the director’s chair, with “Director” boldly engraved on it.

When we caught up with him, Dhanji was straightforward about why dropping this video took so long. “Honestly, it was either hit the road for a tour or stay back and work on the music videos,” he shrugged. “I know what Ruab means to me, so I chose to take it on the road, performing everywhere I could find a mic and a room. Videos toh bante rahenge (videos will keep being made), but going out there and meeting the people myself was what I had to do.”

As for the creative process behind “Teji,” Dhanji kept it mysterious; “We’re all just cogs in the machine,” he said, dropping a hint like a breadcrumb. “Bear with me, I will elaborate further with more film.” This cryptic statement leaves much to the imagination, promising more visual stories to come.

One of the standout aspects of Dhanji’s work is how he manages to blend different creative roles seamlessly. When asked about how the video feels more like a cinematic experience than a conventional music video, Dhanji says, “One of my destinies is directing a great feature film. These are my baby steps that everybody is seeing in real time. I’m passionate about filmmaking.” The video is structured into three acts, each contributing to the overall narrative. Dhanji directed the video using a textbook three-act structure, emphasizing the importance of mastering the basics before breaking the rules. The three acts follow a linear storytelling format, with a clear beginning, middle, and end, complete with conflict and resolution. And, of course, in classic Dhanji fashion, there’s yet another scene of him getting a haircut — because what’s a Dhanji video without some fresh trims, right?

Dhanji’s cinematic journey in the video is filled with key moments that leave a lasting impact. “The meeting in the desert in Act 1, the altercation between the real and the decoy at the end of Act 2, and the anticlimax during the argument between Kumar and the higher-up—it’s all world-building stuff,” he shares, giving us a glimpse into the intricate details that make up the video’s narrative.

As for what’s next, Dhanji hints at more music videos from Ruab, but only if he doesn’t “run away on tour” again. He teases, “100CC at TPC [Thaltej Publishing Company] is the new visual arm of the company, and with this video, we’ve introduced it. We’re strengthening institutions to build off of.”

And just when we thought the conversation was over, Dhanji dropped a final reveal: “‘Keh Do Ki Ye Jhoot Hai‘ [is the] first single from the next album out now, and my next album Director’s Cut [is] on the way, baby.” It looks like the journey is just beginning, and we can’t wait to see where Dhanji takes us next.