Review: Not a single dull moment in 'Supermen of Malegaon'

Film: Supermen of Malegaon (Documentary)
Director: Faiza Ahmed
Rating: ****

There’s not a single dull moment in Supermen of Malegaon. Considering the notoriety documentaries have for being serious, informative and even didactic, Faiza Ahmed should be applauded for making an observational film that is so real yet so enjoyable.

What we see through Ahmed’s eyes is the fertile imagination of one man and the craze in general for moving images among the people of Malegaon, which is infamous for being a fertile ground for communal tensions. After spending 12-18 hours at work, the men escape to the song and dance routine of Bollywood to drown out the drone of powerlooms (the biggest industry there).

Their passion for cinema doesn’t end with just mouthing Hindi film dialogue or copying hairstyles. Some dream of making films for Mollywood, Malegaon’s very own thriving film industry. Among them is Shaikh Nasir, who made Malegaon ke Sholay, which successfully ran for a month (he claims) in makeshift video parlours. In a raw showcase of comedy, (and irony) Gabbars’s men traded horses for cycles. The final product must have been a guaranteed laugh riot. At least, the making of Malegaon ka Superman is.

Nasir’s lofty dreams of making a Hollywood spoof — he chooses Superman for the honour — and the rollercoaster ride we are taken on as his handycam captures an emaciated Superman getting married, electrocuted, almost drowning, catching a cold, not to mention working the handloom. The ingenuity of it all makes it appealing.

Ahmed captures Nasir’s passion for cinema well, with zero interference. Your heart goes out to the crew of Malegaon ka Superman, not before you have felt guilty of laughing at their plight. Sneha Khanwalkar and Hitesh Sonik’s music is lively, while Shweta Venkat’s editing is sans embellishments yet effective.

The documentary’s raw appeal lies in moments like when we learn from Nasir that he did not know that a whole crew is involved in the process of filmmaking. His understanding tells him that it is impossible to work in a team when the idea and execution is just one man’s territory. Your eyes widen and heart sinks when you hear him worriedly say that he can make four films in a budget of Rs2 lakh (as quoted by a Mumbai shopkeeper for Chroma keying). They dream big here.

Supermen of Malegaon is full of heartrending moments, juxtaposed with unavoidable satire. So much for irony that Superman Shafique lost his battle with cancer last year, only wishing to be seen on the big screen. Talk about dreams coming true. Supermen of Malegaon is a 52-minute non-stop ride that leaves you with a smile plastered across your face. Don’t miss it for anything.