Mumbai, India – In the bustling metropolis of Mumbai, where the cacophony of daily life often drowns out individual struggles, a powerful movement has emerged from the unlikeliest of spaces. Dubhashi Ground in Vile Parle, on Saturday evenings, transforms into a vibrant arena where delivery boys, milkmen, labourers, and rickshaw drivers find their voices amplified through the raw energy of hip-hop. This transformative space is the heart of the Vile Parle Cypher, a grassroots rap and hip-hop collective that has inspired a compelling documentary, "Unreleased," by Mumbai-based filmmaker Imran Shamsi. The film, released on YouTube in August, is more than just a chronicle of musical performances; it is a profound exploration of identity, resilience, and the universal human need to be heard.
The Genesis of a Movement: From Marginalization to Empowerment
The Vile Parle Cypher, spearheaded by Kuldeep Jaswant Singh Chandaliya, known by his stage name Deep/Psy, was born out of a shared sense of neglect. Chandaliya, a rapper himself, recounts the frustration of attending rap sessions across the city where participants like him, often from working-class backgrounds, were consistently overlooked. Their performances were rarely recorded, their contributions unacknowledged. "We began this cypher because whenever we attended sessions across the city, we didn’t get any priority. Our videos wouldn’t be recorded or posted. So that’s when we decided to start something of our own," Chandaliya explains. "I never thought that it would grow so much."
What began as a localized initiative to reclaim a space for marginalized artists has blossomed into a nationwide phenomenon, attracting participants from as far afield as Assam and Nepal. The cypher, an informal gathering of rappers, beatboxers, and breakdancers, has become a sanctuary where individuals can shed the burdens of their daily lives and express their innermost thoughts and experiences.
"Unreleased": A Cinematic Journey into the Heart of the Cypher
Filmmaker Imran Shamsi, founder and director of STRT91, a cultural media platform, stumbled upon the Vile Parle Cypher serendipitously. Initially intending to capture a brief Instagram Reel, Shamsi found himself captivated by the raw authenticity and emotional depth of the performances. "A colleague of mine sent a rap video from Vile Parle and I thought about doing a 90-second video about the scene," Shamsi recalls. "In fact, when I left my office, I told my colleagues that I would return in half an hour. But I left the cypher after eight hours."
The experience was transformative for Shamsi. He realized that the stories unfolding at Dubhashi Ground transcended the ephemeral nature of social media content. "However, I didn’t know that it was going to be a documentary. I just wanted to keep listening to them," he admits. "Unreleased" was born from this profound connection, a testament to the power of unfiltered expression.
The documentary meticulously traces the evolution of the Vile Parle Cypher, weaving together the narratives of its performers and the impact it has had on its ever-growing audience. Performances, captured on smartphones and shared on the Instagram handle @vileparlescene, serve as snapshots of individual journeys, each rap a unique chapter in a collective story.
Themes of Resilience and Identity: Beyond the Conventional Flex
What sets the Vile Parle Cypher apart, according to Shamsi, is the profound vulnerability and honesty embedded in its lyrics. While many rap scenes often focus on bravado and material success, the artists at Vile Parle delve into the complexities of their lives, addressing themes that resonate deeply with their lived realities.
"People usually flex a lot when they rap. However, this can get monotonous, and I was sick of it," Shamsi observes. "These performers, however, were flexing their vulnerability and talking about things not working out for them. They talk about missing their mothers, not being dealt a fair hand in life, and the politics in the country." This raw introspection offers a stark contrast to the often-superficial narratives prevalent in mainstream hip-hop.
A significant aspect of the cypher’s identity formation lies in how its participants introduce themselves – through their pin codes. This practice, Shamsi explains, is a deliberate assertion of belonging and a rejection of traditional identifiers like religion, caste, or profession. "They come from a certain pin code and travel to an area with a different code. It gives them a sense of identity and belonging," he elaborates. "They don’t want to be identified by their religion, caste or profession. It is their way of saying, ‘I come from this place, and I know all its problems and joys. This is my hood, and I want to represent my area.’" This geographical affiliation becomes a powerful symbol of solidarity, uniting individuals from diverse backgrounds under a shared banner of their urban landscape.
Personal Triumphs and Heartbreaks: The Human Element
"Unreleased" does not shy away from the deeply personal narratives that fuel the cypher’s creative output. The documentary offers an intimate glimpse into Kuldeep Chandaliya’s life, particularly his struggles with his mother’s deteriorating health during the film’s production. His poignant lyrics, "Here, homes are sold to buy a mother’s medicine," encapsulate the profound sacrifices and emotional toll faced by many within the community.
Tragically, Kuldeep’s mother passed away just days before the documentary’s release. Shamsi expresses deep regret over not being fully aware of the severity of her illness. "He did not inform us, and we didn’t know her illness was at its terminal stage," Shamsi laments. "If I had known about it, then I would have gone with my computer and shown her the documentary. That is one thing I really regret; she must have been so proud of her son." This personal tragedy underscores the raw and often painful reality that informs the art produced within the Vile Parle Cypher.
The Power of Being Heard: Social Media as a Launchpad
In an era dominated by social media, the Vile Parle Cypher leverages platforms like Instagram to amplify its reach and provide a vital avenue for discovery. While social media can be a crowded space where attention is fiercely contested, the cypher offers a more intimate and supportive environment for artists to be heard.
"Being heard is of value to them," Shamsi emphasizes. "With social media, not everybody can earn everyone’s attention. The performers attend the cyphers so that they can be heard by more people and get discovered." This sentiment is particularly poignant for many of the artists, who hail from financially disadvantaged families and often work as gig workers and daily-wage labourers. The cypher provides them with a platform to showcase their talent, potentially opening doors to opportunities that might otherwise remain inaccessible.
The very existence of the Vile Parle Cypher, and its subsequent documentation in "Unreleased," serves as a powerful counter-narrative to the often-marginalized voices of urban India. It highlights how art, particularly in its most raw and unadulterated form, can become a potent tool for self-expression, community building, and social commentary.
The Future of "Unreleased" and the Vile Parle Cypher
Shamsi is optimistic about the future of both the documentary and the Vile Parle Cypher. He plans to organize further screenings of "Unreleased" and envisions a new series dedicated to showcasing talented rappers from across the country. "We are planning a few more screenings. I want to start another series in which we feature different rappers from the country based on the quality of their work. I am engrossed in their world through their lyrics," he states.
The title "Unreleased" itself carries a profound meaning, as Shamsi clarifies: "It doesn’t mean unfinished; it just means unheard." This encapsulates the core mission of the Vile Parle Cypher and the documentary – to give a platform to those whose voices have been silenced or overlooked. As the cypher continues to grow and inspire, and as "Unreleased" reaches a wider audience, the movement’s impact is poised to extend far beyond the confines of Dubhashi Ground, resonating with the universal yearning to be seen, heard, and understood.
The Vile Parle Cypher stands as a vibrant testament to the power of collective expression and the resilience of the human spirit. In a city that often prioritizes the loudest voices, this grassroots movement ensures that the stories of the everyday individuals, articulated through the powerful medium of hip-hop, are finally brought to the forefront, unreleased no more.
