Rani Taj (Urdu: رانی تاج) (born 3 October 1993) is a British Pakistani dhol player from Birmingham, United Kingdom.
Although already well known in the Midlands, she rose to international fame in 2010 when she appeared in a viral video playing live in the street along with a recording of Rihanna's song "Rude Boy".
To gain further experience and provide a service Rani started to play at all kinds of public events such as festivals, parties and weddings.
People all across the world began watching this video and were shocked as well as pleasantly surprised not only to see a female playing a traditionally male instrument but effortlessly.
After her YouTube video went viral, she was asked to perform at many venues all over the world including at weddings, charity events and nightclubs.
She also appeared as a guest in a BBC Asian Network program with Noreen Khan[7] Since 2011 Rani Taj has spent a lot of time with the Sufi dhol players of Pakistan, namely Gunga and Mittu Sain.
[14] At the United Kingdom's biggest dhol competition held in Smethwick, near Birmingham and organised by Gurcharan Mall, she was invited to become one of the judges of the tournament.