Highlights
‘Superboys of Malegaon’ has already released in theatres near you. Directed by Reema Kagti, this film is inspired by the true story of Nasir Shaikh, a self-made man. Produced by Excel Entertainment and Tiger Baby, this release is an ode to friendship and filmmaking.
It is understandable to describe ‘Superboys of Malegaon‘ as a rollercoaster of emotions, ambition, friendship, affection and pure cinema. Kagti has done a fabulous job at directing this film based on the art of filmmaking, steering clear of cliches in this genre.
Superboys of Malegaon: a spoiler-free introduction
Bathed in perfectly paced direction and terrific performances by cast members, ‘Superboys of Malegaon’ is inspired by an original story. It is based on the journey of Nasir Shaikh in Malegaon, a small city in Nashik, Maharashtra.
This project has taken nearly half a decade to come to fruition. ‘Superboys of Malegaon’ – inspired by the 2012 documentary ‘Supermen of Malegaon’ – seamlessly zooms in on Malegaon’s film industry and its epicentre Nasir.
Fueled by his craze for cinema and supported by his best pals, Nasir made hyperlocal parodies of some of the most prominent blockbusters offered by the Indian film industry, such as ‘Sholay’ and ‘Shaan’. Running for 131 minutes, this film is about the craziest bunch of people.
Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Reema Kagti, famous for her earlier projects like ‘Talaash’ and ‘Gold’, ‘Superboys of Malegaon’ captures the journey of a bunch of friends in the late 1990s and the 2000s. The fondness for cinema is so deeply embedded in the film.
For these characters from Malegaon, cinema is not just an escape from the reality, it is a path to make the reality more bearable. They are adamant about making a ‘classic’. There are three things I should highlight about cinema and the Superboys.
1. It is cinema Superboys of Malegaon fight for.
2. It is cinema that helps Superboys of Malegaon find a purpose in life.
3. It is cinema that helps Superboys of Malegaon make sense of reality.
Nasir, accompanied by one of his friends, captures marriages in Malegaon. But he also helps his elder sibling run a small video parlour. Nasir likes to present Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton at the theatre. But do they lure people in the era of commercial hits like DDLJ?
Unfortunately not. Nasir stumbles upon a method to make things better. He combines Charlie Chaplin, Jackie Chan, Bruce Lee and Buster Keaton – and people start to appreciate this rare blend too. But the issue of piracy soon knocks at the door.
Nasir decides to explore the art of filmmaking so that piracy is no longer an issue. He is supported by Shafique, Farogh, Akram, Irfan and Aleem. One is part of the loom industry, the other is a teacher, one sells dry fruits and one is a writer. Do they succeed, though?
Malegaon Ke Sholay does the trick: But one demands originality
Nasir Shaikh, supported by his personal fortune of Rs 12,000 at the time, plunges into filmmaking – creating parodies of Hindi cinema hits – for the people of Malegaon in their language. The team presents ‘Malegaon Ke Sholay’. It does the trick, too.
‘Malegaon Ke Sholay‘ becomes a local hit. Has Nasir brought Bombay to Malegaon? He is not done yet. The locals adore this release as it presents a fresh take on Ramesh Sippy’s mega-hit. Housefull is often the term accompanying this release.
But Farogh is looking for original stuff. He is adamant about creating something that is not a parody of the already hit releases. Thoroughly upset about the knockoffs that Nasir produces, Farogh shifts to Mumbai in the hope of finding takers.
“Shauk paal ke kya karega, Malegaon me tu marega”
In the earlier sections of ‘Superboys of Malegaon’, you can find Nasir and Shafiq on a scooter spotting a plane flying high in the sky. Shafiq is truly fascinated by airplanes and dreams of being on it one day.
This moment is going to stay rent-free in my head for days. Here is the reason. The plane is still the topic of discussion and Shafiq starts singing: “Shauk paal ke kya karega, Malegaon me tu marega”. Laughing, Nasir joins him.
This moment is immensely simple but tells a big truth about something people in the tier-1 cities across India are likely to take for granted. It is the licence to dream. ‘Superboys of Malegaon’ has many such moments of emotional authenticity.
“Writer baap hota hai”
Farogh is looking for originality. He is seeking support to build something that is not a spin-off of a blockbuster, as already mentioned. In the mid of ‘Superboys of Malegaon’, you can find Farogh and Nasir getting into a heated argument.
Farogh shouts: “Writer baap hota hai”. This statement is immensely important in an ecosystem infamous for not offering its writers the recognition they are worthy of. The makers have done a great job for highlighting this aspect related to the entertainment industry.
Superboys of Malegaon: Character arc and little details in background
Directed by Reema Kagti, ‘Superboys of Malegaon’ understands the strength of little details. The story seamlessly leaps through time and so does the technology of each period. Cameras change and CDs take the spotlight, for instance.
The Nasir-Farogh equation is a hit. Playing Nasir Shaikh in the film, Adarsh Gourav has been an effortless performer throughout his career. He is a charmer and does a great job at commanding the screen in this project, too. He gets ample screentime.
Vineet Kumar Singh, playing Farogh in “Superboys of Malegaon’, recently made headlines for his strong performance in ‘Chhaava’, featuring Vicky Kaushal in the lead role. It has been reported that he improvised a key dialogue in his latest project.
Prominent for his deep and substantial roles, Shashank Arora ruled our hearts as Shafiq of Malegaon. His character is intensely loyal to his friends and shines bright among other characters in the film.
Female stars do not enjoy a lot of attention in ‘Superboys of Malegaon’. Mallika (Riddhi Kumar), the girl Nasir is set to marry, is out of his league. Shabeena (Muskaan Jaferi), is an aspiring legal personnel and also has a crush on Nasir. Do they end up together, though?
Trupti (Manjiri Pupala) has a strong presence in the film. She is the only female cast in the all-male group. Trupti is a local artist and seeks to escape an unhappy marriage. Is she going to succeed as ‘Malegaon Ke Sholay’ turns into a local commercial hit?
Superboys of Malegaon: Netizens speak
#SuperboysofMalegaon is proof that true artists never stop creating. A heartfelt ode to filmmaking, this Reema Kagti directorial is powered by stellar performances and an inspiring story. Unmissable! #AdarshGourav #RiteshSidhwani #FarhanAkhtar #ZoyaAkhtar pic.twitter.com/hPvzUCcoB4
— दिव्यांश शर्मा (@Journo_Divyansh) February 28, 2025
Superboys of Malegaon: Hit or miss?
This Reema Kagti-directorial has a fresh take on ‘the courage to dream and do something big’. ‘Superboys of Malegaon’ is a hit as it seamlessly explores emotions, ambition, friendship, affection and pure cinema. You are going to remember it.
In some places though, you are likely to feel like the plot has been rushed. It’s like the makers needed to send in a message and they rushed the scene, not offering enough time for the characters to pause, breathe and move ahead.
So far, ‘Superboys of Malegaon’ has amassed Rs 0.28 crore in Day 1 India net collection, as per Sacnilk.
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