Gully Boy

Gully Boy is a quintessential underdog tale, a Bollywood drama-musical created by Zoya Akhtar. The movie, released in 2019, stars popular actors like Ranveer Singh, Alia Bhatt, and Siddhant Chaturvedi in crucial roles. Set against the backdrop of the vibrant, grime-filled gullies (lanes) of Mumbai. This movie brings to us the compelling narrative of an ordinary boy with extraordinary dreams.

The film's protagonist, Murad Ahmed, is masterfully portrayed by Ranveer Singh. Murad is a college student hailing from a lower-income background residing in the slums of Dharavi, one of the biggest slums in Asia. He’s a hero who finds solace, rebellion and an escape from his relatively harsh reality in a form of art - in this case, Rap. Music for him is not a mere hobby but his form of expression, rebellion and a way of seeking a better life.

Murad's perilous venture into rap music is triggered by the everyday struggle and harsh realities of being born in squalor. His story is a representation of millions of others who dare to dream beyond the confines of their circumstances.

Alia Bhatt enlivens the screen with her performance as Safeena, Murad’s headstrong, fiercely possessive girlfriend. Equally smart and bold, she is the supporting pillar in Murad’s life. Her unconventional portrayals of love offer a refreshing glimpse into her character's audacious determination to fight for her love and dreams.

The movie also sees Siddhant Chaturvedi in an essential supporting role as MC Sher, a local rapper, and Murad's mentor and friend. Chaturvedi’s phenomenal performance made him the breakout star of the movie. His impactful role not only nurtured Murad’s dreams as an aspiring rapper but also uplifted the film’s intense and dramatic plot.

The screenplay of Gully Boy is engaging, with several scenes that drew applause from the audience. The film does an excellent job of capturing the raw, passionate world of street rappers by blending potent themes from their lifestyle, such as politics, social disparity, and economic inequality.

The film's music, its heart and soul, fill the narrative, resonating with Murad’s lived experiences. The songs craft a significant portion of the tale that the narrative seeks to tell. As a part of the soundtrack, a number of original rap songs written and performed by Indian street artists give the film its genuine street-cred feel. It pushes the boundaries of traditional Bollywood music and delves into a genre that is fresh and relatively unexplored in mainstream Indian cinema. The soundtrack incorporates the angst, aspirations, dreams, and hopes of a generation that is struggling to make their little mark on a vast world.

The cinematography of the film is remarkable for it meaningfully captures both the physical and emotional landscape of Dharavi. The visual narrative blended with powerful dialogues allows the audience to experience the grim reality starkly contrasting the glitz and glamour typically associated with Mumbai.

Furthermore, Gully Boy has been lauded for highlighting an unconventional career path and giving representation to the Indian hip-hop scene, a hugely underrepresented genre in Indian mass media. It paid homage to the emerging rap culture in India, throwing the spotlight on homegrown talent.

The film's authentic representation of the local life of Mumbai put it on the global map, becoming India's official entry to the 92nd Oscar Awards. Despite not winning, this honor adds to the film's numerous accolades, including the Best Film award at the Filmfare Awards.

In conclusion, Gully Boy successfully orchestrates a symphony of drama, music, and social commentary, creating an engaging cinema experience. The film offers a spell-binding glimpse into the life of Murad as he navigates his way through the gullies of Mumbai, armed with his dreams and fueled by his failures. With its impactful performances, rhythmic musical score, and thought-provoking theme, Gully Boy proved to be an emblem of the struggles, aspirations and dreams of the invisible parts of the city, narrating the tales of those who seldom get heard.