Superboys of Malegaon (2025) Review!!

Synopsis – The journey of an aspiring filmmaker as he bands together his group of friends to make a film for his town, Malegaon.

My Take – In a world where originality, art and quality has almost become non-existent in Hindi cinema, Amazon MGM Studios, Excel Entertainment and Tiger Baby Films have shown the audacity to back this little Indie flick. A feature that has no big stars, epic sets or a propaganda to sell, but yet goes on to deliver a deeply entertaining story about friendship, cinema and everything in between.

Inspired by the 2012 documentary ‘Superman of Malegaon‘, director Reema Kagti and writer Varun Grover‘s film is based on the real-life story of a group of young men in Malegaon, a small, poverty-stricken town in India, who created their own mini film industry by producing spoofs of popular Bollywood and Hollywood films to a variety of success.

But more than being a film about film-making, the narrative works as a celebration of dreams, dedication, and the magic of storytelling, making it not just one of the finest films to be made in the last decade or so, but also an inspiring watch for cinephiles and aspiring filmmakers alike.

Anchored by a perfect mix of heartwarming emotional drama and sweet realistic humor, that is of course, augmented by terrific performances, the film is a perfect shot in the arm for an otherwise bleak current Hindi film landscape.

Beginning in 1997, the story follows Nasir Shaikh (Adarsh Gourav), a young cinephile who runs a video parlor with his older brother in Malegaon. Aiming to improve the tastes of his fellow citizens, Nasir mainly showcases international features, consisting the likes of Bruce Lee, Buster Keaton and Charlie Chaplin. But ends up with dismissal viewership, in comparison to the ones playing the popular Bollywood fluff.

With an ultimatum hanging over his head to work his screenings according to popular demand, Nasir seems to have hit the jackpot when he comes across a VCR tape seller, who introduces him to the magic of film editing. He splices slapstick comedy sequences from Chaplin and Keaton films with Kung Fu action scenes and markets these films as a four-in-one bonanza. Something which begins drawing crowds in huge numbers. However, his joy is short-lived.

After an anti-piracy raid at the parlour, Nasir decides to take matters into his own hands by remaking Sholay (1975), Malegaon-style.

Calling out his friends, some of which include out-of-work resident writer Farogh (Vineet Kumar Singh) who comes on board for the script, photo-studio owner Akram (Anuj Duhan) lends the camera, loom worker and aspiring actor Shafique (Shashank Arora) becomes the production assistant.

Gabbar Singh becomes Rubber Singh and Basanti is renamed Basmati. And the film, made at a budget of Rs 30,000, ends up raking in Rs 3 lakhs. But as always, with success comes jealousy, egos and soon Nasir and friends part ways only to reunite years later to make a final film for a dying friend.

Shattering those stereotypes by focusing on the everyday lives of working-class Muslims, here, Varun Grover’s writing brings an infectious energy that catches early on and stays until the end credits begin rolling in. Proving an insight into how low-budget homegrown films are made, there are multiple scenes and events that will amuse you and leave you stumped at the sheer audacity of these boys trying to pull off all sorts of stunts, in order to turn their dream into a reality.

The camaraderie between the central characters and how it celebrates their friendship through the ups and downs is a sheer delight to watch. As director Kagti masterfully blends humor, realism, and emotion, allowing the audience to connect deeply with the characters’ struggles and triumphs. The scene where Nasir, who works as a part-time wedding photographer, sees her ex-girlfriend get married and leave in a car being a particular highlight.

The film’s documentary-style authenticity, coupled with its engaging narrative, highlights the resilience and ingenuity of these self-taught artists. More than anything, the film get the sheer joy of creating something. And every filmmaker, especially the ones who are not backed by millions, understands how the process involves finding cheap solutions to expensive problems, like making a dolly cam by sticking a camera to a bicycle.

Sure, the feature gets a little bogged down in the tension between the friends, resulting in a small dip in energy in the second hour. Nevertheless, the uplifting final act and the climax transcends the film into more than anyone you could have every expected.

Performance wise, Adarsh Gourav brings another exceptional turn, pulling off various shades with absolute finesse. Vineet Kumar Singh does an excellent job of representing the struggles of an aspiring writer who eventually finds recognition. However, the true show-stealer is Shashank Arora, who gives an incredibly innocent and heartfelt performance. The friendship between his character and Adarsh‘s is portrayed as selfless love, culminating in a brilliant payoff.

In supporting roles, Anuj Singh Duhan, Riddhi Kumar, Saqib Ayub, Gyanendra Tripathi, Muskkaan Jaferi, Anmol Kajani, Manjiri Pupala and Pallav Singh are truly brilliant. On the whole, ‘Superboys of Malegaon‘ is a solid emotional roller coaster and a resounding ode to the magic of movies.