Mumbai's Dharavi hiphop finally gets its big Bollywood break

Danny Boyle introduced Dharavi - the Mumbai slum which is one of Asia's largest - to the world in his 2009 film Slumdog Millionaire.

However, the hip-hop movement has been brewing in the slum's shanties since 2000, with teen rappers meeting on Orkut communities for text rap battles.

From within these sprung groups like Mumbai's Finest, introducing rappers like Divine and Abhishek aka Ace.

Dharavi's hip-hop culture is often likened to the American political movement of the 1990s when woke rappers highlighted the frustrations of inner-city life though their music.

It's gaining popularity among slum teens because there is very little investment. Sample beats are easily available. All they need is the talent and material to make music.

Hence, a new generation of b-boys/girls, beatboxers, DJs and graffiti-artists.

Since Dharavi rappers were influenced by artists like Tupac and Eminem, they began by writing songs in English, mostly unsuccessful attempts at gangsta rap.

They felt totally fake as they didn't reflect their own lives or struggles.

Divine and Tony Sebastian were among the first ones to go regional, freely talking about local issues.

Now there is rap in Hindi, English, Tamil and Marathi.

The Dharavi rappers have come long way since.

Sebastian has a deal with Qyuki, Shekhar Kapur and AR Rahman's social media platform. He has also performed on Coke Studio with Ram Sampath.

Akash Dhangar's SlumGods has collaborated with several international hip-hop artists including Tokyo-based DJ Sarasa, AKA Silverboombox and California-based MC Mandeep Sethi.

With Gully Boy and Hichki, things are going to get bigger.