SUPERMEN OF MALEGAON (HINDI DOCUMENTARY) (2012)

Documentaries, as a genre, are popular among audience in many countries across the world and even find theatrical releases just as regular feature films. However, in India, most cinephiles would remember documentaries as those dull productions from the Films Division of India that preceded their much awaited movies at the theaters. Many others may also recognise them as part of staple programming during an ancient era when that solitary state channel - Doordarshan - ruled the roost in Indian Television. Quite often, these documentaries were used by the ruling dispensation as effective Weapons of Mass Diversion (WMD) to influence a captive audience who were bereft of choice. Consequently, the genre of documentaries never found much favour with the general public and have withered away with the onset of satellite television which subjected them to a deluge of 24*7 news and entertainment channels.

Supermen of Malegaon is a novel enterprise that successfully weds the supposedly drab genre of documentary to that great opiate of Indian masses, viz. cinema. It is, indeed, a travesty that most mainstream media references to Indian cinema in this centenary year are restricted to that singular monolith called Bollywood, save for a few exceptions who may make (at best) a passing reference to the many strands of regional cinema that are churned out from the several & lesser cousin "woods" (Tollywood(s), Kollywood, Sandalwood, Mollywood, et al.). 

Few of us would be aware that there exist an even more micro strand in the realms of Indian cinema called local cinema. I, for one, was totally ignorant of such a species of movies prior to watching this documentary. Local cinema emerges from the numerous small towns across India and is fuelled by little else other than the indomitable spirit of cinephiles who have this ardent passion to make movies which are predominantly consumed locally. 

This brilliant hour long documentary, directed by Faiza Ahmed Khan, chronicles the travails of one such strand local cinema of Malegaon, a small town in Maharashtra which is about 300 km from Mumbai. It tells story of Sheikh Nasir and his rag-tag band of enthusiastic friends who assist him by associating themselves with various aspects of film-making. Armed with a single video camera, a computer and talents that are sourced locally, they make parodies of mainstream hits on what is essentially a shoe-string budget of upto Rs. 50,000/- per movie. These movies are screened in the ramshackle video parlours of Malegaon and are well received by an audience which find movies as their primary and perhaps, predominant source of entertainment after several hours of hard labour in the several power looms units which provide livelihood to most of the residents of this small town.

After finding an encouraging reception for their earlier movies such as Malegaon Ka Sholay, Malegaon Ka Shaan, etc., Nasir and his associates dare to parody a popular Hollywood superhero movie, viz. Superman. The documentary captures the making of this ambitious project which despite being constrained by limited resources, is however, realised through their boundless imagination, toil and also some essential desi jugaad. The project is beset with several setbacks and challenges and how Nasir and his team overcome them is presented with a light humour throughout. Simultaneously, we are also presented with a close look at the harsh realities of their existence clouded by privations and penury. 

Faiza and her crew remain keen observers of the unfolding events in all their details without in any way disturbing the milieu or the flow and consequently, neither the humour nor the sombre moments appear forced and they essentially flow from the reality of the situation itself. Faiza shuns that familiar urge of her counterparts in Bollywood and desists from reducing Nasir or his team as mere caricatures. Rather, she opts to present an authentic and very real account of their lives hard labour, limited means, their ambitious dreams, unflinching spirit and inventiveness with which they pursue those dreams which adds gravitas to the proceedings and engages the viewers. 

Supermen of Malegaon is an endearing watch that could effortlessly charm the viewer with its fine balance of dry humour and poignancy. It is also an ode to the passion and enthusiasm of independent film makers like Nasir and his team whose efforts who spare no effort to realise their dreams and to that extent are no less than the superhero they parody. 

The director Faiza Ahmed Khan and her team have won several accolades globally and one feels that they are so well deserved as the viewer is successfully transported to this small town for an entertaining and realistic rendezvous with Nasir and his motley band as they go about making their dream project. One only hopes that they present us with more such gems in the future and many more makers find inspiration from their success to venture on this road less travelled called documentaries. I, for one, hope that Faiza's (and even Nasir's) much more pampered and privileged peers from mainstream cinema watch Supermen of Malegaon and learn a thing or two about creativity and craft that sparkles in this accomplished work of art. Alas, it may be too much of a hope ......


A MUST WATCH FOR EVERY CINEPHILE !!