Gully Boy (2019) User Reviews

A Cinematic Gem: Remarkable Character Arcs and Powerful Performances

[pawanpunjabithewriter · 9/10 · 18 July 2023]

Zoya Akhtar and her talented team have crafted a cinematic masterpiece in "Gully Boy," a movie that deserves to be savored at least once. The film soars to new heights, with its captivating storyline enhanced by brilliant additions that truly impress.

The raps injected an entertaining rhythm throughout the movie, but what truly sets this film apart is its masterful filmmaking and character arcs. Each character, with their distinct styles and slangs, boasts perfectly written dialogues that leave a lasting impact.

The awe-inspiring character arc of Murad, portrayed impeccably by Ranveer Singh, is a sight to behold. The transformation from his lowest lows to triumphant highs is nothing short of extraordinary, delivered with exceptional skill. Likewise, Alia Bhatt as Safeena remains deeply in character, despite a few hiccups towards the end. It might just be Ranveer Singh's best performance since "Padmaavat." Vijay Varma's portrayal of Moeen shines brilliantly, propelling him to well-deserved fame. Even with limited screen time, he delivers a complete and captivating performance. Salman's portrayal also hits the mark with its impactful intensity.

Vijay Raaz's character is always a treat to watch, and in "Gully Boy," he continues to shine, proving to be one of Indian cinema's finest discoveries. Zoya Akhtar's affinity for him and another exceptional actor, Kalki Koechlin (aka Sky), is evident as both actors were cast perfectly and delivered captivating performances.

But it is Siddhant Chaturvedi, aka MC Sher, who truly steals the show. Emerging seemingly out of nowhere, he graces the screen with an extraordinary charm and delivers a brilliant performance that leaves an indelible impression.

Though the plot may be deemed average, it serves as the canvas for these wonderfully designed characters to shine. The writer's classic approach impresses, especially with the return of the bodyguard, who once mistreated Murad, now transformed into a pivotal character.

However, a bittersweet note arises from Safeena's brother having a role in the movie, while the protagonist's brother is left underdeveloped. An artistic choice, yet one that some may find difficult to digest.

In conclusion, "Gully Boy" is a cinematic gem, enriched by its powerful character arcs and standout performances. It is a film that strikes a chord with its audience and deserves recognition as one of the finest artistic works in Indian cinema.

To all the reviewers who are saying Gully Boy is copied from 8 mile

[bharatkgump · 8/10 · 15 February 2019]

NO ITS NOT COPIED FROM 8 MILE. Did you guys watch 8 mile and Gully Boy both?if you do think they are the same, then you need learn how to watch movies before you compare them. You also need to understand what a movie genre means. May be search in google to get better understanding.

you all are saying 8 mile and Gully Boy are the same based on just few things as both movies are about rappers and their struggles. its like calling all the love stories are same because there is a boy and a girl in the movie.

From the above rating you can see I liked Gully Boy, music and performances are very good. rapping looks natural. Alia Bhatt is a fire cracker in the movie. I just wish there is lot more to the story. its a worth a watch. Please dont listen to anyone who says its copied from 8 mile, watch both movies to decide for yourself.

It's not about a one person,it's about many,who struggles in their own.

[amitkowe · 10/10 · 14 February 2019]

It's not about only a rap,it's about every person who struggles their own inside.its the story about every struggling person who trapped under the bloody society.who want to fly,who want to go outside,who want do something.its not a rap movie,it's truly a inspirational movie.

A film for mumbaikers: hard hai bantai

[Ankit_69 · 9/10 · 14 February 2019]

Its an entertaining movie to watch for and is worth watching too.. Mostly the mumbaikers can relate to the movie as the whole movie is based in Dharavi. Everyone is good with their character and it was great to see Vijay Raaz as always. He is indeed a very good actor. To the one who don't understands the rap culture, the movie will be quite overrated but trust me its not. To the one saying the movie is a copy of 8 miles must watch the movie, this is how the story of rapper can be exactly displayed. And Ranveer was outstanding with his part and "Apna Time Aayega" is just outstanding work by Ranveer, If you feel the character then its also an inspiring story.. According to me its definitely worth watching :) And the one calling Ranveer Singh's character as overacting are the one who don't understand Mumbai's local language

The Perfect Underdog Story

[dwijkulkarni · 9/10 · 14 February 2019]

A story which justifies the hype it created before even releasing. There's alot to the other than just big names. The contribution of Zoya Akhtar's whole team is brilliant and is visible throughout. The film has a gripping narrative. It has a lot of parallel stories which are quite clear due to Zoya's brilliant directing. Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt have delivered great performances which were expected. Siddhant Chaturvedi is also a delight to watch. The authenticity of the film if commendable.

