Bringing Malegaon’s Spirit To The US: Reema Kagti On Superboys of Malegaon

India-West Staff Reporter

Director Reema Kagti won raves from critics and audiences alike at international film festivals for her latest film, Superboys of Malegaon, which releases in North American theaters on February 28.

An ode to Indian cinema, Superboys takes inspiration from the life and journey of Nasir Sheikh, an amateur filmmaker from Malegaon who, along with his passionate group of friends, brings a cinematic spotlight to the small town of Malegaon, India.

Kagti sat down to talk about the journey she and her team took to bring this fascinating story to the big screen in this interview below.

What inspired you to make Superboys of Malegaon?

Nasir’s story is a testament to the power of cinema. His journey into low-budget amateur filmmaking is incredible. He had very little to work with but eventually created a thriving video film industry in Malegaon, complete with its own distribution and exhibition network through video parlors. Nasir is a very inspirational man.

How is Superboys of Malegaon different from the original documentary? What are the key highlights that make this film unique?

The film covers over a decade of Nasir’s life, while the documentary is primarily centered around the making of one of his films, Supermen of Malegaon. The film follows how Nasir started out and what catalysts led him to filmmaking.

What kind of research and groundwork did you undertake while developing the film, and did it help influence the film’s narrative and add depth to the story?

Screenwriter Varun Grover spent a lot of time in Malegaon, extensively researching Nasir and all the people in the story, which no doubt added depth and realism to the narrative. Apart from that, the cast and crew also spent time in Malegaon with Nasir and other characters because we wanted to be authentic to the people and the place.

Given that the film highlights the passion of Malegaon’s residents for filmmaking amidst the struggle and challenges they faced, what can the audience expect from its storyline and portrayal of these themes?

Superboys of Malegaon is a story about filmmaking and friendship colliding to create a powerful end result. It’s about a bunch of guys who didn’t have much but created something stunning from that, against all odds.

Portraying real-life characters on screen is not an easy task. How did you go about casting the actors to bring a realistic feel to the film?

Casting directors Nandini Shrikent and Karan Mally made my life pretty easy. They auditioned an extensive list of actors and shortlisted the ones that clicked. Once we felt an actor fit the part, we did callbacks—alone and with other actors—followed by workshops. Aleem, who is a character in the movie, trained the actors in diction. Hair, makeup, and wardrobe departments also did their own research, which helped bring authenticity to the portrayal.

How did it feel to have it selected at the 49th Toronto International Film Festival?

It feels wonderful to be selected for TIFF. My cast and crew have worked really hard on this, and I’m grateful to showcase our work on such a large global platform.

Is there any message you would like to convey to the audience, given that the film is about friends who come up with the idea of making their own movies without any guidance or a big budget?

The film conveys a strong message to follow your dreams and not be daunted by adversity or a lack of resources. In the small town of Malegaon, where Bollywood films serve as the only escape from daily struggles, amateur filmmaker Nasir Sheikh rallies his motley group of friends to create a film for the people of Malegaon, by the people of Malegaon. In this poignant tale of filmmaking and friendship, passion overcomes shoestring budgets, ingenuity conquers challenges, and dreams ignite hope, breathing new life into the town.