"Gully Boy" is a film about a 22-year-old boy "Murad" from a ghetto in Mumbai, India. The son of a driver, his parents worked hard to get him educated so that he could have a white collar job. Meanwhile, Murad realizes his calling to be a rapper. Authentic Hip Hop in India is a recent phenomenon and like anywhere else in the world, is rising from the streets. Art is a distant dream for the colonized poor of India and this story is about Murad's journey from realizing his love... (Full plot summary below)
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"Gully Boy" is a film about a 22-year-old boy "Murad" from a ghetto in Mumbai, India. The son of a driver, his parents worked hard to get him educated so that he could have a white collar job. Meanwhile, Murad realizes his calling to be a rapper. Authentic Hip Hop in India is a recent phenomenon and like anywhere else in the world, is rising from the streets. Art is a distant dream for the colonized poor of India and this story is about Murad's journey from realizing his love for rap and chasing his dream to inadvertently transcending his class. The film showcases street rap from the crevices of Mumbai's by lanes. The poetry is conscious of the city's socio-economic fabric and highlights the challenges faced by the disenfranchised youth in the minority population.
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| The Hollywood ReporterDeborah YoungZoya Akhtar (Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara) directs with flair and passion and, aided by explosive performances from a right-on cast, triumphs over the familiarity of the star-is-born storyline. |
| Screen InternationalLee MarshallSingh busts rhymes with the best of them in this energetic, entertaining film that smuggles some urgent social themes in under the cover of a hoary old fable about a handsome pauper who gets the stardom and the girl. |
| VarietyJay WeissbergA Bollywood movie about a rapper from the slums may sound derivative, but what does that matter when “Gully Boy” revels in high-wattage screen chemistry and an inclusive social message, all served up in a slickly enjoyable production showcasing Ranveer Singh’s many charms? |
| The GuardianPeter BradshawIn the end, Gully Boy runs on very traditional lines, and maybe comes too close to cliche, but is always engagingly dead set on entertainment. |
| User ReviewethankennerlyThis predictable and implausible rags-to-riches story choked me up. Portraying a slum of Mumbai amplified the drama. |
| User RevieweagleeyevikingWith plenty of catchy songs, stellar acting, skilful direction, and an energetic tone offsetting the by-the-numbers arc of its plot, "Gully Boy" is an absolute triumph. |
| User ReviewMaxwooAlthough there may be some length pacing issues, the director nevertheless meticulously documented the metamorphosis from Murad to Gully Boy, eventually delivering an uplifting narrative. |
| User ReviewBikunWithout any doubt the best Indian film of 2019.And a perfect oscar contender from India. |
| User ReviewvischallaI find wanting to give this movie a good review but not being able to. The movie centers around Murad (played by Ranveer Singh) and his journey to actualize his passion for hip-hop music through dedication and talent. A premise that I was very excited about but as the movie started and we start seeing possible points of conflict and tension the story rips them out and hands Murad easy solutions to his problems. Murad's world is one where talented people are neglected for their status in life and when they set out to achieve their goals they are shot down and told time and again that it isn't their lot in life. This, I believe, is the message the writers are trying to get across to the audience but instead of showing this narrative through the actions of the world around Murad, the writers resort to a few scenes here and there where it is explicitly told to him all the while people keep providing him the space, time, money, and all around support for him to be successful. The music was sharply written and the acting was wonderfully done. Where the movie falls flat on its face is in the attempt to reconcile its worldview and the personal challenges of its leading character. |
