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He trips over goats and gets dizzy after flying – how Nasir Shaikh created the most unlikely man of steel.

Malegaon in western India is known for its textile businesses and loom mills. But there is another side to this economically deprived, industrial town; many of the locals are massive film fans, including Nasir Shaikh. After obsessively watching – and showing in his local video parlour – the films of Sylvester Stallone, Charlie Chaplin and Amitabh Bachchan, Nasir was inspired to become a movie maker himself. He assembled a motley crew of local labourers, weavers and carpenters to make spoofs of popular movies on a shoestring budget. The films became local hits and spawned a new industry: Malewood. In 2008, Nasir began his most ambitious project – an homage to a Hollywood classic, Superman. Nasir was dreaming up a hero, but in the end Superman himself would need saving.

Nasir’s life story has inspired the feature film, Superboys of Malegaon.

Presenter: Mobeen Azhar
Producer: Maryam Maruf
Voiceover: Alai Naseer

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(Photo: Nasir Shaikh with weaver-turned-actor Shafique in his Superman costume / Still from Malegaon Ka Superman showing Superman with his love interest. Credit: Nasir Shaikh)