Gully Boy' gave us great push but we shouldn't be dependent on it: DIVINE

Zoya Akhtar's "Gully Boy" brought Mumbai's underground hip-hop scene to the mainstream and rapper DIVINEwhose life, along with rapper Naezy, inspired the filmsays they should now make use of the recognition and not be "dependent" on it.

The film, headlined by Ranveer Singh, chronicled the story of the rise of a rapper from Dharavi.

"Gully Boy" emerged as one of the most critically-acclaimed films of the season and has helped put the spotlight on the hip-hop culture, which was hitherto ignored.

DIVINE says, thanks to the film, the artistes aren't "alien anymore" and are now in the mainstream, with hip-hop reaching all corners of the country.

"The movie was a great push for us but we should not be dependent on the movie anymore. We should do our own thing. A mainstream movie came about us and now everybody knows about this scene in Mumbai.

"Now every city should be pushing and putting themselves out there because now there is an audience who is ready to listen," DIVINE told PTI.

The film, written by Zoya and Reema Kagtiwith dialogues by Vijay Maurya opened first in Berlin before a theatrical release in India.

"Gully Boy" went on to become a huge success and put the spotlight on emerging rappers in the country, especially DIVINE.

Asked if he feels his art can get affected with so much attention, the rapper says, "No. It clearly depends on how you take it. The film was being made since three and half a years.

"It always got me excited, obviously, but in the back of my head, I knew I'm here to do music, give the people what I have. My life is still the same, only the love has been getting bigger."
"I didn't have a word with her (Zoya) yet. If she's doing one then all the best to her. She has my love already."
"We are helping some like minded guys to grow with us and work as a team. This is the first time I'll be showcasing all the talent I have on the roaster."