We meet a goon in a dimly lit street somewhere in the affluent South Bombay. He meets up with couple of his friends and initiates a car heist. One of the friends is our protagonist Murad. We don’t formally meet him during the heist since he’s mainly off focus. Not until he gets in the car that is and starts ranting about the current rap scene in the country. The car zooms off and that brings up the title card. Never has preface been this eloquent and yet intriguing. If you count yourself among the ones who assumes a movie’s nature based on the plot then feel free to do so just by watching the trailer. Because it’s the generic underdog story that pans between being off-focus to [spoiler]the crowds cheering him on stage[/spoiler].
The reason why this movie worked for me was because not only did it not defer from what it wanted to say but also because it did that in most effortless way possible. And that is saying something for a movie that is introducing a completely new world to the general population. Not to take anything away but, coming from Zoya Akhtar this isn’t even that big a surprise. Takes me back to her first feature where she gave us an insight of the behind-the-scenes of the familiar yet unfamiliar film industry. The film juggles with almost 5 different character paths and still (like Gully Boy) does not lose its grip on its protagonist. Maybe that’s the reason why she and her co-writer Reema Kagti (Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd.) have written few of the best ensembles.
Ranveer Singh. There are actors from whom you cannot separate the character from and then there’s Ranveer Singh who thinks this can be done with every film that he lays his fingerprints on. I already knew he had range but what makes this his career best is the fact that he made me feel like I knew everything about Murad even before he started talking. The quiet moments are when he shows what he can actually do with the role. A notable scene being when a bouncer forbids him to roam outside a nightclub entrance while he’s working as a chauffeur. He quietly leaves, settles himself inside a car and mouths a rap which conveys his angst just about enough. In other words, Singh knows when he needs to act out and when to take a backseat. When he takes a backseat, it is imperative that the others show up. And to make a biopic seem like an ensemble and make it work is something only the writer duo could make possible.
Alia Bhatt yet again asserts that we haven’t seen the whole of her. Yes, she is going from strength to strength with every movie, but this role somehow feels more exceptional than her earlier ones. Mainly because she pulls off a role which doesn’t feel like her cup of tea so effortlessly and effectively. My favourite scene is the one that takes place on a train where she trades off her iPad to Murad while explaining him what she is taking back in return. The film can act up as a great study on how supporting roles need to be written. The breakout stars for me were Siddhant Chaturvedi (Sher) and Vijay Verma (Moeen) who play Murad’s friends. Would love to watch them in their standalone movie.
This is the most that I’ve talked about a movie because I didn’t want to leave out anything that I loved about it. Seldom does a movie feel like a thing for the ages while you are watching it. Just like its music, every moment feels like a breath of fresh air. But more than fresh it is relatable AF. Like I don’t want to stop knowing about these people. And lastly, I think it’s time for us to confess: Zoya Akhtar is best director working today in the country. Can’t wait to know what is the next thing that she is gonna make me generate interest in.