Rating: Cast: Ranveer Singh, Alia Bhatt, Siddhant Chaturvedi, Kalki Koechlin, Vijay Raaz, Vijay Varma, Amruta Subhash, Sheeba Chaddha Director: Zoya Akhtar Sometimes, angst has swag. And when it does, it often decides to make a song and dance about itself in prose, poetry, painting or just by sitting at a bar and blowing smoke rings. Invariably, it draws a crowd eager to exorcise their demons, empty their innards. Every generation gets a cool film that speaks of and to their angst. And our desi millennials have been gifted theirs by Zoya Akhtar. Gully Boy wears a hoodie and spits emotions angrily into the mic while flailing its arms and drawing fingers to make gang-style gestures, at times at the immediate opponent, but mostly at the world at large. Gully Boy, based on the real life story of Mumbai-based rap stars Naezy and Divine, and written by Reema Kagti and Zoya, is pivoted on the angst and dreams of the dispossessed, and it spins on the power of their sweaty resolve Apna time ayega! The film inhabits a world of tiny homes jostling for space in Mumbai’s Dharavi, where the frustrations, joys and irritation of one rub against another. For most part Gully Boy as directed by Zoya and inhabited and performed by Ranveer Singh is compelling. It’s got the groove. It also has the furious tempo and foot-tapping high energy of a generation just coming to terms with life’s gazillion options, and their frustratingly meagre choices. Gully Boy keeps taking flight, to the world outside Dharavi, to show us class divide and the inhumanity it breeds. And then, when it finds its moxie and a mic, it decides to say its piece. Here, its energy, its guttural rebuttal to life, seeps in, and it stirs. We are hooked, almost as if the film were an impetuous jet ski being manoeuvred by an eager, excited novice, and we, perched on a surfboard, were at the other end of a rope tied to it. We rise when it rises, we sway along when it careens about, and we slump down when it feels beaten. The film’s end, a kinetic, climatic sequence that jumps and stomps its feet with Ranveer Singh’s infectious high jinx is stunning, moving. But it is also a moment — mic drop by director Zoya Akhtar. I simultaneously broke into tears and a heart-felt applause. And I wanted to say, in rap parlance, “Your movie’s so dope, girrrl! !” Gully Boy establishes how it will tell its story right at the beginning. In a succinct, beautifully choreographed scene in a bus, using just an empty seat and a set of earphones, and without uttering a single dialogue, it lays bare not just the relationship between Safeena Ali (Alia Bhatt) and Murad Sheikh (Ranveer Singh), but also the hurdles they negotiate. Safeena is a badass in a headscarf and is studying to be a doctor. Murad is a student too, and he wears kurtas, short or long, a green-beige cloth backpack, and chappals. His personality is laced with diffidence and vulnerability. Safeena is slightly satkeli, hateli and comes unhinged at the slightest provocation. Murad mostly sits inside in his head. On the outside his body is stiff, alert to the weariness he carries. His backpack, at times, is symbolic of the burden that’s strapped on to his being. Murad smiles, but the brows remain furrowed. Inside, there’s a junoon, a desire to do something, to matter, to be someone. Murad’s ears are often plugged with earphones. Sometimes because he wants to drown out the world around him and get in sync with the beats of his heart. At other times, especially at home, to give a different narrative, a spin to the reality, because the chatter in his house bogs him down. In these instances we hear what he hears his commentary on stuff happening around him, accompanied by his rant about how it should be. Stuff happens. To his ammi, Razia (Amruta Subhash), because of his father, Aftab Sheikh (Vijay Raaz), a chauffeur. Murad watches, does what he can, and then sits on his bed and writes, pouring his heart out in rap verse. But he doesn’t rap. Not till he meets the local rap star, MC Sher (Siddhant Chaturvedi). In this scene and others that follow, the film conveys the joy of a lost, listless stray on finding its group, and a mentor. MC Sher adds rhythm to Murad’s poetry, turning his inner rant into a powerful chant. As rappers gather, for rap battles or just for fun, the temperature rises. These scenes are heady, intense. A different kind of sufiyana more a stormy, bouncy trance than a whirling, meditative one. Before it ventures out, Gully Boy briefly invites the outside to visit Murad, and his world decides to demand a