In fact, one of the pleasures of “Gully Boy” is in recognizing how the writers take certain formulas - such as the mismatched posse that so often surrounds Bollywood heroes, the exaggerated jealousies of girlfriends, the sacred mother figure, and so on - and give them fresh life via characters effortlessly exuding charisma.Ĭollege student Murad (Singh) lives with his family in a crowded tenement in the densely populated Mumbai slum of Dharavi. Neither do Akhtar (“Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara”) and co-writer Reema Kagti (“Talaash”) try to pretend “8 Mile” wasn’t partly an inspiration, as testified by a glimpsed photo of Eminem, though Indian hip-hop stars Divine and Naezy are the acknowledged models.
It doesn’t hurt that Nas is credited as one of the executive producers, and the production isn’t shy about dropping his name at key moments.
A 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? Zoya Akhtar’s most accomplished film to date is a mainstream rap musical about a Muslim guy from working-class Mumbai determined to break free from the strictures of expectation and class, all served up with generous helpings of deftly written hip-hop lyrics and a largely well-woven narrative that’s so likable one can almost forgive how the script barely bothers to resolve an important plot element.Įven though few Bollywood films break through into non-specialized distribution, this one has a better chance than most to become an international crowdpleaser, polishing and semi-pop-ifying the gritty genre for a broader audience as it does.