From Supermen to Superboys of Malegaon
Directed by Reema Kagti, Superboys of Malegaon is a cinematic ode to the magic of dreams and the art of storytelling—a natural evolution of the 2008 documentary Supermen of Malegaon. The original film celebrated the unbridled enthusiasm of Malegaon’s amateur filmmaker Nasir Shaikh and his friends, who, armed with little more than a video camera, captured everything from local weddings to family gatherings. Their unique style turned everyday events into humorous spectacles—like an uncle’s repeated desert trips for gulab jamuns or Nasir’s quirky direction, where he guides his friend (and potential bride) to adjust the lighting as the groom feeds gulab jamuns to the bride. In this new narrative, Kagti transforms those spirited beginnings into a coming-of-age drama.
The film follows a tight-knit group of boys from Malegaon, a town nestled at the confluence of the Girna and Mosam rivers along the Mumbai-Agra National Highway near Nashik. Early on, we see them screening pirated Bollywood and Hollywood films at a local video parlor. The turning point comes when Nasir stumbles upon a vendor peddling “halal” and “haram” videos—a clever setup involving dual VCRs to record movies while pausing to cut out steamy scenes or trim prolonged slapstick moments reminiscent of Charlie Chaplin or Bruce Lee flicks. Their offbeat, kitschy presentations spark raucous laughter and boost their earnings—until an unexpected police raid shatters their equipment and dreams.
Undeterred by this setback, Nasir (earnestly portrayed by Vineet Kumar Singh) refuses to let his creative spark die. Pooling his modest savings of 12,000 rupees, he rallies his friends for an original project: a low-budget parody of the iconic Bollywood blockbuster Sholay. The film captures both humorous and deeply human moments—such as a standout audition where a determined heroine from a Muslim neighborhood insists on keeping her abaya.
Of love and lost dreams
The narrative also delves into Nasir’s love life. His infatuation with Mallika—a local girl whose father deems Nasir’s aspirations as a filmmaker unfit for managing a household—remains unreciprocated. In contrast, Shabeena, who has secretly adored Nasir for eight years and always believed in his talent, eventually wins his heart. After marrying him, she gently coaxes Nasir to accept her unwavering support and ultimately plays a crucial role in producing the documentary in 2008.
Amid the creative chaos, deeper personal struggles unfold. An embittered writer laments the loss of his cherished newspaper articles—meticulously saved over the years—only to watch them sold off for mere pennies by his stepmother, a poignant symbol of lost dreams and personal sacrifice. Meanwhile, the crew faces further heartbreak when internal conflicts and personal tragedies take their toll. After initial success—securing funds from a local matchbox seller and even signing up a local celebrity—the group fractures, and Nasir’s second film flops. A friend’s diagnosis of small cell lung cancer (a “rich man’s disease” compared to Rajesh Khanna’s condition in Anand) underscore the relentless hardships they face. But their authentic friendship survives all odds and forms the basis of their success story.
An intimate telling of the human experience
Kagti’s direction is refreshingly intimate, with cinematography (by Swapnil S. Sonawane) that bathes Malegaon’s dusty streets in a warm, incandescent glow. Every frame pulses with youthful energy—from the imaginative sequence where the “hero” rides a tire in a shallow pond to simulate flight (only to fall, with the crew more focused on retrieving the perfect shot than his well-being) to quiet moments of shared chai and samosas bought on credit. It is very sweet when Nasir draws the Superman costume and explains to a local tailor who has no clue what he is stitching, but the final results are wonderful! As is the light on the face of the “superman” as he watches himself on the silver screen. In another touching scene, a friend storms off after Nasir misses a coveted photo opportunity with a local “SRK,” highlighting both the humor and the bittersweet reality of their dreams.
Premiering in the Gala section at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival, Superboys of Malegaon, co produced by Zoya Akhtar, Ritesh Sidhwani, Farhan Akhtar and Kagti, is now streaming on Amazon Prime Video. This heartwarming and quietly revolutionary film reaffirms that cinema truly belongs to those who dare to tell their own stories—no matter where they come from. The theme song penned by Javed Akhtar and set to music by Sachin-Jigar is uplifting!