WATCH! EXCLUSIVE: Reema Kagti & Adarsh Gourav on the Superboys of Malegaon | Not Just Bollywood

As we are all eagerly waiting for Superboys of Malegaon, Adarsh Gourav mentions to Firstpost his experience of meeting real life Nasir Shaikh. Adarsh says, “We ended up making a film together while I was in Malegaon, and, you know, I documented the entire process. We went to places that Nasir and his friends used to actually hang at, all those years ago. You know, the cafe where they would hang out and discuss an idea was a place called Adarsh Hotel.”

WATCH the full video interview here:

Filmmaker Reema Kagti too mentioned that they aren’t looking at a big opening number. “But the expectation is that people like you will encourage the audience to go in.”

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Edited excerpts from the interview:

How much of cinematic liberty was taken for this particular movie? 

Reema: It’s a feature film, and in that sense, we had to dramatise it. So we have taken certain liberties, but nothing is an absolute lie. It has come from research. It comes from the truth, and sometimes what we’ve tried to do is evoke a sense of what was going on at Nasir (Adarsh Gourav) or what Nasir was actually trying to do as opposed to real life incidents. But, by and large, the whole movie is coming from the truth. Nothing is really made up in that sense.

Adarsh, when you first met Nasir, what was your first impression?

My first impression was that he was a very charming, funny man who was constantly cracking jokes and loved telling stories. I actually got to spend a lot of time with Nasir Bhai. I was in Malegaon for a couple of weeks. We ended up making a film together while I was in Malegaon, and, you know, I documented the entire process. We went to places that Nasir and his friends used to actually hang at, all those years ago. You know, the cafe where they would hang out and discuss an idea was a place called Adarsh Hotel.

And similarly, there was a field on the outskirts of the town where Nasir would go and sit under a tree when he would want to be away from everything. So it was a very strangely spiritually awakening process, while we were doing it. I feel like when you’re divulging so much about yourself to a new person. I am so grateful that he trusted me with everything and made me meet all the people from his life, from his social circle, family, friends, everybody who helped make him the man he is today.

Reema, are you also very choosy with the kind of films that you want to make?

I think there’s a lot of ideas that do fascinate you, but the ones that I think make it through are the ones that really grab you and have that longevity.

Adarsh, when you met Nasir, did he mention that he wants to come to Mumbai or be a part of Bollywood? 

 No. I think he wants to bring Mumbai to Malegaon . He still wants to do that.

The appetite for good cinema is increasing with the audience evolving. It is quite a pressure on craftsmen, directors, even writers. So, how much of this do you take as a challenge?

Reema: I see it as a tremendous opportunity. And honestly, from the time that we’ve come out completing the film, whether it’s as a Tiger Baby or an Excel or Prime Video or, Amazon or MGM Studios, this incidentally happens to be their first Hindi film release, you know, and everybody kind of really believed in the film. We are looking at an international release on the 28th. The film will simultaneously release here and in several other countries.

And, I’m just really grateful for this opportunity, actually, Because I honestly believe that if people like the film and it’s got good word-of-mouth, it will do something that we will be happy about.

When I watched this movie at the Red Sea Film Festival, it was completely houseful. So what is your expectation when the movie gets released in India because theatrical release is going through a low phase? 

We know that and we have limited release in India in that sense. None of us are looking at a big opening number. But the expectation is that people like you will encourage the audience to go in. The expectation is a very good word-of-mouth, because till now, whoever sees it, whoever we met after that. it’s just been overwhelming– the response. I think the audience today does believe a word-of-mouth. That’s the most reliable advertising I think.

Zoya Akhtar and Reema Kagti’s film Superboys of Malegaon will be released on February 28.

WATCH the trailer of Superboys of Malegaon here: