Cinerevolt: Supermen of Malegaon (2008)

Supermen of Malegaon (2008)

The absurdity of the culture industry was on full display when last year 'Superboys of Malegaon' premiered at the Toronto international film festival. The film is a fictionalized reenactment of the life of Nasir Shaikh, an amateur filmmaker who 16 years before this fictionalization was shadowed by a film crew as he prepared for and produced his rendition of superman. In a city where most work grueling jobs at cotton looms, and the entertainment of the workers lies in hollywood and bollywood, Nasir puts everything on the line in order to make his own movies with and for his neighbors. The result, Supermen of Malegaon, is a heartwarming documentary about the creative process independent filmmaking, and overcoming adversity for the ludicrous end of one's films.

The fact that the film industry would rehash this story into a polished film with no bite is reflective of the general state of film financing now. Rather than promote this existing documentary with it's amateuristic style, the industry finances the creation of a spectral counterpart with none of the candidness, heart, or connection to real people and real lives. The film is a great launchpad for a discussion around art in capitalism, and film/entertainment in the context of the urban proletariat.