In a bid to feel less alienated at his new school, Dipu (Mihir Godbole) cooks up a story about his grandad’s secret life as a superhero… aka, The Great Grand Superhero. However, he gets more than what he bargained for when aliens actually attack!
In a world of mainstream movies led by toxic heroes, “The Great Grand Superhero: Aliens Ka Aagman” propagates positive qualities such as empathy and that ultimately fighting it out is only a temporary option. However, it also shows that limiting one’s carbon footprint or simply not littering will ensure literal greener pastures as well as a brighter tomorrow for the young generations. After all, if you’re a ‘bhidu’ (a Marathi slang for ‘buddy’) to Nature, then Nature will also be your ‘bhidu.’
A Nuanced form of Heroism
A lot of the heroism depicted in the movie is also derived from Dipu’s grandfather Jagdish (played by Jackie Shroff) simply being a naturally selfless individual who cares for living and non-living beings alike. The movie also includes meta references to its lead actor Shroff and his real-life environmental advocacy, which ties in to the core message of doing one’s part to save Mother Nature. This is further portrayed in the subversion of the good vs. evil trope, as the aliens aren’t invading with plans to take over the planet to destroy life as we know it, but rather in hopes of reclaiming it so that mankind doesn’t treat it like a giant waste bin any more.
The movie also explores themes such as valuing the sacrifices of one’s elders, who act as superheroes in the metaphorical sense by providing for their families and doting on their grandchildren by indulging in their silliest fantasies.
A majority of the movie also revolves around keeping viewers guessing whether Dipu’s grandad is actually a superhero or whether his grandson has indeed been fibbing. It, thus, deserves an A for effort for keeping the audiences (particularly the target young demographic) engaged. It does this through conversations between Jagdish — the initially perplexed but altogether sporty subject of Dipu’s tall tales — and the schoolboy’s curious classmates who are hungry for more lore behind the elderly man’s secret identity (as was I). Additionally, clever red herrings such as Jagdish’s back pain and herpetophobia (fear of harmless house lizards) actually left me doubting whether the trailer had misled me and if I was just watching a movie about an ordinary grandpa.
A Film – and Character – Easy on the Environment
The film introduces some subplots. One involves the other grandfathers in the neighbourhood developing an inferiority complex due to Jagdish’s rising popularity and attempting to one-up him. They do this by showing off their own strength via a foot race, which proves to be rib-tickling. While occasionally the movie thrives on nostalgia bait, it also doesn’t overly rely on the same.
The film’s CGI is rough around the edges. Yet all the same, I’m relieved that the team behind “The Great Grand Superhero” didn’t resort to measures which damage natural resources such as Generative AI, and they also use special effects sparsely. The spaceship design in the final act in particular boasted of originality.
The child actors steal the show, lending likability to the plethora of archetypes featured in the movie, from Mihir Godbole as Dipu, Shivansh Chorge as loyal and witty best friend Ladoo (who is gifted with a spot-on comic timing), and the bespectacled and arrogant tattletale Chanakya played by Jihan Hodar. Supporting characters also make the film. These include Chanakya’s father — a self-proclaimed investigative journalist who occasionally dabbles in war journalism by recording drunk fights at the local tavern. We also have veteran character actor Sharat Saxena as Kartar Singh, a retired strongman are equally amusing additions to this diverse group. The romantic angle between Jagdish and Musi (Bhagyashree) also hit me in the feels.
A Feel-good Film
Overall, simple, charming and feel-good “The Great Grand Superhero: Aliens Ka Aagman” is yet another fine addition to the growing collection of homegrown Indian superhero flicks like “Minnal Murali,” the “Krrish” franchise and “Mard Ko Dard Nahi Hota.” Considering the promise of a sequel, there’s hopefully more to come from the Maushichi Cinematic Universe.
My only disappointment with the movie is that it doesn’t tie in with the Flying Jatt Universe.
“The Great Grand Superhero: Aliens Ka Aagman” is in theatres.”
Rating: A+
