Malegaon’s DIY films shine at London Film Festival

The dazzling lights of London contrast sharply with Malegaon, a modest textile town in Maharashtra, western India. However, these two places have converged at this year’s London Film Festival, showcasing the extraordinary tale of Malegaon’s unexpected film industry triumph. “Superboys of Malegaon”, directed and produced by Reema Kagti, narrates the true story of Shaikh Nasir and his friends, who create no-budget parodies of Bollywood and Hollywood hits like “Sholay” and “Superman”. Using DIY filmmaking methods, amateur actors, and local dialect and humour, their films became immediate local favourites and later gained international fame with the 2008 documentary “Supermen of Malegaon”.

Malegaon’s ties to the vast Hindi-language film industry aren’t so far-fetched. Co-producer Zoya Akhtar’s father, Javed Akhtar, wrote “Sholay”, sparking Nasir’s filmmaking fervour. Akhtar remarked how the story from this small Indian town highlights global connections through cinema. Kagti expressed her joy in paying homage to numerous actors and the Indian film industry.

“Superboys” celebrates Nasir’s determination, portrayed by Adarsh Gourav, known for his role in the Oscar-nominated adaptation of Aravind Adiga’s novel “The White Tiger”. Malegaon, situated roughly 300 kilometres from Mumbai, offers video parlours and small cinemas as a retreat for labourers from the industrial weaving looms. Nasir’s films provide comedic relief and showcase their town on the big screen, Kagti noted. Gourav added that the film immortalised its participants, giving them a reason to celebrate life.

I really enjoyed Superboys of Malegaon. It’s funny and heartwarming and is a beautiful story about the joy of amateur filmmaking, but with love and friendship at the centre ❤️ The performances were excellent and I was captivated the whole time & really moved 😢 See it if you can. pic.twitter.com/Pf6y6wdAkU

— Liz Slade (@lizslayed) October 12, 2024

With no budget and limited experience beyond wedding videography, Nasir relied on improvisation and homemade techniques. During the Superman parody, the hero wore humorous red shorts with dangling drawstrings and used quirky green-screen setups while Nasir filmed tracking shots from the back of a speeding truck on a rough road. “Superboys” explores themes from poverty to love, anchored by Nasir’s belief in a camera’s power and imagination’s ability to transform the ordinary into the extraordinary. Executive producer Ritesh Sidhwani believes the story’s universal appeal will attract a global audience. Already shown at the Toronto International Film Festival, its London screening aims to draw viewers beyond the Indian diaspora.

Nasir’s local films carved a niche for Malegaon in India’s challenging film industry. Akhtar emphasised that in today’s smartphone era, anyone can become a filmmaker, encouraging people to take initiative without waiting for a big break. “Mollywood”, as Malegaon’s industry is sometimes called, continues with original actors sharing DIY films on YouTube. Akhtar noted that this industry is now part of Indian cinema’s history. In “Superboys”, writer Farogh tells Nasir that he gave dreamers a place in history and added a page for Malegaon in Indian cinema’s narrative.