5 Movies That Showcased The Life Of People In Dharavi's Slums

Dharavi locality of Mumbai is considered one of the largest slums around the world. It is the home of millions of people and dreams that are waiting for their time to turn into reality. The stories of these people often find a place in Bollywood scripts giving birth to some stellar movies of all time.

The city of dreams, Mumbai and the stories of its dreamers hit hard the Indian audiences and hence are portrayed by Bollywood film-makers. Movies like Gully Boy and Life In A Metro are still one of the viewers' favourites. Mumbai's Dharavi is India's largest slum and hence, a cavern of unheard stories and unfulfilled dreams. Bollywood has tried its best to give these stories a platform and given voice to the faceless dreams that die and are born everyday in this 2.1 square km of area. Here are a few movies that gave life to the gullies of Dharavi that you need to watch at least once.

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5 Bollywood Movies Based On Dharavi

Dharavi Bank

This MX Player series marks the digital debut of Suniel Shetty who plays the role of a mafia leader Thalaivan who heads the crime syndicate Dharavi Bank and rules every corner of Mumbai's slum colony Dharavi with power, muscle and money. His hold of Dharavi is a threat to CM Janvi Surve who appoints  Joint Commissioner Jayant Gavaskar to bring Thalaivan and his empire down. The web series was released on November 19.

Slumdog Millionaire

The Oscar-winning movie and the recipient of eight Academy Awards, Slumdog Millionaire showcased the dark and ugly side of Dharavi as its residents get exploited by corrupt and powerful people. The story of a young slum boy raised in misery and poverty who enters a quiz show and wins the grand prize of Rs 20 million. The movie is a reminder that no dream is unachievable if you are persistent and determined.

Dharavi (City Of Dreams)

This 1992 movie is another narrative that shows the life of a taxi driver in Dharavi who dreams of a comfortable and prosperous life for his family. He lives in Dharavi with his wife and finds it hard to make ends meet. He invests his savings in schemes and devises plans to break out of a life of poverty and misery but when his schemes fail, he comes under the radar of politicians and gangsters.

Gully Boy

Among millions of dreams in Dharavi, the movies represent the dreams of aspiring musicians who chase fame and recognition. The story is about Murad who uses his raps to give voice to the societal challenges faced by the people of Dharavi. His life is changed when he meets rapper MC Sher who helps him in his journey from rags to riches which will definitely not be easy. The movie was India's official entry for the International Feature Film category at the Oscars 2020.

Kaala

The movie throws light on the existence of slumlords and mafia gangs in Dharavi that pose threat to its residents. The story is about Karikaalan who is like a godfather to the people of the slum and constantly fights against the powerful politicians and dangerous gangsters to keep the people safe. The movie stars Rajnikanth, Huma Qureshi and Nana Patekar in important roles.