Music
6 documentaries about Indian hip-hop that you need to watch
Check out some acclaimed documentaries that explore the hip-hop scene in India through rappers, producers, breakers, and more.
Whether you’ve been recently introduced to the Indian hip-hop scene or if you’ve been part of it for years, there’s always more to explore from the different corners of the country.
Check out these short documentary films to understand more about the people that are part of India’s growing hip-hop culture.
Kya Bolta Bantai? (2019)
Kya Bolta Bantai is a documentary by VICE which chronicles the rise of rap music across Mumbai and how DIVINE and Naezy popularised their unique brand of gully rap. The documentary interviews many local rappers – and also detractors – to understand how rap music evolved in the city.
Bombay 70 (2015)
Naezy was Mumbai’s breakthrough rap sensation a few years ago. This documentary about the early years of his career shows how his life in an impoverished neighbourhood fuelled his passion for hip-hop, even though his family were not able to understand it at first. His experiences in Kurla influenced much of his lyrics and also gave birth to the pin code representation that Mumbai’s rap scene has come to be known for.
SlumGods of Dharavi (2014)
In Dharavi – one of the largest slums in Asia – a movement called SlumGods initiates youngsters into hip-hop culture with a hope that they do not get swayed by untoward habits. This documentary by The Guardian explores the hopes and dreams of B-Boy Vikram and his mentor B-Boy Akku as both struggle with bringing their families on board with their love for breaking and hip-hop culture.
A new wave in India hip-hop: Azadi Records (2019)
This documentary falls under VICE Raps, an international series that touches upon unique stories in hip-hop from across the world. This episode is about Delhi-based Azadi Records, an independent hip-hop record label with a roster of artists like Prabh Deep, Seedhe Maut, Swadesi, Siri, Ahmer, Rak, Tienas, and many more. The story of Azadi Records began two years ago when Prabh Deep became the first rapper to sign to the newly-launched label by Mo Joshi and Uday Kapur. The label now boasts some of India’s finest hip-hop artists from across the country.
A Hip-Hop Uprising in Mumbai’s Nalasopara (2018)
This is a documentary by Scroll.in which explores the hip-hop scene in the Mumbai suburb of Nalasopara, with a focus on the formation of the crew Bombay Lokal. The members of the crew explain how the suburb became an unexpected hub for hip-hop and why they took up the social consciousness aspect of hip-hop from the early 1990s.
Sez On The Beat: The Producer Behind Indian Hip-Hop’s Breakout Hits (2018)
As part of the Indian Express Online series called Portraits, this documentary about then-Azadi Records artist Sez On The Beat follows the life of beat producer Sajeel Kapoor from Delhi. As part of the Azadi Records roster, Sez has produced beats and songs for some of the best rappers from across the country, including Delhi’s Prabh Deep and Seedhe Maut, Mumbai’s Tienas, and Kashmiri rapper Ahmer.
If you liked the above listed documentaries, you might like some of these by Red Bull Media House India.
- Gully Life: The Story of DIVINE: An in-depth documentary about Mumbai's favourite rapper, from his humble beginnings to global superstardom.
- This Is My Hood: A four-part mini-series about neighbourhoods around the country that have been integral to the growth of the hip-hop scene.
- Breaking New Ground: India’s Dance Revolution: A documentary that traces the journey of breaking in India, from its beginnings two decades ago to global recognition today.