price for a dekho, some photos. And when it finally steps out of Dharavi, the price Murad has to pay is quite devastating. Murad meets posh angst from Berkeley. It arrives in a Merc. Sky (Kalki Koechlin), who can best be described as that stock female character who must a) be bohemian; b) flit around an underdog, male, with her heart thrust out; and, c) offer her tan, mann, dhan in return for, well, unrequited love. These dear ladies make regular appearances in certain Bollywood films made by certain babalog directors and repeatedly drag them down. Thankfully, Sky serves some purpose here. She wants to produce a track, and has the means to do it in style. As a result, Murad finds acceptance, fame and a gentle swag and his smile finally travels up, from his mouth to his eyes. Gully Boy’s power, its mojo lies in the clashes it shows and articulates — between two worlds, two friends, two lovers, two rappers, between dreams and reality, between two worldviews. The film is mostly written very intelligently, especially when it draws vignettes from real life, and not other films. Its dialogue pack in street slang, especially in the rap battles where contestants quite literally get into each other’s face, showering insults and spit on each other.<doc-sep>Zoya Akhtar has often been accused of chronicling the life of the elite and luxurious, with special regard to her films Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara and Dil Dhadakne Do. In her latest film Gully Boy, starring Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt, she has left picturesque European countryside scenes aside, and plunged straight into the dusty and chaotic Mumbai slums and crafted a story of two strong protagonists, battling class oppression and social inequality, with their religious identity carefully foregrounded throughout the narrative. While rap music serves as the ultimate outlet and frees the soul from pain and torment, Gully Boy speaks most in its lyrical silences. THE TALE OF THE UNDERDOG Murad (played by a dynamic Ranveer) is a college-goer, who lives with his dysfunctional family in the densely populated Dharavi slum of Mumbai. He goes about his day quietly, and at night scribbles his feelings in a notebook, while his parents fight it out as his father has brought a new bride home. His father, played by a fantastic Vijay Raaz, does not support his dreams of course and is ready to get physically violent with him if need be. Brought up in a culture of daily violence, Murad's rap becomes a venting outlet to express anger in a non-violent manner. It gives him strength to face the abuse at home, and it slowly becomes his weapon. The evolution of Murad's character from the beginning till the end of the film is clearly seen. Akhtar makes no pretences about showing the inception of hip-hop in Mumbai. Instead, she uses rap as the window for the suppressed. Gully Boy attempts to trace how he rises back up every time; he is hit in the face, metaphorically and literally. While the tale of the underdog is nothing new in the world of cinema, Zoya Akhtar gives this story a refreshing feel and your heart does ache for Murad at points. It instills a feeling of hope and belief in you, that yes, obstacles can be overcome. Dreams can be fused seamlessly into reality. The film's anthem 'Apna Time Aayega' makes you chant it under your breath as well. And so, Gully Boy leaves you with a feeling of hope. FLESHED-OUT CHARACTERS Be it Murad's friends, his strong-willed mother played Amruta Subhash, his mentor MC Sher (Siddhant Chaturvedi), most of the supporting characters have a distinct personality of their own. They ensure that they make the best of their screen time, and are not just ornamental purposes. Of course, Alia Bhatt cannot be glossed over in this regard. Often, filmmakers focus on the male persona and keep the female counterpart just as a supportive girlfriend, who steals kisses between scenes. But we forget that is Alia, who has proved her worth in the film industry. She gives an electrifying performance as Safeena, and makes the best use of her limited screen time. Safeena isn't just a normal girlfriend in the background. She has dreams of establishing her clinic, and puts that even before marrying her own boyfriend. In one scene, Murad asks her, "I come second?" She laughs and tells him to take what he gets. She doesn't back down, and is ready to beat up any girl who tries to make flirtatious comments to her boyfriend. Alia provides the comic element in the film, with her possessive one-liners, and her sweet