What do comedian Nishant Tanwar, TV host Shehnaz Treasurywala, actor Varun Dhawan, and the Indian Railways have in common? That’s right, they’ve all jumped on the Indian rap bandwagon in the last couple of years. Tanwar, better known to his fans as @jokesingh or ‘The Rider’, joined this illustrious list this weekend with the release of his debut rap song to celebrate India’s 74th Independence Day.

Titled Mere Desh Ki Kahani, the track is a love letter to the country’s rich history and heritage, and carries a strong message of unity in diversity. In the video’s caption on YouTube, Tanwar says that he has always been a fan of hip-hop and spent the pandemic trying to “learn this art form”.

“This song is very special to me as it expresses my love for my country and hip-hop,” he writes about the track, which features Dehradun-based musician Aniket Raturi as a producer and co-writer. “I hope to spread a lot of positive vibes through this. Keep spreading love.”

Does Tanwar has what it takes to earn the mantle of Indian comedy’s Gully Boy? Can he make the jump from student to master? Watch the video below to find out.