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Toronto: Reema Kagti’s Superboys of Malegaon premiered to a packed house at the on-going Toronto International Film festival (TIFF) here last night.
Spanning many years, the film captures the passion of a bunch of small-town amateurs to make raw but real films on shoestring budgets and play them at the local video parlours.
Leading these amateurs is Nasir Shaikh (played by Adarsh Gourav), who begins with the screening of pirated parts of Buster Keaton, Charlie Chaplin and Jackie Chan films in his parlour video. After getting busted by cops for piracy, he starts creating a parody of Sholay, and then parody after parody.
Apart from Reema Kagti, producer Zoya Akhtar, script writer Varun Grover, members of the cast and Nasir Shaikh were present at the premiere at the famous Roy Thomson Hall.
“I can’t believe it…I am living a dream.I am so happy that my work (as an amateur filmmaker) at such a humble level in Malegaon is getting recognition on the international stage today,” said Nasir Shaikh, addressing the audience.
“But I am also sad that Shafiue and Farogh (his pals who passed away) are not here today with us.”
Director Reema Kagti said, “It’s very special…I want to thank Nasir Shaikh for trusting us with his life story. It is beautiful to be able to make a film about your passion.”
Narrating why she chose to make this film, Kagti said, “Nasir made films just for the pleasure of it. He had no other agenda. He and his group of friends with very little (resources) gave rise to an underground film movement in Malegaon. Their parallel industry produced films, and exhibited them in their video parlours. It is such a tribute to cinema that I had to do this film.”
Zoya Akhtar said the story of Nasir Shaikh fascinated her when she first met him in 2010. “Nasir happened to be at a film festival…we walked across that room and introduced ourselves to each other. He said: ‘I am a huge fan of your father (Javed Akhtar) and I have ripped off all his film. I knew that I was in love (with the idea of making a film on him.”
Actor Adarsh Gourav, who plays the role of Nasir Shaikh in the film, said the most difficult part of his character was to “embody the perfect mix of Nasir’s charm and wit.”
Gourav said he spent two weeks in Malegaon meeting people and Nasir’s friends to know about his character. He said he even spent Rs 20,000 to make a short film directed by Nasir, just to observe how he worked.
The Amazon MGM Studios film, which is 127 minutes long, is slated to open in early 2025.
