Superboys of Malegaon - Small town, Big Dreams

Superboys of Malegaon

Hindi / Drama
127 mins
PrimeVideo

 

Directed by Reema Kagti and co-written with Varun Grover and Shoaib Naseer, Superboys of Malegaon (SoM) retells an incredible true story with warmth and wit. Backed by a talented crew and cast, it is a part satire, part tribute, and a full-blown love letter to the power of small-town dreaming.

Set in the dusty, cinema-obsessed town of Malegaon, the film captures the joy that Bollywood often forgets—the joy of storytelling without money, access, or reason - Just the need.

Nasir (Adarsh Gourav), who helps run his brother’s video parlour and shoots weddings on the side, dreams of making a movie. Alongside failed poet Farogh (Vineet Kumar Singh) and a makeshift crew led by the loyal Shafigue (Shashank Arora), he sets out to make "Malegaon ke Sholay". 

Their DIY passion project unexpectedly takes off, turning Nasir into a local legend—until ego and reality catch up, splintering the group. Years later, a fresh crisis reunites them for one more shot at cinematic magic.

The film has a handmade charm. Moody lighting and desaturated tones lend it a wistful air, while the story unfolds with affection for its ragtag heroes—men chasing green-screen dreams while juggling class, cash, and daily survival. The struggle is visible, but never melodramatic. The humor is gentle, the sadness unspoken.

Adarsh Gourav is phenomenal—his stillness speaks volumes. Vineet Kumar Singh is steady, we have seen him do better. But it is  Shashank Arora, playing against his usual frenetic type, who delivers the most moving performance.

The joy of this film lies in its depiction of filmmaking as jugaad. From stitching together edits, and a live juice vendor and vanity van for the leading lady,  the film finds hilarity and poignancy in resourcefulness. In Malegaon, anyone can be Superman—even in gumboots!

Technically, the movie is well held. Sachin-Jigar’s music blends wistfully into the narrative. The production design and cinematography stay understated, never distracting from the story.

Some flaws are hard to miss—the film spans 15 years, but no one visibly ages. Female characters, though sincere, are sidelined—a surprise from a Reema Kagti film. A little more about how their lives evolved would have added depth and had us pining!

Minor quibbles aside,  Superboys of Malegaon is a quietly radical reminder that cinema doesn’t belong to the privileged few. It belongs to anyone with a story, a second hand camcorder, a green screen and a stitched cape.