white lies to her parents. She has her own struggles as well, and that is well-encapsulated when she tells her parents that she wants a life of her own, rather than the one they have set for her. The film benefits enormously from Ranveer and Alia's crackling chemistry, and the two are able to feed off each other's artistic energies and give Murad and Safeena an old-fashioned romantic tale. Though he mysteriously disappears into the background towards the end of the film, Siddhant Chaturvedi gives an overpowering debut as MC Sher, who mentors and guides Murad through the business of rapping. The only disappointment is Kalki, who shines in her offbeat films, and is always relegated to the sidelines in mainstream films. MUSIC Armed with just his words, Ranveer is unstoppable. Ironically, even for those who aren't rap enthusiasts, you can't help feel his infectious energy and enthusiasm. He has the ability to communicate his pain with his songs and just his eyes. Songs like Apna Time Aayega and Gully Mein leave you cheering and hooting. Each word has a meaning, and is not there for flummery decoration. Ranveer sinks his teeth into his character and takes the story forward with his music. You do get the feeling as if he has internalized the pain of living in the slums. Once again, Ranveer gives the performance of a lifetime. However, dealing with such senstive topics is not a cakewalk and Akhtar falters along the way in her attempt to address subjects such as domestic abuse and class bias. Some solutions come easy in the end, and in the typical Bollywood-esque way, a lifelong abusive father turns emotional when he sees his son taking the stage by storm. Some storylines including Murad's friend Moeen, who hijacks cars for a living (with the song Azadi in the background) are fused into the story, and not given adequate explanation. However, despite its occasional slow pace and shortcomings, Gully Boy deserves to be watched. The acting is powerful, the filmmaking is seductive and the music keeps your feet tapping. Gully Boy has Bollywood's favourite tropes like the tale of the underdog, the over-possessive girlfriend, and discouraging parent. Yet, it is packaged in a refreshing way and deserves to be watched, with all its imperfections. It does what we would like cinema to do for us occasionally. It makes us hope, even it's for a little bit. ALSO SEE: GULLY BOY MOVIE REVIEW ALSO SEE: Vicky Kaushal nails Ranveer Singh's Asli Hip Hop dubsmash. Gully Boy will love it<doc-sep>Young rappers from different cities in India are excited to watch Ranveer Singh Gully Boy. Young rappers from different cities in India are excited to watch Ranveer Singh Gully Boy. Tomorrow, the world will witness Ranveer Singh as Gully Boy. The Zoya Akhtar directorial, based on the world of underground rappers, also stars Alia Bhatt. Before its release, indianexpress.com spoke with young rappers from different cities in India. Just like the film, Mumbai’s Noor Hasan (18) was also inspired by popular stars Divine and Naezy. Sharing his story, Noor said, “I was about 16 years old when I started. I did the video “Kal Ka Superstar” just for fun. And surprisingly, it garnered more than four million views. As I wasn’t quite keen on studies, I decided to pursue my passion. While the popularity is a temptation, the privilege to express my emotions got me inclined towards rapping. Many are shocked with my clarity of thoughts at this age.” Kolkata boy Huzaifa Reza (19), who goes by the nickname Awessum Frankie, found his calling when he was in school. He was introduced to Eminem by his cousin and that got him to pen his first song. And then there was no looking back. Huzaifa shared, “My ticket to fame was my participation in a campaign run by a radio station. The song went viral in days. I had lied to my parents while making it as I knew they will stop me. Being from an orthodox Muslim family, they did revolt against my choice of career but have now given in. I understand their concern as this profession is no less than a gamble.” Awessum Frankie’s Ilaka rap that made him a star in his city While rapping can bring instant fame, Samir Rishu Mohanty (28), popularly known as Big Deal in the Bangalore circuit, has other reasons to thank his craft. He shared that he was bullied as a child, and rapping helped boost his self-esteem. Samir is also the first musician to crowdfund his first EP (extended playlist). “I had just quit my job and wanted to make a video but had no money. Also, I did not have a wide audience, just a few people who believed