Much like the stuntpeople in the video, Hanumankind and his collaborators are daredevils of their own making. They’ve rejected the safety and security of conformity and choose instead to put their creative hearts and souls on the line in pursuit of a distinct artistic authenticity that’s entirely emancipated from a formulaic monotony that’s become all too commonplace.

We spoke to two of these collaborators: Bijoy and Abhinay, to find out more about how they created what’s going down as a pivotal moment for homegrown artistry across film, music, and performance art.

Take us back to how the idea for the music video came to life. Did you first have the track in place or did you conceptualise the video before the track? We are curious to know some of the defining conversations that lead us to this powerful outcome. What do you think is allowing this video to connect to people the way it has? What’s allowing it to stand out not just across the country but globally?

Bijoy Shetty: Sooraj wanted cars and he wanted bikes but I was very against it because it was like, “What's the point of doing something which will just dissolve into every other piece of content and not stand out at all?” It didn't have any life to it. Then eventually, through that process of denying that idea consistently, I had a moment of clarity. I was in a rickshaw and I heard a bike going by and then I heard the song after that. The bike’s engine sounded so much like the sample itself. Then I started doing research into exactly what I can do and that's when the idea came about.I feel like it's an idea that everybody had in their mind but never executed. It was an idea waiting to be done.

I am as surprised as you are because when I made it, I didn't expect it to be like whatever is happening right now. I just felt like it had to be different; that was the only intention.

I didn’t want it to look or feel like anything else. That's why if you see he doesn't look at the camera that much. Like I tell him constantly, “Do not look at the camera because as soon as you look at it it feels like every other video.” But he was like, “But I do want to perform; I want to move my hands around; I want to do all those things.” I was completely against it initially but then I gave up on that I was like, “Okay fine, if that's what you want.”

I don't exactly know why it's connecting with people but I've always told Sooraj that he has the power of language and that he represents India. The language of English itself is such a culture-driving language. It sets culture and it defines culture to an extent. That language is one of the most powerful languages, that we as a species talk to each other in the most. And I realised as soon as I started working with him initially, that if he is able to post up out of India and be represented by India, then we’ll have achieved our goal.

I intentionally didn't give in to some of his asks. He was like, “I want to wear a jacket; I want to wear something flashy,” and I told him, “No money on - let's not try to idealize you. You are a part of the boys; you're a part of everybody over here. We don't want to sort of like make you into this guy. We want you to be the torchbearer of the homegrown scene.”

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