Indian spoof cinema redefines filmmaking

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Several makers of low-budget, spoof movies claim that their productions may not be as successful as Bollywood hits but are still popular. - (File Photo)
PANAJI What does it take to make a movie? A bicycle, a bullock cart, a small handycam and a soaring imagination - thats what Indian director Shaikh Nasir will tell you.

Nasir is one of several makers of low-budget, spoof movies set in the industrial town of Malegaon, around 300 km from Mumbai, the home of Bollywood, and a world apart from the glitzy sets, big-name stars and lavish productions of the worlds most prolific film industry.

For 10 years, Nasir has made films with local actors and almost no equipment, often on a budget of a little more than $1,000. Many are parodies of Bollywood hits.

We dont have fancy equipment like trolleys, so we mount our camera on a bicycle instead. A bullock cart functions as a crane. A handycam is our camera. But our films have heart, Nasir said.

Although crudely made, the films are a hit with Indian audiences, and two of the countrys film festivals - the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) and the Osian Film Fest - have special showings for these productions.

These are immensely popular films, at least in the areas they are released in, said Bhupendra Kainthola, who heads the Indian section at this years IFFI.

They may be low budget, and may be not technically as polished, but they are nevertheless a part of our film culture.

Nasir, a former video parlour owner who took to filmmaking after watching Bollywood cult classic Sholay, edited his first film on VHS as he had no access to computers.

Ye Hain Malegaon Ka Superman (Here is Malegaons Superman) is Nasirs latest project, and Malegaons most expensive film yet, made on a budget of $2,200.

The film deals with local issues, has local actors and is in the local language. Malegaons Superman is skinny, wears shorts and flies into electric wires. His mission is to save a village from a tobacco-loving villain.

We crib about so many things in Mumbai, but here are people who have far less and yet are so happy. Our film industry can learn from them, said documentary maker Faiza Khan, who made a film on Malegaons movie industry in 2008.

As for Nasir, he has his sights set on Bollywood, but its not what you think.

I would like to meet some of my favourite Bollywood stars someday and tell them about the work we do. Our films may be small, but we love them just as much as they love their films, he said.

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