MUMBAI: Music plays a distinctive role in Hindi films. There have been films like 'Aashiqui' and 'Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam’ where music elevated the plot and films like  ‘Rockstar’, ‘Rock On’ and 'Saaz' where music formed the basis of the story. This trend appears to be picking up, if films in the pipeline are anything to go by.

We could count at least four Hindi films, being made by directors with different oeuvres, that are slated for release within the next one year. Take a look.

Rock On!! 2

This rock musical is the long pending sequel to the original that had us all reaching for our hankies by the end, and humming its songs till this day. Directed by Shujaat Saudagar, produced by Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani, and with music by Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy, this film will hit theatres in November 2016. 

While the old cast of Farhan Akhtar, Prachi Desai, Arjun Rampal and Purab Kohli will reprise their roles without Luke Kenny, the latest addition to the film’s cast is Shraddha Kapoor. The musical drama flick looks truly promising and the shooting will start in August in the mountainous terrain of Shillong, Meghalaya. According, to media reports, the lead actress Shraddha Kapoor will be singing all the songs in 'Rock On!! 2'. 

Lucknow Central

After 'Airlift', director Nikhil Advani’s next venture ‘Lucknow Central’ is set in a jail with music at its core. The film is said to contain music as an experience with a few of jail inmates rediscovering the zeal to survive their existence. They reach a decision to follow their passion for music by creating a band within the jail surroundings. The film will be directed by Nikhil’s assistant Ranjit Tiwari and Farhan Akhtar will be playing the lead role. According to sources, Farhan will be seen in a totally different avatar and the music will be composed by A R Rahman. The film will start rolling during the end of October or November this year.

Gully Boy (Tentative)

Zoya Akhtar, who has made some interesting films like ‘Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara’ and ‘Dil Dhadakne Do’, will for the first time toy with music as the centre of a film. This one is going to based on the lives of street rappers in Mumbai. Tentatively named ‘Gully Boy’, the film will roll next year.

According to sources, the director is a huge fan of hip-hop music and her upcoming movie is a film inspired by real life rappers from Mumbai’s chawls.

Ranveer Singh is reportedly  going to be the lead in Zoya Akhtar's next film, and he will play a rapper. We can only speculate that ‘Gully Boy’ will portray Singh as an underdog from the streets of Mumbai who gains fame and notoriety as a city rapper. Ranveer's role is modelled upon Mumbai-based rappers Naezy and Divine, who also came out with an anthem for Mumbai, titled ‘Mere Gully Mein’ , according to media reports. All we can speculate is Rapper Divine and Rapper Naezy might work with Zoya for the music of this upcoming film.

Banjo:

Banjo, directed by award winning filmmaker Ravi Jadhav, is said to be a musical drama flick. In this film, Riteish Deshmukh will play the character of a Banjo player while Nargis will portray the role of a disc jockey. Produced by Krishika Lulla under the Eros International banner, the musical is scheduled for release on 23 September 2016. The music will be scored by duo Vishal-Shekhar.