Supermen of Malegaon

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Bruce H A very rewarding movie with a stellar cast of Indian actors! Didn't realize it was a true story until the end....so well done!!!! A diamond in the rough!! Not a Bollywood style movie..more of a Slum Dog Millionaire! Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/02/25 Full Review Audience Member Exploring the mysterious world of Indian cinema, Superman of Malegaon sounded like a good chance to get some insight into one of the world's most popular cinematic universes. Although the people in Superman of Malegaon are clearly passionate about cinema, the extent of depth that is provided into the people proves very limited. As the documentary is heavily observational, it doesn't precisely get in deep with the minds of the subjects and rather puts all its focus on the production of the titular Superman rip-off. It feels like there is a lot more to tell in terms of political context and the genuine human nature of those involved, yet the material is so focused on the surface value of everything that it is largely left to the viewers' imagination to determine. Either way, there is only so much covered in Superman of Malegaon, and though the material is very much direct and to the point in observing the filmmaking process, it never really stops to ask many questions. Though the makers of Superman of Malegaon clearly have answers to every question regarding the why of their filmmaking process, there is nobody there to ask them which effectively limits just how insightful the experience is. It moves through all this fairly fast, and considering that the documentary ultimately only runs for a short 65 minutes it is all the more simplistic. The film doesn't drag on all that much even though it does have some slow moments, but it very frequently just depicts the process of filmmaking while rendering its more deeper meanings into subtext. In essence, Superman of Malegaon is a very direct documentary, for better and for worse. But the admirable thing about the film is that Superman of Malegaon provides viewers with an all new look at the world of cinema. Malegaon is revealed as a town fraught with communal tensions, poverty and hardship where making these low-budget cinematic rip-offs are the central way that the people distract themselves from the hardships of life. The documentary reminds us of the importance of cinema and how it brings people together in difficult times and places from all over the world. The general examination of cinematic relevance in Malegaon is interesting as it reveals the popularity of video parlours, a form of cinematic distribution not conventional in western civilization. We learn that viewers are brought together, willing to sit on plastic chairs and watch some of the most shlocky films ever solely to be brought together as a community and embrace the fun of it all. In a western universe where films are so heavily focused on commercial value more than anything, it is wonderful to see an outside perspective on a society which parodies commercially successful films in an act of genuine passion for filmmaking. We see filmmakers doing whatever they physically can with the most limited technology available to them, as well as local cast members and costume designers. Production values are not synonymous with the film being made in the slightest, as made explicitly clear during the scene where the green screen is put into full effect. The fact that nobody cares how cheesy these productions are and are just so focused on creating something for the entertainment of others evokes a true sense of community in the narrative, making the documentary a touching examination of world cinema. The universe of world cinema has so much to offer, and Superman of Malegaon reveals arguably one of the most important sides of it all by connecting Hollywood to Indian cinema. Viewers are exposed to a world without much privilege, a society which leaves its inhabitants struggling with so many facets of life every day. It practically characterizes the art of filmmaking as essential to their survival as it serves as the driving force for the people of Malegaon to have ambition and work together on something. While this documentary is just many in the 14 films I average every week, films are hardly a gimmick to the people of Malegaon. They are an essential art form, a safe haven where the production provides activity and the final product provides a fictional narrative that can distract them from the the harsh reality of their existence. We are given an understanding into what they experience through extensive footage of the naturally grim landscape around them and how it becomes practical to them in the making of a film. The visual experience of the film is effective in bringing this to the realization of viewers and the natural nature of the cinematography makes the experience feel all the more valid. Though there is a lack of insight in Superman of Malegaon, this also works to the benefit of the credibility in the experience because it shows that the film does not have to dramatize itself to tell the story and rather just lets it flow naturally. In that sense, Superman of Malegaon is effective as a film which feels very genuine. The fact that it doesn't adhere to conventions of a Hollywood documentary could affect the perspectives of viewers as it clearly has with me, but the fact is that the process of making a Bollywood mockbuster is the main essence of the story in Superman of Malegaon proves to be captured easily by the observation that goes on. In essence, the messages in the film are subtle and challenge audiences to think for themselves in understanding everything that is going on which ensures that the documentary is certainly a thought provoker. The extent of thoughts provoked by Superman of Malegaon depends on just how passionate viewers are for understanding the extent of relevance film has to society, and as someone who finds the same sort of passion for movies as the people of Malegaon I find that it certainly appeals to my crowd. So Superman of Malegaon's observatory nature may fail to provide much insight into the minds of those chronicled in the documentary, but the look into Indian cinema benefits from the blunt realism of the experience and the genuine sense of passion for filmmaking that is depicted. Rated 3/5 Stars •  Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/27/23 Full Review Read all reviews

Supermen of Malegaon

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