Malegaon Filmmaker’s Inspiring Journey: A Glimpse into the Shadowing Process

The upcoming movie, titled “Superboys of Malegaon,” set to hit UK theaters this weekend before streaming on Prime Video later in the year, recounts a real-life tale that appears poised to become a heartwarming favorite among audiences.

Drawing inspiration from the 2008 documentary “Supermen of Malegaon”, this narrative delves into the life story of Nasir Shaikh, an aspiring filmmaker from the ranks of amateurs. In collaboration with several partners, he achieved remarkable success by producing a string of comedic films that cleverly reimagined well-known Bollywood titles within their urban setting in Maharashtra, India.

He shared that he had the luxury of spending a considerable amount of time with Nasir, which turned out to be more than expected. Before the project kicked off, he visited Malegaon a few months early and, during his research phase, they collaborated on a film together. He took care of production duties while Nasir directed it. Notably, this was one of Nasir’s films after a long hiatus.

He went on to say: “I found it incredibly enjoyable to observe him, if you catch my drift, and I made sure to tell him I’d only be serving as a producer, with no creative input whatsoever. This way, I could simply sit back and watch him shine in his own space, along with his friends.

He revisited numerous locations where he had filmed before, decades ago, encountering many familiar faces. It was incredibly meaningful and enlightening for him.

Gourav mentioned some intriguing instances that seemed like “unusual coincidences,” which surfaced while he followed Nasir. Among these was the discovery that the hotel where they used to gather to write their scripts, and which was known as the Adarsh Hotel.

He also pointed out the bike to me, it’s the one used in the movie. As it turns out, the motorcycle I use in the film belongs to Nasir’s father from the 1950s! The whole experience was incredibly enlightening.

In regards to the movie’s direction, Reema Kagti (who has previously worked on films like Talaash and Gold) expressed her heartfelt gratitude towards Nasir for entrusting them with the rights to his life story.

She stated that since there’s already an abundance of content available, they desired to begin with a clean, fresh perspective. When Varun Grover joined to compose the script, he visited Malegaon extensively, spent time with Nasir, then later met us in Bombay. This was followed by numerous exchanges and discussions.

She also mentioned that Nasir is an exceptional curator of his personal history. For instance, if he acquires newspaper clippings, he keeps several copies, just in case one set gets damaged. This was beneficial because there was an abundance of material available. Furthermore, we interacted with many of his friends who contributed to the production of his films. We also spoke with his family and conducted research on Malegaon, the town where he resides.

As I share this captivating tale, I feel privileged to be part of its journey and hope it stirs inspiration in the hearts of many viewers.

I found it incredibly inspiring to come across a tale about a group of young lads, who despite lacking essential resources, took it upon themselves to make a difference. It truly embodies the spirit of the community – created by the people, for the people.

In simpler terms, they adapt well-known Bollywood movies to fit the local setting, using residents as actors, often choosing friends as well, and all production takes place right in the town itself.

As a film enthusiast, what struck me was this: unlike many who journey to Mumbai to pursue their aspirations, Nasir managed to bring the essence of Mumbai to Malegaon. It was nothing short of inspiring, and I felt compelled to emulate his spirit!

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2025-02-27 22:35