Gully Boy
A representation on angst and an unusual path of rebellion –
and yet not done in a melodramatic fashion. Stories of people from the underprivileged
classes breaking barriers to reach out to seemingly a foreign world of success –
or as put in this movie “angrezi bolne waale friends” – abound in our
mainstream today. And yet this story stands out a bit more…
There was a layer of struggle and proving oneself and camaraderie
built in so seamlessly that this movie can be a part of various genres. Let me
attempt to see where all I would fit this
- Music based film (well of course) - Was it the unheard of world of rapping which makes it stand out? Yes maybe as unless you’re a really deep music enthusiast - rap is not a regular part of Indian music scene at all. But somehow I think that’s not it. The rap battles are a huge part of why I enjoyed the story so much. The thinking on your feet, turning it into a lyrical presentation and not getting bogged down by the intensely personal insults being thrown at you – WOW! Most people shy away from even taking the mike to sing a regular song – but the challenge here was psychological much more than creative. Makes for some pretty powerful and potent content.
- Friendship taking you places – The selfless way MC Sher helps Gully Boy find his calling while also dealing with his own angst – was a true tribute to friendship. Something I see as a theme in a lot of Akhtar films and stories. Hat tip to that… and a pang of envy that they seem to have some deep life bonds that I would have loved to have as well. A very dear scene to me from the film was when Gully Boy offers to stand up and take the rap (pun intended!!) for his friend’s thefts. In today’s day and age – that by itself was such a tribute to the true adage of friends-like-family - much beyond the # world we live in.
- Defeating the circumstances you’re born with – we’ve seen a massive amount of work come out in the last few years which has had this theme. Mostly people from small towns coming to the big bad city and finding their own stand – think Bunty aur Babli, Munnabhai, Dhoni et al. The only urban stories dealing with this theme have been the Slumdog variety which somehow do not do justice to the whole youth angst of being surrounded by the privileged classes can bring. The movie brings this difference out in such subtle ways that you would be left wondering if it was a joke or a reality. Sample this – ‘Mera data khatam ho gaya’ when he’s trying to show his video to his girlfriend.
- Romance – this was a very interesting part for me in the film. The equation between the two changes so much through the course of the story. From him being in awe of her, to taking a stance when he feels she’s crossed a line, to her forcing an apology out of him to share the blame of what happened and accepting it. And being the soppy romantic that I am, I especially loved the bit when he turns down the second woman and accepts the fact that he’s still in love with his girlfriend by saying – ‘Usko chod diya to lagega main bina bachpan ke bada ho gaya’…. Sigh!! A huge hat tip to whoever came up with that line!
- True story made to reel – there’s a certain charm when you watch a story knowing the fact that while cinematic liberties must have been taken of course, some parts of what you’re watching are true… Inspired by someone’s very real struggles and circumstances. To me, that brings about a level of empathy that I wouldn’t have with others. It makes me more involved in the lives of the protagonist… of course being the researcher that I am, I also look for clues which I would use to reject or challenge the authenticity of the story. Here is where I think a bit too much liberty was taken – in the casting itself. Ranveer cannot pass off as a college kid from impoverished background with the muscles and his face showing his age. But since he is such a massively talented performer, he pulled me into the story to believe it was about him… so I forgave the makers that much. The rest of the cast fits their roles beautifully.
I thoroughly enjoyed the
soundtrack as well as the rap lyrics and was enraptured enough to do a thorough
Wikipedia search on the guys behind the scene. More power to Divine and Naerzy –
the guys who’s life story has been the inspiration behind this. May your tribe
grow by leaps and bounds – and more importantly, may you not turn into the very
same stereotypes who lead to the rebellion in the first place!
It’s a movie which stays with you…
I guess anyone who’s had a middle class upbringing in this country will be able
to identify with some strains in the story or the other. For me of course, the
whole family dynamic at home was also something I could identify with. The focus
on education, struggle to make ends meet for a comfortable life, dependence on
children finding their feet asap and also the differing philosophies between
generations – all make for a pretty standard 1980’s upbringing for middle class
India.
The parts I loved most in the
movie which made me clap spontaneously… along with many others in the hall
thankfully… were however the heart of the movie. The standing up to the
internal angst. Getting over your own devils inside you. Trying to stay the
right path and yet failing at times. The absolutely
nothing-will-come-in-the-middle of us kind of friendships.
5 stars all the way!!
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