A doctor and a DJ — Sanjay Meriya aka The Spindoctor is two people in one. The DJ of Mumbai-based hip-hop act Gully Gang got the crowd at Roxy spinning to Bolly hip-hop on June 22. Later, he got chatty with t2...

Welcome back to Calcutta! This is your fifth time performing in the city...

Yes. I have performed in UG Reincarnated, Myx and Roxy. I perform for all the hip-hop shows.

How did hip-hop start for you?

Before I became a DJ, I used to listen to stories about hip-hop. I was always influenced by the music and used to listen to it during my college days. So I started DJing as a hobby but then it became a full-time career. Then I became the DJ for Gully Gang, which is all about desi hip-hop and for me to represent that music in festivals and gigs is great.

We heard you are a doctor as well! How did that doctor-to-DJ jump happen?

Medicine was my primary career. I started DJing as a hobby as studies really stressed me out. I was really dedicated to DJing and I never compromised on my skills. So I kept working and updating them and soon people started noticing my work. It’s all about how good you are and if you are talented then it takes you ahead. 

So I guess that’s how the name The Spindoctor came?

Yes (laughs).

Coming back to Gully Gang, Zoya Akhtar is coming up with the Ranveer Singh-starrer Gully Boy...

It’s mainly about Divine, the founder and rapper of Gully Gang. It’s not a biopic but it’s inspired by Divine and Naezy and a lot of street rappers from Mumbai. They all look very well off but their roots are attached to the streets. It’s not always about bling-bling and since we have stayed true to the art, we are getting the recognition. 

Do you have a role in the movie?

I am not doing anything in the movie but I’ll be touring with the team and cast for the promotions. Divine is there in some parts and Ranveer Singh is playing the lead role. I can’t tell you the script though (smiles). To say the least, Ranveer is a rapper and he is trying his level best to be a good one. It is inspired by many stories.

Did you meet Ranveer? Anything you learnt from him?

Oh he’s a sweetheart. He is planning to come for our future shows as well. Divine made some tracks for the film and that’s how I met Ranveer. And he is a crazy guy, I just want to learn to be crazy like him. 

What kind of a response are you expecting the film to generate?

After it releases, many people will know about street hip-hop, especially Mumbai’s “gully” hip-hop. It will shed light on these boys from slums who are striving to come out of the zone and showcase themselves. 

Tell us about your life in the “gully”.

It’s pretty crazy out there. A very middle-class life where people want to make some money and want the cycle of life to go on. But they want to break the barriers and show off their culture.

Are you aware of Calcutta’s huge hip-hop following?

Calcutta is my favourite city to perform in. People are receptive to the music and they are here for the music. I don’t even have to do anything; just lose myself behind the console and let things happen. And the local artistes here are working really hard to make the genre work. Calcutta is like the hub!