An unexpected call to cover the 11th Osian-Cinefan film festival held in Delhi last week, in hindsight, was nothing short of a sleight of the divine hand. I have always viewed film festivals with cynicism. The belief that intellectualising the process of filmmaking takes the entire fun out of the process has usually kept me away. This belief seemed to be borne out many Q&A sessions later, where both the speakers and the attendees failed to make use of this wonderful forum that is aimed to break down barriers between the viewer, film enthusiast and filmmaker.

I was lost in jargon such as ‘interiority of characters’ and ‘psychologically charged landscapes, internal spaces and their geometrical dynamics’. Just as I was about to kick myself for even giving this a shot, serendipity struck.

Superman Of Malegaon, a 52-minute long documentary made in 2007 by debutant director Faiza Ahmad Khan was being screened at Osian. Superman Of Malegaon follows the making of Malegaon Ka Superman, a film made on a paltry budget by a ragtag crew of Malegaon locals. After her stint as the chief assistant director on Manish Jha’s Anwar, Faiza was convinced that she was through with being an assistant and was ready to make her first film. Her hunt for a subject ended when she heard about films being made in Malegaon on a shoestring budget by locals. These films had garnered a cult following in the region. Initially, Faiza was drawn to the world of Nasir - who directs and produces these movies - and his cast and crew because of the contrast of communal violence and films that co-exists in this town. But one step into this world and she was as dazzled as the many, who watched her documentary.

The documentary brings out the spirit and courage of the local crew set against their bleak circumstances. The point is driven home instantly. They can do with very little what most of us cannot do with all our privileges. Here in the communally charged and underdeveloped town of Malegaon, a man had dared to dream. Inhabited by people deprived of the basics with practically nothing going for them, the sheer audacity of Nasir’s ambition and the subsequent journey to fulfill it hits you in the face. Films were always a passion for Shaikh Nasir. It was not a remarkable passion in a country obsessed with the movies. But Nasir’s ambition set him apart because of his simple, unafraid and uninhibited approach to realise his dream.

Entirely self taught as a director, Hindi comic books became Nasir’s first textbooks for shot division and storytelling when he was in school. Later, he pursued painting in his spare time to get a grip on composition and framing. After passing out of school, he started working at his family’s video parlor where his job involved basic editing of the dialogues in action flicks to make them more appealing to the local audience. This gave Nasir the confidence to attempt the work that in his own words soothes his soul. (“Film banana mera shauq hai. Meri rooh khush ho jati hai yeh karke.”)

He saved up as much money as he could, a few of his friends -loom workers in the drab textile factories of Malegaon - chipped in to make good the shortfall. With the grand budget of Rs 50,000, production on Nasir’s first film Malegaon Ke Sholay began. The idea was to localise mainstream Hindi blockbusters. The film was shot on a VHS camera and it was edited on home video recorders. Friends and family populated its cast and crew.

He screened the film at his video parlor and it was an instant hit. Locals flocked to the parlor every evening. Nasir made 2 lakh rupees from ticket and DVD sales. Encouraged by this, he made his second film, Malegaon Ki Shaan that again was a success. According to Nasir, his films work because they speak about the problems and issues that are pertinent to his people. These issues can never be a concern in the big Bollywood films that are otherwise the staple fare for viewing. He uses comedy as a tool to reach out to the people of Malegaon because he feels, “Lecture koi nahin sunana chahta.” (No one wants to hear preachy sermons)

And yet these films are far from meaningless. They talk about the gutka (tobacco) chewing habit that plagues the youth in Malegaon, the lack of hygiene, the need for medical attention and protection for children, who drown in Girna river every year, amongst many other problems that are critical to the town.

His third film Malegaon Ka Superman, which has been invited to the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) this year will be the first one to see a theatrical release in Malegaon and subsequently in other parts of India. The charming and confident director disarmingly says,” This is my first to take on Hollywood. It is a technical film where I have done green screen work for the first time.”

With the first flush of recognition, you ask him about his Mumbai ambitions, working on the assumption that this would be a natural progression for him. Nasir surprises you again. “I don’t want to make films in Mumbai. I make films to express myself. This would be compromised in the big city. The problems of my people will be sidelined. I have fame, success, money right here in Malegaon so why should I step out and lose my independence?” he says.

Humbled and strangely reassured, I came away from Osians with more than I had expected to. Firstly, the need to break stereotypes and having an open mind to embrace every experience was emphasised. I realised that you get to hear diverse voices, which may never be heard if not for these platforms and that is what makes it worthwhile. Secondly, hearing Nasir’s story I came to the epiphany that the only thing that is stopping you from realising your dreams, is you. The simplicity and purity of approach, which we seem to have lost, is what Superman Malegaon represents. Half a world away another $15,000 movie has earned a hundred million dollars at the box-office. Bringing me back to the point that if you want to do something, just go ahead and do it. Nothing should stop you; this is what Nasir’s story inspires. Unleash the Superman in yourself. So what if his domain is only Malegaon for now. The world awaits.