Gully Boy Music Review: Ranveer Singh’s film jukebox is a PERFECT combo of rap, soft music with social message

Zoya Akhtar’s Gully Boy, starring Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt, is loosely based on the lives of Mumbai's underground rappers Vivian Fernandes aka Divine and Naved Shaikh aka Naezy. The music album was launched in a grand style yesterday and the makers have put up the whole jukebox. There are 18 songs and you can expect a lot from this album. It’s after a long time that you will get to hear an album that has both high tempo music and soft songs. 

We have reviewed the music album and let us know which song you like the most in the comments section below. 

Asli Hip Hop 

Khada hun kese mein yahaan pe abna puchna,

dard shayri me tujh ko chahiye sabut kya

Shikhar ye soch par,

juda hun mae zameen se,

yakein tumko na par ah gaya ya me yakein se...

We are wondering is there anything that Ranveer Singh cannot do? Well, going by his rapping skills, there’s clearly nothing. Asli Hip Hop is the bang on start to the jukebox. If you are new to the world of rapping, let us tell you that it has beatboxing, high tempo and bass. Asli Hip Hop also starts with beatboxing and soon Ranveer takes over with his vocals. The song is composed and written by Spitfire. If you carefully listen to the lyrics, both Divine and Naezy are introducing their concept of rap to the world. Ranveer has done an extraordinary job as he sings at a stretch with no break. This is just the start! 

Mere Gully Mein 

Mere gully mein

Gully gully gully mein

Tere shooteron ka khaas

Meri gully mein

Pure shehar ki awaaz

Mere gully mein

Mere Gully Mein has gone viral just like Asli Hip Hop. This is a shout out to everyone that new rappers in town have begun their magic. Well, if you have heard the original track, then you would know there’s isn’t much difference. In this version, it’s the electronic beats that make it even crazier. It’s a song that you can put in your car on high volume, grab your favourite drink, get some friends along and head for a long drive. Your car would surely be transcended to a live concert. This one has been sung by Ranveer Singh, again! Hats off to his talent! If you are a music buff, you cannot miss the electronic beats and high bass. This song has got Divine and Naezy into the limelight! 

Apna Time Aayega 

Apna time aayega

Tu nanga hi toh aaya hai

Kya ghanta lekar jaayega

Apna time aayega

In no time, Apna Time Aayega is ruling the pop charts. Ranveer’s energy takes the song to the next level. The lyrics by Divine and Ankur Tiwari perfectly suit the actor’s energy and style. If you are a music buff, you would love the high tempo beats. The mixing has been done pretty well and it can be a go-to song for you when you are on a drive with your friends. 

Doori - Poem 

Ranveer has got his energy levels down in this one and has gone into a poetic note and why not - Javed Akhtar has penned the lyrics of this poem. Kahne ko hum pass hai par kitni doori hai, Yeh bhi kaisi mazboori hai - it starts with the tunes of the electronic piano and you also get to hear the tunes of electronic guitar.

Doori 

The energy levels are back! Going by the song, you will get an idea about their struggles to fame and how important money is to get you a platform. There are some soulful lyrics - Lambi gaadi jitni kiski khuli, Aaye chawal ki, khali bori ek paiso se bhari poori, Kaisi ye mazboori haan. It has a social message with soft rap. Javed Akhtar has done a great job in portraying the truth of the society through his lyrics. 

Train Song 

Raghu Dixit’s music is vibrant and also has a feel to it. This is surely one of the best songs in the jukebox. It's originally a 2013 song by Raghu Dixit and MIdIval Punditz and is performed by Karsh Kale. Gully Boy makers have used a smart ploy by taking the original singers for this version. If you are a music enthusiast, you would love the touch of Victorian music. The song has a buffet of instruments to offer - electronic piano, electronic drums, guitar riffs and electronic guitar. At the end, the choir does an outstanding job.

Jingostan (2 versions) 

2018 hai, desh ko khatra hai.... har taraf jhaag hai... Jingostan is a satirical music piece that hits our country’s political system. It’s after so long we have such a song that is so brave. You would also like the beats and singer Dub Sharma takes the song to another level with his vocals. The other version is a little slower but has more beats to it. 

Sher Aaya Sher 

The rap is sung by Divine and composed by Major C. Well, this song is about how the new rappers in town are rising and slowly conquering the rap world. 

Jahaan Tu Chala

Jasleen Royal is one name that has now conquered the music space and has a different texture to her voice. This song gets a breezy break from the raps. Her melodious voice is soothing to the ears and lyrics are penned by Aditya Sharma. If you are a music buff, you would love the tunes of sitar, acoustic guitar, electronic piano and violin. 

Azadi 

Azadi has been composed written and sung by Dub Sharma with vocals also by Divine. Azadi was written by Dub in 2016. You will be hooked to the lyrics. Azadi slogans were popular during the protest and this song is perfect to response to how protesters were manhandled. This version is trippy and you will surely play this on loop! 

Kab Se Kab Tak 

Ranveer Singh is back and this time with singer Vibha Saraf. Ranveer’s rap is mellowed down by the melodious vocals of Vibha. This song belongs to the soft rap category. It’s not a song that will instantly hit you like Asli Hip Hop or Meri Gully Mein. It will take time to grow on you. 

Kaam Bhari 

If you have a flair of listening to speed rap, then this song is for you. The vocals are by Kaam Bhari. You have that typical MUMBAI touch to it. 

Ek Hee Rasta

We have the second poem in the jukebox and you will surely fall in love with it. Ek Hee Rasta Hai, Jispe Chup Chap Sir ko Jhukaye hue, band Aankhe kar, log chate hai - Javed Akhtar has again done a spectacular job with his lyrics. It will remind you of Farhan Akhtar's Zinda Ho Tum because the style is such. 

Jeene Mein Aye Maza

Jeene Mein Aye Maza will take you back to the old times and you will be instantly reminded of Raj Kapoor’s Jeena Yahan Marna Yahan. The best point about the song is it’s still catchy even if it’s connected to the old roots. The song has been sung by Ankur Tiwari. 

Har Gham Mein Khushi Hai

Sung by Ace and music is composed by Ace and Ishq Bector, Har Gham Mein Khushi Hai is a rap that will make you emotional and it hits the right chord. It’s syncing to all other raps in the album. Interestingly, all the raps have a message to give. 

Goriye 

This song is for all our Punjabi janta! No jukebox is completed without having a funky Punjabi number and Goriye is a high-tempo number sung by Kaka Bhaniawala, Arjun, Blitz & Desi Ma. This is also not an original number but taken from Ni Ek Tere Nain Goriye. The composers have made it more suitable to the current generation and have added that punk to it by making it peppier. 

India 91

With India 91, we come to the last song of the jukebox. Sung by MC Altaf, MC TodFod, 100 RBH, Maharya and Noxious D, this one is a fusion of Hindi-Marathi-Punjabi rap. You have tabla, drums and guitar that major instruments that come into play. You would love it! 

VERDICT: 

After a long time, there is a music album that feels fresh. It’s a perfect combination of high tempo rap, soft songs and poems. Hats off to the composers and singers of this jukebox. 

We give it an 80 out of 100 on Pinkvilla Meter!