For many people, cinema is the ultimate form of escapism. After working at your 9-to-5 job, you meet up with friends on Friday night and sit down to watch a film to unwind and decompress after a long week. In India, its cinema industry has recently been called its strongest currency in tourism, with its box office expected to hit $2.8bn by 2028. While everyone associates India with Bollywood, a small town called Malegaon made its name in the filmmaking industry with local talent creating spoofs and comedies – eventually being highlighted in a 2008 documentary Supermen of Malegaon. The documentary would later inspire a feature film, Superboys of Malegaon, directed by Reema Kagti and starring Adarsh Gourav.
There have been many films that see avid film fans become filmmakers. From Super 8 and Son of Rambow to The Fabelmans, it is a big step from watching films to making them and yet, the amateurs persevere with passion and drive to bring their vision onto the big screen. Superboys of Malegaon sets itself with a similar premise – set in 1997 Malegaon, in the dying times of VHS, Nasir (Gourav) regularly enjoys old martial arts films such as Jackie Chan and Bruce Lee, as well as the comedic antics of Buster Keaton. However, his family cinema is quiet as locals want Bollywood films made in Mumbai so Nasir takes it upon himself to make a locally made film – a low-budget spoof of Bollywood hit Sholay.
Within this monumental venture is a charming coming-of-age story among a group of underdogs. Nasir dreams of being a filmmaker, struggling writer Farogh (Vineet Kumar Singh) turns his talents to become a screenwriter, and their friend Shafique (Shashank Arora) is eager to act but is regularly overlooked for someone louder, taller or better-looking. In addition, the film crew comprises friends who have to balance production with their day job. Cinematographer Swapnil S. Sonawane and screenwriter Varun Grover reiterate that Malegaon is not like Hollywood – there is no glitz and glamour among Malegaon’s run-down streets and everyone doesn’t quit their jobs for super-stardom: they all have bills to pay and are seeking for a means to survive. It may not sound overly classy but Grover and Sonawane imbue realism within the landscape, retaining the struggles of the working class as they dare to go against social conventions to achieve their dreams.
Superboys of Malegaon slightly falters in the mid-section due to tensions amid the group that sees Nasir’s ambitions and directorial entitlement clash with Farough’s hopes to write an original picture. The discomfort between the characters occasionally comes across as narrative clichés to fill in the time to accommodate a couple of time jumps, notably to the noughties and the digital age. The changing of the times essentially brings the group down to Earth through harsh criticisms of the filmmaking industry and altering audience attitudes, which needlessly drag out the premise and exacerbate the already lingering tension within the group. The film almost looks destined to become predictable but Kagti’s third act sees a heartfelt endeavour that reminds audiences of the power of cinema. Thanks to a superhero-inspired action film, along with some rudimentary green screen, the climax highlights the group’s true talents and reminds them of their love of cinema.
Meanwhile, the cast helps lift the narrative through their impactful performances. Gourav balances hope and heart as Nasir, and Singh relays the frustration of a struggling writer. Additional credit has to go to Arora, whose commitment to Nasir and compassion, especially to local actress and single mother Trupti (Manjiri Pupala), allow him to stand out from the background. Pupala and Muskkaan Jaferi, who plays aspiring lawyer Shabeena, deliver strong performances as women wanting to make their mark amid India’s patriarchal society.
Subtly wholesome and full of beautiful shots, Superboys of Malegaon is a grounded ode to independent Indian cinema and the craft of filmmaking.
Superboys of Malegaon is out in UK cinemas on 28 February.
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Director: Reema Kagti; Varun Grover
Stars: Adarsh Gourav, Vineet Kumar Singh, Shashank Arora, Anuj Singh Duhan
Runtime: 131 minutes
Country: India
