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The Great Grand Superhero Review: There was once a time when children’s films occupied a special place in Bollywood. Family audiences would regularly visit theatres for movies specifically made for younger viewers. These were films filled with imagination, innocence, adventure, fantasy, and life lessons.
From stories about friendship and courage to magical worlds and emotional coming-of-age journeys, Hindi cinema once treated children’s entertainment as an important genre rather than a commercially risky niche. Today, however, these films have become increasingly rare. Perhaps that’s why The Great Grand Superhero feels particularly special.
The film follows Deepu, a young boy who has trouble making friends because his father gets transferred every
few months. In an innocent attempt to befriend his new classmates, he tells them that his grandfather, Jagdish, is a superhero who protects the Earth from aliens. The young boys are immediately fascinated, especially the sweet Ladoo, but soon begin to question this fantastical tale.
Deepu then convinces Jagdish to lie to his friends, and the grandson-grandfather duo make every attempt to make the old man pass for a superhero. However, what Deepu doesn’t know is that Jagdish is hiding a secret of his own. Their lives take a turn when ‘strange’ men show up in their charming town, claiming that an alien race is about to attack the Earth.
The story is simple, innocent and comfortable. This is the film’s biggest win. Director Manish Saini’s The Great Grand Superhero is a commendable attempt to revive the kids’ genre in Bollywood without dumbing down the narrative or making the story feel too juvenile. It lets children be children, with piqued curiosities and imaginations.
This also reflects in the elementary yet humorous treatment of dialogues for both the kids and the adults in the film. Visually, the film maintains a cheerful, almost fairytale-like tone, which is a welcome change from the red-tinted violence that the younger audiences are growing accustomed to. The use of background score to complement the visuals is brilliant.
Mihir Godbole as Deepu mightily shoulders the film, and his chemistry with Jackie Shroff’s Jagdish is heartwarming. Shivanssh Chourghe as Ladoo anchors the film’s soul, while Jihan Hodar does well as the sceptical Chanakya. Interestingly, the young band of boys held very well alongside the veteran actor, even stealing the spotlight in most scenes.
Jackie Shroff, having proven his acting chops over the years, lets the young talent shine. The child actors get most of the quirky dialogues, and their interactions are delightful. Manish Saini’s directorial prowess is on full display as he brings the children’s innocence on screen and still makes it a fun watch for even the adults in the theatre.
Bhagyashree’s cameo is an ‘aha’ moment for the adults, and the cheeky references to real-life events aren’t lost either. One may point out certain loopholes in the narrative, but one should not. Having said that, Jackie Shroff and villain Prateik Smita Patil’s fight sequence during the climax could have been more impactful.
Overall, the film is a victory for director Manish Saini, and a lovely way for Jackie Shroff to introduce himself to younger audiences; especially given that he plays a toned-down, swagger-less version of himself. The Great Grand Superhero is a sincere film that should be supported in theatres. Perhaps a real-life 11-year-old may not appreciate this simplicity given the recent run of films. It then falls on us as adults to help them nurture their innocence, just like Deepu and his friends.
