Superboys of Malegaon Review: A charming, earthy yet entertaining ode to Nasir Shaikh and his friends

Friendship, filmmaking, and determination are the three pillars of Superboys of Malegoan and Reema Kagti along with Varun Grover have done a remarkable job mounting this film with their knack for amalgamating realism with deeply emotional storytelling.

Inspired by a real story, the film charts the journey of Malegaon filmmaker Nasir Shaikh, known for making low-budget parodies of Bollywood and Hollywood films with friends chipping in as actors and crew. The film opens by giving a peek into the lives of five friends in the city of Malegoan - Nasir, (Adarsh Gourav), Shafique (Shashank Arora), Farough (Vineet Kumar Singh), Akram (Anuj Singh Duhan) and Aleem (Pallav Singh) who are film obsessed ordinary people with ordinary jobs but with a passion to create something! The scenes, entertaining yet rooted, suck you into their day-to-day lives in Malegaon from 1997 to 2010 courtesy of the compelling screenplay and art design.  

Nasir is a wedding videographer, who also runs a video parlor that showcases pirated films. He dreams of becoming an actor, but his aspiration is often quashed by the harsh realities of his surroundings. However, a police raid on his parlor and heartbreak propels him to fast-track his dream of creating something of his own. Thus, a determined but resource-less Nasir decides to bring Mumbai to Malegoan, that is to make a movie in the city itself, setting him and his friends on a brave journey of filmmaking!

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Watch the trailer here!

The solid ensemble cast breathes life into their characters with great authenticity, humor, and heart, underlining the spirit and determination of a city that refuses to let its circumstances dictate her aspirations. Adarsh Gourav, Shashank Arora, and Vineet Kumar elevate the writing of the film with their sincere performances. Gourav plays Nasir, the amateur filmmaker who starts filmmaking as a passion but gets swayed by the commercial prospects of it, irking Farough (Vineet Kumar), the writer who is a stickler for art and originality in films. Both Gourav and Vineet have done a memorable job portraying the resolve, will, and clear-headedness of their characters. Shashank, who plays Shafique, Nasir's most loyal ally, also leaves a strong impression. Manjiri Pupala as Trupti, the fierce woman who becomes the heroine the boys need for their film and a strong presence in their lives, is another force to reckon with in the movie. Her embodiment of Trupti’s resilience and vulnerability adds to the efficacy of the film. Anuj Singh Duhan as Akram and Mirzapur fame Pallav Singh as Aleem also play their parts effectively. 

“Writer baap hota hai!” (Writer is the boss) - this dialogue by Vineet Kumar, which also features in the trailer, will keep reverberating in your mind throughout the film. With Superboys of Malegaon, Varun Grover has reiterated his commitment to deliver content that is unconventional and rooted yet entertaining. The screenplay, the characters, their colors, and their conflicts are beautifully penned by the celebrated writer making them relatable yet inspiring to the audience. 

Reema Kagti does an amazing job transforming this real-life story into a movie that will resonate universally. She diligently brings Malegaon’s grassroots filmmaking spirit to life, lacing the narrative with heart-warming moments without losing touch with authenticity. Sachin-Jigar’s music captures the pulse and essence of the film skillfully with background music and tracks. Swapnil Sonawane and Pranil Vishwasrao’s cinematography is another highlight of the film that immerses the audiences into the bustling lives and lanes of Malegoan. 

Superboys of Malegoan is now showing in theatres near you! 

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