Superboys of Malegaon

Directed by Reema Kagti, Superboys of Malegaon follows an aspiring filmmaker (Adarsh Gourav’s Nasir) as he and several friends strive to make a low-budget remake of a hit Indian film. It’s appealing subject matter that is, at the outset, employed to familiar yet entertaining effect by Kagti, as the helmer, armed with Varun Grover’s screenplay, delivers an agreeably by-the-numbers inspirational narrative that’s at its best when focused on Nasir’s creative, less-than-polished efforts at getting his picture off the ground – with the affable atmosphere heightened by Kagti’s energetic visuals and a raft of engaging, sympathetic performances. There’s little doubt, then, that Superboys of Malegaon‘s impact is dulled significantly by a tedious second half rife with underwhelming (to say the least) elements and attributes, with the inclusion of eye-rollingly obvious bits of melodrama (eg Nasir gets a big head and alienates his friends) only enhancing the movie’s progressively interminable feel – which, when coupled with a final stretch incongruously packed with montages and musical numbers, ultimately does confirm the film’s place as a well-intentioned misfire that should’ve topped out at 90 minutes (ie the two+ hour runtime is just absurd).

*1/2 out of ****