in me. That’s when my friend suggested that I go through crowdfunding, and I managed to rake in about 2 lakh. It was such an important milestone for me.” We asked Samir how important is it for rappers to have a moniker. Stating that more than a name, it is important to build a brand, Big Deal said, “When I started, I was the joke of every party. People never thought rapping could become big. Now there are so many of them and that’s when branding comes in place. Every musician needs an identity and that also helps other brands to associate with them. Branding is everything in the current scenario and having a catchy name always helps.” Big Deal’s first rap in his mother tongue Odia And for those who do not manage to carry forward their passion for music, the door to a new career also awaits them. Hrijoy Das Kanungo, a 20-year-old from Silchar, Assam, shared with us, “Along with my music, I started vlogging as a character Shamol Da, who spoke about social issues. That led me to be spotted by a news website and now I have my own show ‘Silchar with Hrijoy’ with them. Rapping is still not a booming industry in our country. So it’s important that one broadens their horizon to be able to survive in the market. Now, thanks to the vlogs, my music is also received better.” Hrijoy Kanunga’s rap to an iconic Bengali song As the conversation with these youngsters steered back to Gully Boy, Noor Hassan shared, “Every underground rapper will relate to the film. It might not be the same story, but somewhere each one of us has a similar journey. I am really looking forward to the film.” Noor Hassan’s first single that has garnered more than four million views But for Awessum Frankie, the Ranveer Singh starrer could also cause more harm than help. “While it’s good that the film will promote underground rapping, there would also be an instant surge of musicians. Mediocre talent will also hop on the bandwagon. We will soon face the problem of many. And good talent might get lost in the crowd.” Lastly, Big Deal shared a few pearls of advice for newer talent who are waiting to bloom. “Be real. In the current musical climate, only honest music will survive. While it’s easy to get swayed by gimmicks, stay true to your passion. Never forget that you are in the profession because you love music. Unlike popular belief, you don’t need a swanky video to get famous. If you are good, a video shot in front of a wall will also get noticed.”<doc-sep>Director Zoya Akhtar’s latest film Gully Boy is making all the right kind of noise before its release. From being called one of the ‘best Hindi films ever made’ to getting critical acclaim from a few of the biggest publications in the world, Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt’s film is well on its way to become a superhit. Based on the life of a rapper born in the slums of Mumbai’ Dharavi, the film tells his journey through music. He fights the world with poetic words and tunes born out of his own life experiences. However, to bring the character to screen, Zoya found inspiration in several talented artists who are trying to (or already have) make it big on the Indian hip-hop circuit. From Divine to Naezy, the singers and their lives heavily influenced the story that Zoya has ultimately told to the world. Rapper MC Altaf with his family. Before Gully Boy’s release, the makers have shared videos of seven rappers from all around India. The shorts videos introduce the world once again to their talents, their lives, their families, their cities and everything that they sing about. There is Naezy, Spitfire, MC Altaf, KR$NA, Dub Sharma, Kaam Bhari, and Dee MC. These rappers are from Gurgaon, Chandigarh, Kandivali, Dharavi, Chhatarpur and Kalyan. The videos are all stunningly shot and show the rapper in their home towns and their own gullies. From the sky-high towers and the Metro trains of cyber city Gurgaon, to the calm, narrow lanes of Chhatarpur, the videos take the viewers to the world the rappers live in and create their art. Also read: Deepika Padukone tries weightlifting at an award event. See pics The rappers’ age ranges from 19 to 30 and they are lyricists, producers, dialogue writers, singers and so much more. They introduce us to their families and friends as they give the viewers a short teaser of their talents. Watch the videos here: KR$NA, Naezy and all the other rappers have been brought into the limelight with the film release. It has given them a platform to talk about their craft and also the hip-hop scene in India. Asked if rap is misunderstood in the country, KR$NA told IANS: “Hip-hop and rap as a genre is diverse and continuously changing. People tend to pick on the worst parts to stereotype it and that is why it’s misunderstood.” The Delhi-born rapper of Kashmiri descent believes the film can, in a way, give people an insight on how tough it really is to be considered a good rapper. Naezy whose real name is Naved Sheikh said, “We have a limited audience (for hip-hop). I hope that through the film, our audience gets expanded and the whole of India gets to see the real hard work of the underground rappers.” The film will release on February 14. Follow @htshowbiz for more ott:10<doc-sep>
