For years, Bollywood has been unable to come up with a memorable story of superhero’s that resonates with viewers. But it’s a unexpectedly adorable, emotional movie, and a reminder that sometimes story trumps stunt. The film, led by the no-less-known Jackie Shroff, and told in a family-friendly way, is more like a childhood trip into the past than an ordinary superhero film.
I didn’t knew about this film, I was randomly scrolling through X, and then a tweet came into my feed, it was a tweet of a movie review of this film by Deccan Reviews, the title was really eye catchy which was “Jackie Shroff Leads a Heartwarming Family Adventure Full of Mystery”, then I opened the review and read it. I was immediately convinced to view it and it was a correct choice.
It doesn’t even hesitate to be innocent from the very start of the film. Around a little boy who in passing explains to his school mates that his grandfather is in fact a superhero. It’s a simple attempt at impressing his classmates that soon turns into a involved fantasy. The boy describes how his grandfather defeated aliens, battled monsters, saved the Earth countless times, had breakfast on the Moon and dinner on Mars. His imagination is boundless and so is the entire film based on that childlike wonder.
As reality triumphs over fantasy, the story takes a turn for the worse. Just as in Koi… Mil Gaya, a real spaceship crashes on Earth and two aliens come to Earth. All at once, the seemingly impossible becomes not so crazy. Meanwhile, the movie presents the audience with a group of naughty kids who make it their mission to prove the grandfather’s chicanery. They want to show that he’s not a hero, he’s just a ‘zero’. This is a battle that has enough energy to maintain the interest of an audience of younger viewers and also is emotionally charged for older viewers.
The thing that impressed me the most is the sincerity of the film. Nowadays the family entertainers of films make use of loud jokes, over-dramatized action scenes or inconsequential double entendures. The Great Grand Superhero has a very different path. Overall its writing is gentle, clean and surprisingly wholesome. At the end of the first half I was deep in its cosy embrace. The script focuses on the little moments and personal triumphs. It doesn’t try to make it exciting by action; it gives the audience the chance to relate with the characters and their lives.
The undeniable soul of the film is definitely Jackie Shroff. He’s like a warm hug that you just can’t make. In his interaction with children or family life, or when he is in his super hero costume, he is always easy to believe. He’s a natural born charmer and brings even the simplest moments to life on-screen. He doesn’t overdo it, and that authenticity is one of the things that makes this movie great. The little kids who circle around him want him to be true to his tales, and they can see that he would be.
The locations are pretty and the music score is lovely and fun to listen to and is played at the right moments. The sound tracks nicely with the emotionality of the film. The overall look is a comforting one, and the film feels more like an old fashioned family entertainer instead of something from a new franchise.
However, there are some drawbacks to the film. The ending was great, but I still wanted more. In the last twenty to twenty-five minutes, it suggests there is something bigger and more interesting, but it doesn’t quite achieve this potential. The name of Prateik Babbar is more often misspelled “Prateik” or simply mispronounced in promotional talks, and he only appears briefly in what is essentially a “cameo”. His performance might have brought more tension, excitement and dramatic fulcrum to the final. Unfortunately, he’s not used to the fullest in the screenplay.
Mild disadvantage is the visual effects. Some of the scenes with a lot of CGI are dated and a bit cheap. If you are looking for the high level of technical sophistication of big budget international superhero films, you may be disappointed. But for all the flaws, I think the heart of the film makes up for them. As I felt more deeply immersed in its world, I didn’t care so much about the limitations of the special effects.
The film also reminded me that Hindi cinema truly needs to have a really successful superhero franchise. The genre remains popular and there’s clearly a appetite for stories that combine fantasy and emotional value. The Great Grand Superhero doesn’t define the genre for superhero films, but it proves that it can still resonate with people when it’s done with a sense of realness.
So, I wouldn’t say to judge this film only by standard measures. Doesn’t claim to be spectacular, does not base events on high stakes, does not claim to be groundbreaking in its storytelling. Instead, it does well because it brings back that sense of wonder that has been lost. I was taken into a world where imagination was more important than logic, where magic could solve things that weren’t. For almost two hours.
The Great Grand Superhero doesn’t necessarily reinvent the genre, but it’s a refreshing dose of warmth in today’s film landscape. Jackie Shroff’s cuddly acting, the movie’s wholesomeness, and its vintage charm will make it a family-friendly and entertaining film for all those with a shred of childhood in them.
Rating: 3.5/5