Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
Vijay Varma | ... | Moeen Arif | |
Nakul Roshan Sahdev | ... | Salman | |
Ranveer Singh | ... | Murad Ahmed / Gully Boy | |
Vijay Raaz | ... | Aftab Shakir Ahmed | |
Jyoti Subhash | ... | Murad's Grandmother | |
Amruta Subhash | ... | Razia Ahmed | |
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Svar Kamble | ... | Suhail |
Alia Bhatt | ... | Safeena Firdausi | |
Sheeba Chaddha | ... | Hamida | |
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Rahil Gilani | ... | Rishi |
Tina Bhatia | ... | Parveen (as Tina Bhatiya) | |
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Rakesh Sharma | ... | Tour Guide |
Brian Nathan | ... | British Tourist | |
R. Bhakti Klein | ... | Tourist 1 (as Bhakti Klien) | |
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Jan Graveson | ... | Tourist 2 |
"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.
Zoya changes gear with Gully Boy. It's the story of Murad (Ranveer Singh), his aspiration, ambition, his family, his love Safeena (Alia Bhatt), his friendships and the path he takes to fulfil his dream. At the forefront, Gully Boy may seem like a movie about the underground rappers but actually, it is much more than that.
The movie is mainly about human relations, connections, emotions and dynamics. There is no filmmaker better than Zoya Akhtar who can portray and handle human complexities in such a brilliant way. Gully Boy will surely be counted amongst her best work.
Ranveer and Alia's chemistry is too cute to be true. They are like a house on fire...,
Vijay Varma special mention - He is too good...as Moeen,, got a good depth to the character.
If the writing of the movie and Zoya's direction is of the highest order, Ranveer Singh, Alia Bhatt, debutant Sidhant Chaturvedi and other actors compliment it with fabulous performances.
Alia Bhatt, is the scene stealer. Every scene she appears in is a riot. She is endearing, to say the least. This is one of her best performances and her character is a crash course in women empowerment. I am sure everyone's gonna fall in love with her.
On the downside though, the pacing takes a dip in the second half.
Gully Boy is one of the best movies to come out of Indian cinema in recent times. Watch it for Ranveer Singh, Alia Bhatt's dazzling performances. And moreover, watch it for the master filmmaker Zoya Akhtar. Hats off to her. This one's a winner.