Strictly average film

[plant_jimmy · 6/10 · 24 July 2019]

Poor guy wants to become a rapper, but society suppresses him, finally against all the odds, poor guy becomes a famous rapper. Inspiring story, but I found the movie to be a drag at times.

Good, but a bit overhyped

[Avanti16 · 7/10 · 23 February 2019]

Was happy to see a new style (rapper-based) movie being produced by Bollywood. I am not a fan of such music, but can always appreciate a movie. And, honestly, that was the good part of the movie. Then there are side stories which were more like the 60's style and dragged the movie down - making it boring at times. Alia and Siddhant were the best. Ranveer decent. The finale was a bit let down. Just too much of celebration which didn't emotionally connect with me. I was happy that it was finally over. Compare this movie to Dangal, Secret Superstar, Chak De India, etc. and you will see that it lacks life.

The Hate U Give to Youth ...

[saadgkhan · 10/10 · 24 July 2020]

Gully Boy - A+ (Award Worthy)

After listening to massive wave of backlash against Alia Bhatt and Gully Boy from Kangana Ranaut after untimely death of Sushant Singh Rajput (May he rest in peace). I decided to watch Gully Boy out of curiosity and I was amazed how terribly wrong Kangana was to attribute someone's death to a movie or certain people. Gully Boy for a person like me who rarely watch Bollywood movies unless it's on Netflix is such a game changer. A whole movie not only on rap music woven into struggles of a poor guys from slums with the message of empowerment to youth, friendships and dream was astounding.

I don't even listen to rap music besides EMINEM, and I was enchanted by Indian rap which I have never heard in my life. I was amazed that they used no profanity laced rap in the movie to make it more appealing to younger crowed either. They showed Muslim background where singing in the family is the forbidden and empowered even Hijab wearing Alia Bhatt to speak her mind and still be the leading lady. To say she won award for 15 mints screen time is utterly ridiculous, you don't have to win an award for how much time you have spend on screen. Anthony Hopkins in Silence of the Lambs and Judi Dench in Elizabeth won Oscars for merely roles 10-15mints screen time. A movie like Gully Boy, which is one of kind real musical directed by a women is commendable.

The hate towards the movie from some part of the very vocal group speaks volume of misogyny in some individuals. who want to take advantage of someone's demise to settle their own old scores against old enemies from YashRaj, Karan Johar, Bhatt Family, Hrithik's family friends Javed Akhtar etc etc. is utterly shameful. A person who never worked with him or helped him while he was being trolled for Drive and rumours now is trying to become his ally. Nepotism exists in every industry even a shopkeeper hands over businesses to his family not stranger and to train them you have to put them through the business. Some get successful, but mostly miserably fail. Legendary actors like Shahrukh Khan, Madhuri Dixit, Juhi Chawla, Akshay Kumar, Vidya Balan were outsiders, there is mix balance of both sides and new crop Ayushman Khurrana, Kangana Ranaut, Taapsee Panu, Rajkumar Rao, Katrina Kaif, Kriti Sanon and Bhumi Padnekar are proof that if you have talent you can make space, it won't be easy but if you want an easy life then don't chase your dreams. Chasing dreams and accomplishing them is going to be hard and I am glad that this movie shows that and put a light on such topic and I hope people understand and focus on positivity and not the negativity.

A powerful movie which showed camaraderie among friends without jealousy, determination, family love and struggles living in slums with rap music is unimaginable in Bollywood mainstream cinema with top actors Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt. The movie deserves all accolades as cinema like this needs to be encouraged and appreciated.

Worth a watch

[shoebilyas123 · 7/10 · 17 May 2019]

Not fully relatable to the foreign audience but apparently touches the core of the street life in Mumbai..

Great acting. Music could've been better but the director wanted the audience to delve into the story and not digress into music

Zoya akhtar best movie till date

[sohailparvaiz · 10/10 · 15 February 2019]

This is a perfect collage of stories told in the best possible way by zoya akhtar, it is also ranveer singh best acting ever. every frame is a treat.

it's not a copy of 8 mile you morons

[A-Shekhar · 8/10 · 14 February 2019]

Almost every rap star came from hardships and poverty and that is what rap is, poetry of your life with awesome beats so what the hell were these morons expecting, a guy with no issues becoming a rap star - what was copied from 8 mile? i dare you to justify yourselves you stupid morons. Every part of the movie was awesome.

