Overview
A young man's journey from the slums of Mumbai to the heights of rap stardom unfolds in this vibrant drama.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Mild
- gritty
- energetic
- hopeful
- inspirational movie night
- music film marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly praised Zoya Akhtar's direction, screenplay, music, social texture, and especially the performances, while some found its Bollywood conventions and softened treatment familiar.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Murad uses conscious rap to express life in Mumbai's ghetto and pursue opportunities beyond his family's expectations.
The film foregrounds Mumbai street rap and lyrics addressing poverty, disenfranchisement, and the city's socioeconomic divisions.
The film brings underground hip-hop and minority youth experiences into a polished Hindi musical drama.
The by-lanes, rooftops, neighborhoods, and rap circles of Mumbai's ghetto shape Murad's artistic development.
Films like Gully Boy, and why
8 Mile
music-driven underdog narrative, marginalized communities, and passionate artistic self-expression
The Commitments
working-class musical ambition, social inequality, and emotionally charged performance sequences
Sing Street
coming-of-age music drama centered on artistic identity, family pressure, and class barriers
Secret Superstar
socially conscious Indian drama with vibrant music, poverty, and aspirations for upward mobility
Movie Details
- Director
- Zoya Akhtar
- Release Date
- 2019-02-14
- Runtime
- 156 min
- Rating
- 7.3 / 10 (223)
Cast
- Ranveer Singh
- Alia Bhatt
- Siddhant Chaturvedi
- Vijay Raaz
- Vijay Varma
- Amruta Subhash
- Ikhlaque Khan
- Sheeba Chaddha
- Kalki Koechlin
- Jyoti Subhash
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube
- Buy
- Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Gully Boy about?
- A Mumbai ghetto youth turns the pressures of poverty, family expectation, and social exclusion into a defiant rap career.
- What is Gully Boy like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Gully Boy as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Gully Boy violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Gully Boy as mild.
- What did critics think of Gully Boy?
- Critics broadly praised Zoya Akhtar's direction, screenplay, music, social texture, and especially the performances, while some found its Bollywood conventions and softened treatment familiar.
- Which films are like Gully Boy?
- Films with a similar feel include 8 Mile, The Commitments, Sing Street, and Secret Superstar.
- How long is Gully Boy?
- Gully Boy runs 156 minutes.
- Where can I watch Gully Boy?
- In United States, Gully Boy is available to rent or buy from Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube.
