 "Superboys of Malegaon Movie Review")
Language: Hindi
Director: Reema Kagti
Cast: Adarsh Gourav, Vineet Kumar Singh, Shashank Arora, Manjiri Pupala, Muskkaan Jaferi
Like Kiran Rao’s Laapataa Ladies, Superboys of Malegaon has shown yet again that you don’t really need stars to make a successful film. All you need is a story that touches your heart and brilliant craftsmen. It is indeed a delightful film which will make you laugh aloud and cry at the same time. The movie emphasises on resilience and the burning desire for filmmaking. It’s about a group of young men in Malegaon who are crazily in love with movies.
Inspired from Faiza Ahmad Khan’s documentary Supermen of Malegaon (2008) is a true tribute to the passionate filmmaker from Malegaon, Nasir Shaikh. This movie makes you believe in yourself and your passion for filmmaking. The film in a loud and clear manner says that if you have a dream you need to protect it and all you need for that is a good set of friends and the burning desire inside you. Nasir Shaikh’s story is rooted not just in filmmaking, but also shows how one can overcome challenges and the fact that he was stubborn enough in a good way to work towards his dream to bring Mumbai to Malegaon. He was sure that Bollywood will not value his talent.
Based on the life of filmmaker Nasir Shaikh, director of the film Reema Kagti has transformed this real-life tale into a universally resonant film. This movie was first released in several film festivals. Remember watching the film at the Red Sea International Film Festival in Jeddah for the first time and while watching this movie, I could feel tears rolling down my cheeks. Reema Khagti has the true ability to infuse realism into heartfelt storytelling, she brings Malegaon’s grassroots filmmaking spirit to the forefront in a touching and inspiring way.
The best thing about the film is the way Reema Kagti has shown the different layers of the character of Nasir Shaikh (Adarsh Gaurav), the way he loves his friends and cares for them, in the same way he too is power crazy, egoistic, insecure and sometimes selfish. Each and every actor starting from Adarsh Gourav to Vineet Kumar Singh, Shashank Arora, Manjiri Pupala and Muskkaan Jaferi have given their best performances.
The main hero of the film is definitely the story. A thought provoking film revolving around the boys of Malegaon is a true tribute to cinema in a world where Bollywood is obsessed with making mindless, big budget movies. The best thing about Superboys of Malegaon is that though it is led by Adarsh Gourav, each and every character plays an important role. The movie retains its rustic style and yet it is an engaging cinematic experience.
Immensely immersive, Superboys of Malegaon just doesn’t revolve around the boys. The film shows how women play an equally important part in making the dreams of these boys come true. Manjiri Pupala plays the role of Trupti, an actress who supports her family and agrees to play a part in the film made by the super boys of Malegaon. In her, the boys discover the perfect heroine for their film.
Muskkaan Jaferi portrays Shabeena, Nasir’s (Adarsh Gourav) is a true pillar of support to her husband and the reason for his success. Riddhi Kumar plays Mallika, Nasir’s love interest, enriching the narrative and making each character an integral part of the story.
Rating: 4 out of 5
WATCH the trailer of Superboys of Malegaon here:
Lachmi Deb Roy is the entertainment editor of Firtspost, Network18. She reviews films and series with a gender lens. Her interviews are called 'Not Just Bollywood' because she takes huge interest in world cinema. OTT over theatrical releases is her preference unless and until its a King Khan film. She takes interest in fashion, food and art reviews too.