A FLAWLESS MUST WATCH MOVIE

[kalainonstopnetting · 10/10 · 15 February 2019]

Saw the movie yesterday.. what an amazing and flawless film. I don't think I've truly experienced a film this close to heart. Every charcter, every frame is etched and performed to perfection. Murad, Safeena, Sher, Moeen - they all win your hearts. Brilliant supporting cast Amruta Subhash Vijay Raaz and others. Go watch it and give the movie Box office validation as such world-class film are made in rarity in the mainstream cinema. Gully Boy is an experience with music and Murad at it's core.

One of the best movie.

[aboutfootball · 10/10 · 14 February 2019]

Must watch direction, screenplay ,acting everything is good in this movie

It's a decent watch

[rajatmahajan-17024 · 6/10 · 14 February 2019]

Dude I watched it , its overhyped believe me , it's a good movie , that's set , not the movie that u have to watch before you die , movie felt flat in between , & seemed boring at times , boy honestly speaking alia , & that second dude sidhant , over shadowed ranveer Singh , he has again overacted at times , so it's a good movie , but the way these critics & specially people in screening are portraying it it's not like that , so go watch it but just lower your expectations , its a damn honest review

A must watch for everyone who dream

[vishal-kamble96 · 10/10 · 14 February 2019]

Everyone have one movie in life which make them do something, change them, and help them discover themselves and for me GULLY BOY is that kind of movie. This is Ranveer Singh's best performance and best movie till date. The best part of this movie was there was no unwanted gimmicks done to show the character that 'only one' and who had gotten everything ready in his plate like one other recently released movie that came ;~) Alia Bhatt like always was fabulous although there was not so much for her to do in this movie. All other cast were also great. And special mention for the writers of this movie who brought such a terrific plot in accordance with the character.

Watchable but very predictable

[lamemoviesguy · 6/10 · 14 February 2019]

The film is watchable for Zoya's direction and Siddhant's performance. There is nothing new in the film - it is the age-old underdog story, and I have seen much better depictions of the underdog story in world cinema. Some sections/ communities of the society may be able to connect with the film and its characters, but I could not. Also, if you are from Mumbai, you may like the film. In terms of performances, Ranveer is better here than in some of his last films. Alia has acted like she always does - just being the normal herself. The real performance for which to check out this film is Siddhant's. This is an actor to watch out for. Disclaimer: There is too much rap in the film. I have tried to be as impartial in my review as possible - if you are not a fan of this so-called "music" like myself, you may not like it.

Mind blowing entertainment

[pradeepvashisth · 9/10 · 15 February 2019]

The movie is really beautifully directed, the best part of the movie it shows the sad reality of our day to day life but regardless the movie is full of "Junoon" haha I forgot this word almost, love the music, love the direction, actually loved everything in the movie, every character is nicely played. Ranveer and Alia acting is deadly, vo kya bolte hai "hard hai bhai" :) I understand this movie could be copy of 8 mile but hey trust me this is very different and can't be compared. In indian cinema it's hard to find a movie with natural acting and nice music and Gully boy is the one. Highly recommended movie!!

A Hatke Content in Bollywood

[abhineet150 · 7/10 · 14 February 2019]

My rating is because something different is been tried in Bollywood.It might be copy of some Hollywood movie but still new steps been taken to break the walls and try something New.

The movie is entertaining but might not be liked by some.Ranveer is the male protagonist and Alia's role and acting is commendable and all other Co-actors have equally done a good job.

it's a one time watch for sure.

Entertainment ekdum hard hai bhai..!!

[Tejas_Vinda_AITS · 2/10 · 13 February 2019]

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.

Apna Time aa gaya

[gautam-moharil · 9/10 · 2 June 2019]

Based on the life of street rappers from Dharavi, the film deals with poverty and class differences in the society. The film shows the 21st century youth who know what they want and are unafraid to chase their dreams.

The screenplay and the direction is fantastic. Most of the performances are good but I'm unsure about Ranveer Singh. He is good enough but not convincing. The music is good.

The Indian film industry is maturing and it's a good thing.