Entertainment ekdum hard hai bhai Gully Boy Story: Murad (Ranveer Singh) must fight off his poverty and social disadvantage to realise his dream of being a rapper. His friends and family rally together to help an ordinary boy in becoming an extraordinary rapper. Gully Boy Review: There’s a line in the film where the character MC Sher (Siddhant Chaturvedi) says, “Agar duniya mein sab comfortable hote toh rap kaun karta?” That’s an insight that comes only from a true fan of this performing art. Director Zoya Akhtar’s ‘Gully Boy’ is the definitive look at the rap scene in India. It chronicles the story of an ordinary boy Murad, from Dharavi, who dreams big and refuses to let adversity squash his spirit. His journey from being the quintessential slumdog to being an ambitious rapper named Gully Boy, is exhilarating and exciting, to say the least. Rap is an unconventional genre of music in India, but even those who don’t necessarily associate with this form of music, will be able appreciate the underdog and heartfelt story. The story kicks-off in a match-box sized chawl room in Dharavi, where Murad dreams of a better life. He loves the feisty Safeena (Alia Bhatt) just as much he loves to pour his pent up emotions and frustrations onto paper. His life takes a dramatic turn when one day he sees MC Sher aka Shrikant, rap a few college boys to shame, after they’ve booed a girl offstage. Shrikant takes Murad under his wing and together they kick-start a rapper team that’s high on spirit and passion. It’s the classic underdog story, with Murad’s poverty establishing the fact that he’s got very little chance to succeed and no right to harbour big dreams either. Also, his orthodox father Aftab (Vijay Raaz) brings in the quintessential conflicted relationship. While some parts of the film are predictable, what makes ‘Gully Boy’ stand out is the emotional intelligence. Murad’s journey has some fantastic moments that draw you in and keep you hooked. The stellar dialogues by Vijay Maurya add depth to the narrative. The story and screenplay by Reema Kagti and Zoya scores high, has flair and finesse with beautiful touches on the edges. It’s just the kind that raises the tempo of the narrative a notch higher. The driving force of the film though is the performance by Ranveer Singh. He was born to play this part and the way he raps his soul out in the film, makes it a killer set. He breathes life, despair, euphoria and belief into his role. A line in the film where MC Sher tells Murad says, ‘Tere andar toofan hai’ is bang on. With every new performance, the actor brings in a tidal wave of surprises. Equally brilliant is Alia Bhatt, in a smaller, but deeply impactful role. The actress brings effortless ease into the fiery eccentricities of her character. The chemistry between Ranveer and Alia is cute, lovable and fiery, too. Siddhant Chaturvedi, in his first film, deserves a dab of honour. He’s easily one of the most effortless actors in showbiz. Vijay Varma, Kalki Koechlin and Vijay Raaz are all superb in their respective roles as well. The music of the film is killer, too. The movie is inspired by the lives of rappers Naezy and Divine, and these Indian artistes, along with a whole host of their contemporaries, have scored a super soundtrack for the film. There’s a reason the film feels legit and that’s down to the fact that real rap artistes worked on this film. The treatment and the visual finesse of the film are at par with anything you’ve seen from Hollywood or anywhere around the world. The rap battles shown in the film are riveting and an inspired piece of writing. The problem with the film though is it’s length, which stretches to two-and-a-half hours, but the emotional deftness and clap-worth dialogues add the right amount of gusto and keep you totally engaged. This is a film that deserves an encore. And in true rap style, let’s just say… yeh Gully Boy hard hai bhai!