Gully Boy

GULLY BOY is emotionally rich and extremely enjoyable!

Essentially an underdog story, GULLY BOY also packs in so much more than just that. Authentic mounting, solid writing, passionate direction by Zoya Akhtar, and a soul-stirring performance by Ranveer Singh, make GULLY BOY a new-age classic, which should not be missed. To convey it in the Gully-Lingo, I’d say – Picture Bohot Hard Hai!

GULLY BOY is the story of Murad (Ranveer Singh) – the son of a driver, hailing from a ghetto in Mumbai. While his parents expect him to land a white-collar job, the youngster’s greatest passion is rap music. In a country where being an artist is often a far-fetched dream for the impoverished, Murad’s struggles to rise above his circumstances and become a musician will send ripples of hip-hop across all social classes, inspiring an entire generation of youngsters.

It’s not hard to understand why Zoya’s GULLY BOY is an instant classic. It’s a mainstream rap musical, served with deftly written hip-hop lyrics and a well-woven narrative, featuring Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt in their charming best. Then, it also provides a great insight into the Rap Music industry that’s brewing in India, which I’m sure not many are aware of. Also, a satire on the prevalent hypocrisy in the patriarchal system in India, not just in the ghettos, but also in the educated families, in a city like Mumbai.

But the real strength of the film lies in the authenticity with which this story is told. Yes, being a classic underdog tale, it is predictable, and if I were to nitpick, it’s a little long as well. But that’s the way this genre works, and the writers and director make sure the film is consistently engaging and largely real. Every character is written well and grows with an arc that’s rarely seen in mainstream Bollywood. But that is the USP of the duo of Zoya and Reema Kagti. They have been writing stories where all characters are composed with real flesh and blood, rather than just superfluous gimmickry.

Words fall short when you start describing Ranveer Singh’s performance as the GULLY BOY. His poignant portrayal is so rousing that he engulfs you into his world right from the word go. You laugh with him, cry with him, rise with him and fall with him. You live the GULLY BOY’s life through Ranveer Singh’s explosive performance. Superlative is the word! Also supporting him with their knockout performances are Alia Bhatt playing the feisty “Safeena” and Siddhant Chaturvedi playing the ferocious “MC Sher”. Both of them have their own scene-stealing moments and with their uninhibited act, shine throughout. Kalki Koechlin, Vijay Raaz, Amruta Subhash, along with the remaining supporting cast, do a swell job as well.

On the whole, GULLY BOY does run on very traditional lines, but is always so engagingly dead set on entertainment, that it becomes a memorable experience for the viewers. Go for it!