Zoya Akhtar's Gully Boy made its world premiere at Berlinale 2019, one of the most prestigious films festivals. The event was attended by most of the Gully Boy team, including the director and the two lead stars, Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt. As per Cameron Bailey, Artistic Director, Toronto International Film Festival, the movie got the maximum cheers he has heard in the last 20 years for a movie screening. Well, looks like it was an Indian show after all at the German film festival! Gully Boy Movie Review! First Reactions to Ranveer Singh's Rapper Movie are Out!

The first reviews are already in, with praises pouring in for Gully Boy, especially for Akhtar's performance and Ranveer, Alia's performances. Baradwaj Rangan, in his review in Film Companion, said that the movie had its flaws but the movie is "it’s moving, it’s rousing, it’s everything". Ranveer Singh-Alia Bhatt Starrer ‘Gully Boy’ Elicits Loud Cheers at Berlin International Film Festival 2019.

Joining Rangan in his praises are the foreign critics too. Publications like The Hollywood Reporter and Variety have also put out good reviews for the film. Check out what they have to say about the film:

The Hollywood Reporter says, "Zoya Akhtar (Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara) directs with flair and passion and, aided by explosive performances from a right-on cast, triumphs over the familiarity of the star-is-born storyline. Her main asset is Ranveer Singh, who broke into Bollywood with the rom com Band Baajat Baaraat and who here shows a pleasingly full emotional range that extends to drama and hip hop. With his hair combed over his eyes and noticeably muscle-bound, he is heroic but mild-mannered, rarely exceeding the sphere of believability. Lending strong backup are Alia Bhatt (Raazi) as his volatile love interest Safeena and Siddhant Chaturvedi in the role of his rap guru and pal Sher."

Variety says, "A Bollywood movie about a rapper from the slums may sound derivative, but what does that matter when “Gully Boy” revels in high-wattage screen chemistry and an inclusive social message, all served up in a slickly enjoyable production showcasing Ranveer Singh’s many charms? Zoya Akhtar’s most accomplished film to date is a mainstream rap musical about a Muslim guy from working-class Mumbai determined to break free from the strictures of expectation and class, all served up with generous helpings of deftly written hip-hop lyrics and a largely well-woven narrative that’s so likeable one can almost forgive how the script barely bothers to resolve an important plot element."

Gully Boy is releasing in India this week on February 14. Considering that it is the subsequent release for Ranveer Singh after the Rs 200 crore grosser Simmba, expectations are high from the film to perform admirably at the box office.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Feb 11, 2019 04:48 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).