Superboys of Malegaon writer Varun Grover on whether film writers get importance today: ‘Salim Javed disrupted that norm, that phase hasn’t returned

Reema Kagti-directed Superboys of Malegaon’s trailer released on Wednesday. The film is based on the real life story of Nasir Shaikh, who set up a cottage industry creating films in Malegaon, Maharashtra, and recreated various iconic Bollywood films for the local market. Bankrolled by Zoya Akhtar, Farhan Akhtar, and Ritesh Sidhwani, Superboys of Malegaon stars Aadarsh Gourav, Shashank Arora, and Vineet Kumar Singh in important roles. At the the film’s launch event, the film’s writer Varun Grover spoke to SCREEN about the importance writers in the film industry hold today.

Referencing one dialogue from the trailer, where Vineet’s character says ‘Writer Baap Hota Hai’, Varun was asked if a writer is also considered a ‘baap’ in the film industry today. In response, Varun said, “Our industry is 100 years old. Every industry is like a dinosaur, we are under its weight, we step out slowly from it. ‘Writer Baap Hai’ is actually true for Salim and Javed who disrupted the norm, there came a phase with them where the writers held that importance. I don’t think that phase has returned, but thanks to so many avenues of filmmaking there is more focus now on storytelling and the narrative’s strength.”

Also read | Superboys Of Malegaon receives a standing ovation at Toronto International Film Festival, watch video

Adding to this, the film’s producer Ritesh Sidhwani added, “The fact is unless a writer does his job, none of us will have a job. If they don’t write something, no characters will be created, nobody will be there to produce it or direct it, and no actor to be cast in it. Though we are realising it a bit late, the writer is actually the baap. Without them nobody here will have a job.”

Watch Superboys of Malegaon trailer:

Story continues below this ad

During the conversation trade analyst Komal Nahta also mentioned that during one of his podcast, Zoya had shared that when Aamir Khan heard the script of Talaash, he asked Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh to double the writer’s pay. He added, “Writers hold importance, even though they don’t get paid well even today, the audience is becoming aware today. So they have awakened the importance of writers.”

Zoya also commented on technicians not being given due credit by producers and said, “We are very lucky, we work with Excel and that doesn’t happen there. They take very good care of their technicians, as should everybody.”

Superboys of Malegaon has received a great response at various film festivals. Now, it will have a theatrical release on 28th February, 2025.