GULLY BOY REVIEW: UNRAVELING THE RAP GENRE IN BOLLYWOOD

 

Gully Boy released on 14th February, 2019 and has introduced an essential part of the music industry in Bollywood, i.e Rap. Many people know Rap as a genre only related to the urban side of America. India only knows the cliched side of Rap, sung by artists like Yo Yo Honey Singh and Badshah.

Raw artists like DIVINE and Naezy the Baa, have been into Rap for quite a few years and struggled to give the genre a proper platform. Based off of their lives, is the movie Gully Boy, directed by Zoya Akhtar, and produced by Farhan Akhtar, Ritesh Sidhwani and Zoya Akhtar, under Tiger Baby Productions and Excel Prodcutions.

The movie features Ranveer Singh, Alia Bhatt, and introduces Siddhant Chaturvedi. Set in the heart of Dharavi, Mumbai, the movie is all about the struggle to prove yourself and look dapper while doing it. Filled with Rap Battles and Concerts, it’s the best way to discover the hidden side of Hip-Hop.

Ranveer, who usually does loud movies such as Simmba, has really calmed down his performance in Gully Boy after Lootera, and it shows!

Alia, on the other hand, has played the character of Safina, who is a ‘hateli’ girl and gets what she wants. Siddhant Chaturvedi aka MC Sher, seems to have won the hearts of many young girls, with his fantastic acting in the film, there is no doubt that he is the new kid on the block.

Featuring young aspiring rappers such as, Kaam Bhaari, Dub Sharma, Emiway Bantai, MC Altaf and Noxious D are shown as contesting rappers.

Kalki Koechlin, who plays the role of a music producer from America, brings a different look to the film altogether.

Gully Boy explores the scene of Mumbai Rap, shows that dreams shouldn’t be controlled by the people around you.

 

Andar ka lava fatke bahar aande!

Valentine’s Day Moral: Expect the unexpected except don’t expect anything

Valentine’s day; a delight to the taken, a disaster for the singles. Too many tears to shed but none that deserve them. So why not quit the whining? I mean I know it’s an amazing feeling being committed and happy and actually having something (and someone) to do this 14th February and that’s beautiful. But on an optimistic note, the single folks should be relieved that they don’t have to come up with excuses for staying out on Valentine’s day because this is India and every parent is a secret Bajrang Dal member.

So what if your crush left you on read, so what if he friendzoned you, so what if she is gay, so what if he is not gay, so what if you’re alone this year too?

Oopsie, a lot of truth bombs!

I know it’s sad if you don’t have anyone this year and sadder if you didn’t have anyone in the past either. But this is 2019 and we are heading further and deeper into independence. So do something crazy like organizing a get together for all the single ladies and gentlemen. Make a diss track for your ex who left you for someone else or for the ones who freindzoned you; share your failed romance stories and laugh it all away. The depressed makeup for the best comedians after all. Or just huddle up with your own friends and judge everyone on Tinder because the traffic there is going to be mind boggling on 14th February. Do whatever you want, even cry if you feel like it, just don’t forget to be grateful for the ones that were always by your side.

The grass will always seem greener on the other side. As humans, our desires will be never ending and we are designed to disappoint ourselves anyway so let’s be sad together. Who knows who decides to make you happy at end of the day?

Moral: Expect the unexpected except don’t expect anything.

-By Shreya Dadhich, FYBMM.

 

She is Someone – Not somebody’s this or that but an individual person.

2012: 24,932 rapes

2013: In UP rape cases go up by a 100%! 

2014: 2,353 gang-rapes

2015: 6 rape cases a day

2016: 43% raped by friends and family or other known people.

 

RIG-VEDA (Ancient Scripture): The role of women in orienting life and family were elucidated in Rig Vedic age. They enjoyed independence and self-reliance. Besides their domestic role, they had every access to education with tremendous potential to realize the highest truths. Many of them were seers who had an intellectual and spiritual depth. Women played an important role in maintaining the economic status of the family with the occupation of spinning, weaving, and needlework. Widow’s remarriage was permitted in Rig Vedic society. Women learned several disciplines that included vocal and instrumental music and dance. Women were also allowed to learn martial pursuits. Respect and value of the women in the Vedic society not merely as household mistress but also as individuals with great potential to contribute to human society were revealed.

This was a proper representation of how women are treated and how they should be treated.

In the 21st Century, every morning we read at least 10 headlines on rape or hear about it in the news. The age of the victims varies anywhere from a 2 month old to a 65 year old. There remains no sacred space. Even now a major part of our society asks the following questions on hearing about the rape of a girl:

“What was she wearing?”

“Why was she out so late?”

“Why was she hanging out with guys?”

Yes, of course, I should cover myself up and not ask why a girl was raped because she was excelling in studies.

Yes, of course, I should put restrictions on myself and not question why walking on the streets at night, because that automatically gives them consent to rape me.

Yes, of course, even though the social structure and career choices demand it, i should make sure i hang out only with girls, even if it isn’t my choice, because what do I know?

Victim blaming still prevails in our society and plays a major role in deciding how the victim will survive after the incident. In many cases it has lead to suicide. And, it’s not just the society, but our politicians, individuals with power and leaders of our country, who have strong opinions on how women should lead their life.

In 2014, Arun Jaitley told in a conference that, ” One small incident of rape in Delhi, had cost them billions of dollars in terms of global tourism.” Let me remind you the small incident he was talking about, was the brutal Nirbhaya rape case, one that scared the nation.

While opposing death penalty to three men convicted in a gang-rape case, Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav had said, “boys will be boys, they commit mistakes.”

Trinamool MP Tapas Pal, was once caught on tape saying, “If anyone from the opposition would touch anyone from TMC, I will destroy you, I will not spare you. I will send my boys and they will rape your women.”

I am shocked and disgusted at how the politicians think about the women. Such people run our States and our nation, people who think women are a piece of meat that is meant to be violated and have no right to their own body or much freedom!

Fear strikes deep in me, as I come to the realization that we have let such people stay in power. I demand better leaders, so that the other half of this country which also contributes to its growth knows that they will be safe.

Everything has lead me to ask, where are those people, who call themselves our leaders? Why are we not focusing on this, but on trivial issues like if a party should have Muslim in it’s name or not?

Now, if our leaders show up to ask us for votes, ask them about rapes and what are they doing to curb it? What are the doing, so that I don’t have to worry whether I will return home safe tonight? Before voting, we need concrete proof, we need you to acknowledge your mistake, we need officers who will listen to us and we need our basic rights and proper security! And only after this is done and concrete, do you even have the right to ask for my vote!

And I want all this not just because I am someone’s daughter, wife or sister. I ask this, cause I am a citizen of this country. Because I am NOT just a woman! Because I am human!

This election ask your leaders the questions that matter and this is my appeal to everyone in this country. Not just woman. But men. This is our fight, If you don’t support rape then this is your fight. So stand with us, because we refuse to remain silent anymore!