Going Back To The Gully Of The “Gully Boys” At A Time When There Is A Storm Being Raised About Their Winning So Many Awards

Ali Peter John

Some men are born multi-talented. They are considered experts in one field, but before you can come to any conclusion about them, they spring some other surprise. I first knew Manohar Iyer as a specialist in keeping vintage Hindi film music alive and he did a splendid job till he found no takers for the music which he was giving thousands a gift and had to wind up his organisation,“Keep Alive", but he was not one to give up his mission. He kept vintage music alive and vibrant through other mediums. He has also been a very well-known anchor whose knowledge about Hindi film music is incomparable. But he doesn't stop there. He is a very good poet, an enlightened critic who is better than the gang of men and women who claim to be critics, but end up being ridiculed by filmmakers and filmgoers alike.

Here is what Manohar Mohabbat Iyer has to say about the recently released and acclaimed film,“Gully Boy"....

'गाये चला जा, गाये चला जा,

इक दिन तेरा भी ज़माना आयेगा.... '

... the anthem of every dreamer from the 1952 film "Humlog" gets a new lyrical odyssey as 'अपना time आयेगा' in the latest Zoya 'soya product', "Gully Boy" which is literally high on proteins called zeal, zing, zest and zindagani !!

That reminds of the adventurous roadies of a film "Zindagi Na Mile Dobara". Unless you are 'gully'ble,  you will not give in to the fact that "Gully Boy" is an offspring born from the creative womb of the same director who navigated the roller coaster "Zindagi Na Mile Dobara". From the spectacular and scenic spots to the claustrophobic and congested slums, from the panoramic and picturesque locales to the poverty stricken lanes, the reverse journey to the world of harsh and stark realities is both fascinating and fulfilling.

"Gully Boy" is a conclusive and definitive peep into the lives of street rappers and their aspirations, dreams and hopes of creating a niche in the realm of that exclusive genre of music called Rap!.

Ranveer Singh as Murad, living in abject poverty and embroiled in filial conflicts, plays with conviction the role of a sensitive and sensible wannabe rapper. His character is endowed with a natural flair for writing and singing but, unfortunately, he is the economically challenged and socially awkward 'Gully Boy'. That doesn't deter him from pursuing his dream of being a famous rapper.

He breathes life into the rivetting confrontation scenes with his weak but aggressive father or heart tugging scenes with his wronged mother, both of whom resign timidly to their fate. But he is not one to give up; with fire in his belly, he is determined to fight all odds and adversities and emerge a sure fire winner. And he does with elan and earnestness.

He is equally restrained in the scenes with his fiery and feisty, obsessive and possessive, almost eccentric girl friend (Alia Bhatt, brilliant as always and never a let down) or his two street smart chums (one indulging unapologetically in social crimes and another as his small time rapper friend cum mentor: an impressive debut by Sidhhanth Chaturvedi).

In short, the Delhi Boy is  a 'toofan' of talent and his onslaught continues unabated film after film.

For a change, the rap lyrics are not inane and trite. In line with the content and intent of the  film, it was a pleasant surprise to listen to lyrics which had a subtle dig and comment on the decadence of society, moral squalor, social inequalities and also on the day to day joys and sufferings of the downtrodden laced with liberal doses of cynicism and sarcasm, humour and light-heartedness.

Set in the backdrop of sleaze and slums, all the characters spoke their dialogues in the typical 'Bambaiyya boli and bhaasha' and sounded as natural as their heart tugging performances.

The pace in the second half slackens; the sudden emergence and disappearance of Kalki Koechlin and the resultant clichéd  misunderstanding between the two lead actors, followed by the usual melodrama could have been avoided.

"Gully Boy" elevates, inspires, motivates and uplifts our spirits and sings and sends a message, loud and clear, to follow your dream irrespective of who you are, what your background is, where you come from.....

गाये चला जा, गाये चला जा....

*Apna Time Aayega...* !!

*Manohar Iyer*

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Tags: Bollywood, Bollywood News, Bollywood Updates, Television, Telly News, Gully Boy, Many Awards, Filmfare Awards 2020