Following character driven dramas such as Luck by Chance, Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara and Dil Dhadakne Do, Zoya Akhtar ventures forth into new territory with her latest film, Gully Boy, that brings diversity to her filmography but retains that sense of charm in her previous films.
Inspired by the real life stories of rappers Divine and Naezy, Gully Boy is an exploration of India’s, particularly Mumbai’s underground rap and hip-hop scene, and follows Murad, played by Ranveer Singh, a young man from the slums of Mumbai and an aspiring poet and rapper. The film charts out Murad’s journey as he rises from being a mere poor man to one of the biggest rappers in the country, while dealing with his personal struggles revolving around his family and loved ones.
From the start, the film tells you it is not an ordinary one involving singers, but rather is a different experience as a whole, mirroring the musical genre of rap itself. Murad’s story is an exhilarating as well as a sweet and inspiring arc, which does not get bogged down by the classic ‘underdog’ story trope and convention, the credit of which goes to the script penned by Zoya Akhtar and Reema Kagti.
The cast comprising of Ranveer Singh, Alia Bhatt, Vijay Raaz, Kalki Koechlin and Siddhant Chaturvedi are perfect for the characters and effectively convey their personal struggles in their lives. Ranveer Singh gives it his all for this film, considering that in addition to acting, he had to record almost all of the songs present in the soundtrack. His balanced energetic and emotional performance makes you root and cheer for his character. Alia Bhatt as Murad’s girlfriend, Safeena, exhibits fierceness as well as eccentric, and steals scenes at certain moments. Vijay Raaz complements Murad’s journey as his father who opposes his artistic endeavors. Kalki Koechlin and Siddhant Chaturvedi as fellow rappers Sky and MC Sher are Murad’s mentors and companions who coach him about the cultural revolution that rap embodies and end up being the most compelling and memorable supporting characters.
The soundtrack of the film, obviously deserves a mention as well as the biggest praise. Curated by a number of diverse artists, such as Raghu Dixit, Dub Sharma, Rishi Rich, Spitfire as well as the inspiration and basis of this film – Divine. The soundtrack is catchy as well as thematic, with titles such as ‘Asli Hip Hop’, ‘Apna Time Aayega’ and ‘Doori’ being some of the songs that will stick with you even after you will leave the theatre.
The film’s cinematography is another positive aspect of the film, depicting Mumbai as a amalgamation of various cultures and classes, making the city a character in itself of the film. The numerous rap battle sequences are executed perfectly and are memorable, with certain performances involving Murad leaving you either with a dropped jaw or cheering uncontrollably.
Overall, Gully Boy is an amazing dive into an unconventional form of art, that is presented in an unconventional manner itself, and signals a expansion of reach for hip hop and rap amongst the masses and continues the trend of Bollywood delivering story driven films.
Texts of A Pop Culture Buff 