Gully Boy

Gully Boy is a Bollywood movie directed by the famous and excellent Zoya Akhtar and starring very popular actors like Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt. This is an unusual Bollywood movie, as it talks about people in the fringe. It is extremely rare to see the protagonists in a Bollywood movie travel in public transport, but it happens in this movie. (Of course, there are movies which are outliers and exceptions, but I am generalising)

The movie is inspired by the real-life rap musicians Naezy and Divine. Indie music in India is very fringe in its own. Rap is much smaller but it definitely has its fanatic following. The movie shows the life and aspirations of two upcoming musicians. Their troubles, their passion and things they endure to give life to their craft.

Yes, the filmmakers are privileged people. The director is the daughter of a famous film screenwriter and lyricist. She has the privilege of being in the "film fraternity". But to give her credit, she is excellent in her craft. Like her previous movies, this shows why she is a master at directing movies and seeks no compromise.

The movie is set in Dharavi and it doesn't judge or paint glory or bad about it. It shows what it actually is. Unlike Kaala, another movie set in Dharavi, which really showed the beauty of this place, Gully Boy shows as it is. Like Kaala, it talks about the politics of Dharavi, in a very subtle manner. Many small characters (like the friend Moeen, MC Sher's dad, Safeena's family) are shown in a very memorable way. I really like the rap battle's introduction and the Jingostaan song. It was an awesome take on the current right-wing dominated politics of India. Just that it was in the background not highlighted. Ranveer and Alia are fricking awesome in the movie. Both of them prove that more you ship, more you become better at your craft. They started with a lot of crap movies in their career but this movie is one of their finest works.

It is a fantastic movie. I will definitely watch it again. I highly recommend it.