"Change your reality to match your dreams"

[Peter_Young · 8/10 · 1 February 2022]

Gully Boy is an extraordinary film about a young Muslim student from the slums of Mumbai, who is a fan of hip-hop music and who keeps secret his dreams to make it big in the rap music scene. It is the kind of film that hooks you right from the first moments and just keeps growing on you as it goes on. The story, the setting, the cinematography, the music, the characters, and the narrative all contribute to the film's unusual feel in equal parts. The Dharavi slums of Mumbai where the film is set are shot beautifully - the congested streets, overcrowded with a diverse population of individuals, much to the point where poverty, and often sad pictures thereof, is presented as almost culturally exotic. It's amazing though that specifically these disheartening, seemingly impossible areas bring forth heartening messages of hope and opportunity where neither dire straits nor harsh realities can take them away.

The film's narrative style is fantastic - it IS music. Its youthful, modern feel is there all through and, even those not particularly fond of rap music, are very likely to enjoy the rhythm and the many songs which decorate the proceedings in ways one could not imagine. The lyrics of the songs, as well as the rap sequences as performed by the characters of the film, turn out to be symbolic and poetic and very true of the challenging conditions of the speakers in question. The cinematography is stupendous, the lighting and diverse shots make it quite a visual treat in many ways and, as mentioned above, even despite the setting of not the prettiest locales. Apart from Ranveer Singh as Murad, the film's leading actor who's an aspiring singer, and Safeena, his charming and headstrong girlfriend, every character is given a story, which is part of the entire picture of a society often immersed in its primitive ways, like, for one, his bigamous father or her conservative parents.

And the acting, as part of this entire picture, is spot on. Every member of the cast is natural to the hilt. Singh obviously leads the cast with an excellent performance. His portrayal of his character's reserved nature, insecurity, and then his inner self-belief in his ability to make it, is fantastic. In a smaller part, Alia Bhatt is wonderful as the free-spirited Sakeena, and she almost steals the thunder as she is highly relatable, convincing and above all enjoyable in how ambitious, determined and madly in love she is. Without taking anything away from the two leads, the supporting cast is full of stupendous character actors, led by a brilliant Amruta Subhash in a heartbreaking portrayal of Murad's mother. Vijay Raaz, as her abusive and adulterous husband, is superb, and so is Vijay Varma, as the troublemaker Moeen. Siddhant Chaturvedi is a nice find as he fits the role and does exceedingly although he does look over-confident at points, and Kalki is given a thankless role though she's good.

Gully Boy is a rare combination of top-notch acting, story, music, and soul. It works as both a musical, a sports film of sorts, and a human drama. In the end, it's just very inspiring. For director Zoya Akhtar, this is clearly the best film of her career, as no film of hers, even the most celebrated and acclaimed (and some, overrated), reached the merit and beauty of this one. This film has clearly a lot invested into, and not just money but hard work in studying and preparing, because it takes us into the world as those who too often are deemed transparent, and it makes them matter. Many years ago, a movement of Indian films known as parallel cinema was producing films which often sought to give voice to the voiceless, namely people from the slums. It's nice seeing that their stories have crossed the boundaries of what was called "offbeat cinema" and is now given importance by mainstream filmmakers. That mass audiences find their stories valuable is not surprising, but Indian cinema is maturing, and it's great.

A gem

[Abdulxoxo · 8/10 · 23 January 2021]

This film sort of felt like a cross between '8 Mile' and 'A Star is Born', but set in India. It's a slightly odd comparison but those two films have to come to mind while watching it. Intercutting rap battles into this tale of rags to riches is actually a concept that worked much more than I would have thought. What I think also helped is the addition of a fiery romance, a cultural family dispute and a terrific ensemble cast. There's a fair amount of humour too, which provides well timed relief to some of the emotional drama. Overall, Gully boy seamlessly blends romance, drama and comedy situations and a well-meaning message that rings true in today's society.

Great act put together

[rohitladha · 9/10 · 15 February 2019]

Somewhere in between I felt as if it is copy of 8 miles and slumdog millionaire. However, the similarity is just in premise.

Nothing groundbreaking

[Cinephilia1508 · 18 April 2019]

Ok..so i was hyped with movie bcoz of the reviews it got and the people are praising that you haven't seen anything like this in india..well i just wanna say i was really disappointed.There is nothing new here...the same underdog story has been told many times in different ways. Acting is good which you can expect from fine actors so nothing special about that and overall it's just an average movie.

Apna time aayega

[Jithindurden · 7/10 · 14 February 2019]

The similaritieswith 8 Mile is just in the basic premise and whatever was shown in the trailer. This film does stands on its own.

Simple story filled with complex characters (well all the characters from the Gully anyway) beautifully directed. Ranveer Singh is fantastic as expected. The only issue for me was that the climax could have been a bit more intense for such a story.