Chaar Diwaari’s Latest Music Video Sees Him (Literally) Wrestling With Imposter Syndrome
Who is Chaar Diwaari? This question seems easy to answer. In the years since his debut, we’ve come to know him as one of India’s most exciting rising artists. A simple Google search reveals that he’s Garv Taneja, a singer-songwriter-producer working under a moniker. He’s a rule-breaking multi-hyphenate, whom we ourselves proclaimed to be an artist spearheading India’s hip-hop revolution back in 2023. However, while all this may be true, Chaar Diwaari’s latest single, 'FAREBI', shows us there’s a lot more to him than meets the eye.
Featuring renowned homegrown rapper Raftaar, FAREBI is a high-octane introduction to the next chapter of Chaar Diwaari. The song opens with a playful 'boots and cats' beat before springing into a dynamic first verse over a hyperpop reminiscent beat. He paints a picture with his lyrics, using the story of a thief running from a burning building as an allegory for infidelity. Chaar Diwaari performs from the cheater’s point of view, breaking into a catchy chorus as he tells his lover, Laila, that he’s a fraud. Raftaar then takes over the narrative as he delivers the second verse from Laila’s perspective. As the song goes on, it mixes in increasingly urgent drums and electric guitars, snowballing in energy. Where other songs peak during their bridge, FAREBI finds its climax in its last chorus, cutting off abruptly so you leave it positively buzzing, almost as though you’re over-caffeinated.
FAREBI is both sonically and lyrically cheeky, if not amusingly over-the-top. But under this mischief lies something darker and deeper. Chaar Diwaari’s reflections are multi-layered, with the concept of 'impostor syndrome' and questions about his identity bleeding through the song’s whimsical vibe.
The FAREBI music video, released last week, expounds on this duality. In the video, mega-star Chaar Diwaari is set to perform at a club, but before he can get on stage, actor Arun Kushwah takes his place. The public and his girlfriend readily accept Kushwah, causing Chaar Diwaari to break down and chase his identity thief through the streets. When he finally catches him, the music video’s surreal lightheartedness takes a dark turn. As Chaar Diwaari stares down at Kushwah, scenes from his previous music videos flash through his mind. Only this time, Kushwah is in his place, while Chaar Diwaari watches him perform from the sidelines. As this happens, a new, short musical sequence that is not included in the streaming versions of Farebi plays. “The sky meets the sea, take me there,” Chaar Diwaari sings in Hindi. The screen goes white, then reads, “A new chapter is upon us.”
This finale feels like a reckoning. The video’s bizarre, silly concept is a vehicle for reflection, an opportunity for Chaar Diwaari to consider who he has been up to this point, and who he will be from this point onwards. Though we have already come to know Chaar Diwaari as an experimenter, someone who is always exploring new and different ways to create, Farebi seems to be a turning point. Maybe we don’t know Chaar Diwaari at all just yet, but we can’t wait to meet him as this next chapter unfolds.
Follow Chaar Diwaari here.
If you enjoyed reading this, here’s more from Homegrown:
Abhibyanjana's 'Last' EP Is An Immensely Moving Dream Pop Portrait Of Urban Alienation
Devika Mahajan's 'Aaj Shanibaar' Is An Ode To Female Friendships That Feel Like Home
'The Music Makers' Is A Glimpse Into The Imaginations Of Emerging Indian Artists
