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ENTERTAINMENT EYE SEPTEMBER 27, 2024 | The Indian Eye 46

TIFF 2024

There is magic in this movie, says ‘Superboys

of Malegaon’ producer Zoya Akhtar

RENU MEHTA
Toronto
oronto audiences gave a stand-
ing ovation to Zoya Akhtar’s
Tfilm Superboys of Malegaon
presented as a Gala at Roy Thomson
Hall to a full hall.
Directed by Reema Kagti, the
film is based on the true story of Na- 1975 film into ‘ Malegaon ke Sholay’.
sir Sheikh and the film chronicles the The film is an instant hit and the vid-
life and work of the self-made man eo parlour is full house every day.
who has brought Malegaon on the He then remakes Shaan and other
map of the Indian cinema. Sheikh famous Bollywood films.
realized that Mumbai would not wel- “What’s special about this is that
come him so he began to make his Nasir had a love for something,” says
own films in the small community Akhtar in Toronto. “He wanted to
that he lived in. do something and he didn’t wait for
It all began about 12 years ago anything to come around, he didn’t
when Akhtar attended a film festival wait for that break. He didn’t chase
in Delhi that Sheikh was also attend- anybody. He just did it; he did it with
ing. what he had, whatever resources he
“Nasir sees Zoya and goes over had and he represented himself. I
to Zoya who recognizes him because think people should get inspired from
she’s seen his documentary. He in- that. He had an idea and you don’t
troduces himself and says ‘I am a know where it reaches and today we
huge fan of your father and I have are sitting here. It has come from
plagiarized all his films’. She found there to here and I think if you do
that charming and that was how the Reema Kagti (left) and Zoya Akhtar on the red carpet at TIFF. Photo: Amazon MGM Studios something from your heart in what-
conversation started,” says Kagti at a ever way you can, just start.”
media reception in Toronto prior to Chan by re-editing the films and pre- make my own film’. “There is magic in the movie and
the TIFF screening. senting them to audiences as a mash He assembles a crew and cast of audiences can see that,” said Akhtar
The film starts in 1997 and is set up. But soon his plans are stalled on friends an locals, borrows a camera in Toronto. “This is the 50th year of
in Malegaon where Sheikh screens the name of plagiarism. from a wedding videographer and Sholay and the characters those dia-
films of Buster Keaton and Jackie So he says ‘what the heck? I will sets out to remake Ramesh Sippy’s logues are still alive. It’s a wonder.”

1951 Awara was biggest grossing film of all time: Shekhar Kapur

MANSI M. Greatest Showman as Raj Kapoor you may not know about Awara is
was known directs in this recently re- that it if you compare dollars then
Toronto
stores Bollywood classic that stars the and dollars now, it has been the
umbai cinema veter- famous Prithviraj Kapoor and actress biggest international grossing film
an Shekhar Kapur who Nargis. In India ever and it continues to be
Mhas directed films like However, the 4K restoration despite what you may hear. At that
Masoom, Bandit Queen, Elizabeth of the film is not complete yet, says time, it did 40 million dollars out-
and Four Feathers amongst others Shekhar Kapur at TIFF. side India.”
was at the Toronto International “We are still working on the Awara addressed questions of
Film Festival (TIFF) to present sound and the idea of restoration is morality and social reform and was
Awara, a film from the 50s. as we believe the director would have screened free to TIFF audiences.
It was the world premiere of intended it. The film is a highly influential clas-
the newly restored film Awara that Please appreciate that. What sic of Bollywood cinema and was
commemorates the 100th anniver- < Shekhar Kapur speaking at TIFF nominated for the Grand Prize at
sary of director Raj Kapoor. The the 1953 Cannes Film Festival.

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