Superboys Of Malegaon: Here's to the ones who dream!

It's hard to describe the bond that Indians share with cinema. To us, a nation that is still developing along with a huge population, with most of it being a working class that is barely able to make a living. Cinema is more than just a form of artistic expression. Cinema is a documentation of our dreams. We watch the screen light up with stories about people who have the same struggles as us. These stories feature these characters undergoing hardships that we've seen and heard of, and we see them beat systems that are in place to maintain such barriers. They emerge victorious against tyrannical rulers and crime overlords, but somewhere we find ourselves toiling in these situations along with the characters. Their wins are cause for our celebrations. 

In a country that has simultaneously developed its film industry, films have more or less become essential. To then ask if the youth have dreamt of being a part of this magical process of expressing themselves through the cinematic medium would be no less than silly. A significant percentage of the large population of India has forever dreamt of being a part of the filmmaking process to some acceptable degree. People have found solace in storytelling, expressing themselves through camera and music, and along the way, it is an acting dream as well. Reema Kagti's Superboys of Malegaon is a heartwarming and loving film that captures the essence of what it would feel like to live these dreams. Based on an incredible true story, it perfectly showcases what would happen when these dreams get manifested into reality through sheer creativity and will. 

Nasir Shaikh and his group of friends are all artists that are barely surviving on what they earn through mundane jobs. They are unable to find a medium to express their creativity and instead project it on the cinema that they watch. They're inspired, moved, and stimulated by everything they watch at the video parlor owned by Nasir, but little else comes from it due to the lack of opportunities. Their creative talents are always on exhibit for those from the big city. However, they are unable to break the shackles of the small town to go follow their crazed dreams. It is all a lofty fantasy that even they approach with a practical undertone, believing that nothing short of a miracle would get them to where they would want to be. It is then that this cooped-up creativity comes bursting out when the idea of making a film within their current settings comes up. Every idea, every moment, every single scene is created with so much attention and creativity because of their innate desire to be part of a cinematically told story. The movie makes a case for parody filmmaking by making it a way in which viewers who admire these films get to be a part of them while giving the viewers a different experience. The parody films that these people create satisfy the true definitions of art. They get to live a fantasy that most Indians have dreamt of: a dancer who has had to face patriarchy and abuse gets to be the fiery Basanti as Basmati. A meager tea shop owner takes control of his life as Rubber Singh, and a "nobody" gets to be Superman himself. Their thoughts and desires are so close to the viewers' hearts that their emotional state during each part of the process is palpable. A particularly harrowing sequence is created just based on their anxiety during the premiere of this first film, which is then paid off immensely. The audiences have lived and breathed with these incredible characters, who are all maintained as flesh-and-blood people without being reduced to the singular caricature for their place in the "superboys.". This results in every single viewer being involved in the film to the extent of sharing their hypertension to even hear one positive word of affirmation for their valiant efforts. We wait alongside these men to hear what the people have to say about the film to the extent that the first praise we hear is more than enough to fill us up with tears. Their success feels like the success of every one of us dreamers and fills us with joy for their feat. It even gives us hope for what we hope to achieve. 

The filmmaking is tender and earnest, but most of all, it's eager. It is as curious as the audience to follow along this process of artistic creation. The camerawork by Swapnil Sonawne is giving us a viewpoint to witness the way in which they made the films. It perfectly captures the joy that lies in the process of creating art. The little camera tricks that they discover, the little hacks that they come up with to create action sequences and set pieces within their limited budget, and their excitement during the process of listening to what the writer has created are all parts of their method of filmmaking that we end up falling in love with. It is an ecstatic feeling to witness a bunch of passionate people practicing the interests that most audiences share with them. This interest is common for both the viewers and filmmakers, causing it to come off as an extremely appealing and engaging experience. Once the process has been completed, the lens that has been chosen is to capture the admiration of the viewers watching what these people have created. We witness the struggle that the group has entailed to create the cinema that they do, and watching it get admired by those who watch it and find their place in it gives us the shared feeling of victory. The music by Sachin-Jigar ebbs and flows along with the storytelling. It is triumphant and magical when the people witness the magic of cinema, but it is also aptly naive and innocent during the sequences where they're making the films. The climax is exquisite, and it doesn't include much dialogue. The camera captures the wonder that the film induces among audiences along with a score that makes the sequence feel like an almost surreal dream. It is a masterclass of technical brilliance in an intimate setting and how that can elevate a scene to an immortal status.

