Director Zoya Akhtar’s ‘Gully Boy’ took Bollywood by storm this year and for good reason. It is a story about an underdog who uses his Art to transcend his class once and forever. The movie was a massive hit on the box office and became a sensation among the youth. The film continues to achieve more and more and has now achieved something even bigger. ‘Gully Boy’ has become the official entry from India for the next Academy Awards. Produced by Ritesh Sidhwani and Farhan Akhtar, Gully Boy was a commercial success and a movie liked by both the audience and the critics. The movie successfully echoed the voice of the streets and of those who may not have the resources but do have the heart and talent that will one day bring them to the spotlight.
Acoording to sources, other Bollywood films competing for the Oscar entry were Badhaai Ho, Andhadhun, Article 15, Uri: The Surgical Strike, Badla, Kesari and The Tashkent Files. All these films had good odds of getting chosen as the Oscar entry but in the end it was Zoya Akhtar’s masterpiece that beat them all. Since the news was announced on Saturday, 21 September 2019, there has been a lot of buzz on social media and Bollywood celebs have been pouring their support as well. Farhan Akhtar who is the producer as well as the brother of director Zoya Akhtar is ecstatic on receiving the news and even took to Twitter to show his excitement. Kalki Koechlin who was also a part of the movie and portrayed the role of Sky in the film has also tweeted.
There are several reasons as to why the success of Gully Boy matters and why the film is relevant to the society today. The character of Muraad is innocent and simple but has huge dreams in his eyes. He wishes to soar high despite the fact that the anchor of class and society pulls him down. Ranveer Singh showed a whole new side with his performance in the film. The loud and energetic man was able to give a subtle and nuanced performance and shock every one. Alia Bhatt shined throughout the film and her character was the one to remember. She brought Safeena to life with so much charisma that it became a fan favourite character. Other actors like Vijay Verma and debutant Siddhanth Chaturvedi stole the show with their supporting roles. However, the best part about Gully Boy is the soul of the film and the honest portrayal of a young boy with big dreams. The film may have been inspired by the real lives and struggles of rappers Divine and Naezy, but the story resonates with many. This is the reason that it is an amazing achievement that a film like Gully Boy has been appreciated globally. The film may or may not win an Oscar but the fact that a simple film that spoke to millions of people has been noticed worldwide is a great deal and a step ahead for Bollywood and the Indian film industry.
