Reema Kagti’s Superboys of Malegaon attempts to celebrate the spirit of grassroots filmmaking but struggles to move beyond a predictable underdog narrative. While the film pays homage to dreamers who dare to create cinema against all odds, its execution often feels too polished for the raw, gritty reality it aims to depict.
A Familiar Yet Compelling Story
Based on the true story that inspired the 2008 documentary Supermen of Malegaon, the film follows Nasir Shaikh (Adarsh Gourav), a self-taught filmmaker determined to bring Hollywood and Bollywood parodies to his small town. With his close-knit crew—including loyal Shafique (Shashank Arora), writer-purist Farogh (Vineet Kumar Singh), and videographer Akram (Anuj Singh Duhan)—Nasir defies economic hardship to chase his cinematic dreams.
While the premise is undoubtedly inspiring, Superboys of Malegaon lacks the raw intensity that made its documentary predecessor so powerful. The struggles of Malegaon’s filmmakers feel sanitized, their hardships softened by a script that often prioritizes humor over hard-hitting realism.
Performances That Carry the Film
Adarsh Gourav delivers a sincere performance, portraying Nasir’s relentless passion with conviction. Shashank Arora and Vineet Kumar Singh provide strong support, especially in scenes exploring male camaraderie and creative conflicts. The performances add depth, but the film never fully allows its characters to grapple with the true weight of their circumstances.
Missed Opportunities in Storytelling
The screenplay by Varun Grover is sharp in moments, especially when it highlights class disparities and the power of collective filmmaking. However, the film stops short of challenging the industry’s biases. The Akhtar-produced project seems caught between admiration for grassroots filmmaking and a glossy presentation that ironically contradicts the very spirit of the story it tells.
While Superboys of Malegaon delivers humor and warmth, it never quite captures the raw struggle and ingenuity of the real-life artists it depicts. The film succeeds as a lighthearted ode to dreamers but misses the mark in being a truly gritty, transformative tale.
Final Verdict: A Good Film That Could Have Been Great
⭐ Rating: 3/5