The writing by Varun Grover is structured and is specifically written to give the curiosity that is generated worthy payoffs. Every single conflict that is introduced is built up extremely well to the unexpected payoff. There are multiple questions raised about how this group will tackle the eventual problems presented in filmmaking. The audiences are to question the way in which they will do a certain set of shots, a certain action scene, and how they will tackle the process of casting to suit the tone of their film. In due course, all of these problems fall into place, and solutions are brought up rather spectacularly. The writing highlights the nature of these solutions, making it a unique aspect of the film itself. The 2nd act contains a very personal conflict between the members of their group, and the character writing shines through in this act. The depth given to each individual character allows the audience to understand where each character approaches these issues from and hence, ends with a clarity on each of their perspectives. No character is antagonized, and none of their decisions have a moral code scrutinizing them. They are allowed to err as humans do, and this ends up making them feel like a very real portrait of very real people. This adds not only to the 2nd act but also becomes a way to make the 3rd act that much more special. 

The cast is also a major reason for the film to work. Each character is given life by the incredible actors. As Nasir, Adarsh Gourav is compelling to say the least. He assimilates into the role and becomes Nasir from Malegaon. We see his single-minded conviction to create something of his own. We understand his desperation to utilize his talents and gather his group to do what they all dreamt of. The performance even brings weight to his role as the director of the films. Shashank Arora brings everything to his character that is given barely any screen time. The lack of screen time becomes a trick in the hands of the capable actor. It becomes his way of showcasing the negligence shown towards him. The performance is then flipped in the 3rd act, where the biggest responsibility is on his capable shoulders, and he pulls off the ending magnificently. Vineeth Kumar Singh is also equally enthralling in his performance as Faaroq. Writers are usually associated with a certain trope of sadness, and while that aspect is there for Faaroqi's character, it is never the way the actor has chosen to address it. His behavior is a mere consequence of his circumstances, and thus he brings dignity to his character. The free-flowing creativity and the unbreakable passion for storytelling are very clearly visible, making the role of the writer much more known and important. Viewers even witness the duality of the boys in their lifestyle, including filmmaking. Their lives intertwine with their interests, and that double life and its weight are shown perfectly by all the actors involved. The rest of the supporting actors still manage to hold their own in a stacked cast. Muskaan Jafferi steals the spotlight from Adarsh Gourav in some scenes involving only those two characters, and it makes for some wonderful sequences that are personal only to these two characters.

Superboys of Malegaon is a tender tale told by a formidable Reema Kagti. It is a reminder of why we love cinema as an art form. The movie is an embodiment of the happiness that lies in the creation and consumption of joy. Within this fairytale of a bunch of friends living their dreams lies the hidden stories of millions of people that have dreamt of achieving something like this. If you've ever held a camera and dreamt of making a short film, if you've ever watched a film and dreamt of being the star at the center of it, or if you've ever tied a cape around your neck to pretend you're Superman, then you shall feel every second of this film in your bones. It is baffling to realize that all of this is a real story that hasn't been fictionalized for the most part. It is a powerfully told story that can move and inspire. It is an experience of a lifetime to witness it on the big screens and is something that should be essential, especially for those that love cinema. It will make you laugh and marvel alongside these characters while also being a tearjerker for the feats they achieve. Reema Kagti has told this tale with the utmost conviction, and with a skillful crew, it truly becomes a film for the ages. The brilliance of the film will make it an eternal piece of art that everyone can look back to and rediscover their love for the medium.