Directed by Manish Saini, the film ‘The Great Grand Superhero – Arrival of Aliens’, which hit theaters today, takes you into a world that today’s Bollywood has almost forgotten. In this age of violence, dark universe and loud action movies, this movie is a reminder that movies should be made for kids as well as they want pure and innocent entertainment. Based on the fantasy of aliens, superheroes and school children, the film may be a little weird and scattered, but at its heart it is thoroughly Indian and old-fashioned.
What is the story of the film?
The story of the film revolves around an 11-year-old boy Deepu (Mihir Godbole), who comes to live in a new town.In an attempt to impress his new classmates, Deepu concocts a story that his grandfather (Jackie Shroff) is actually a secret superhero preparing to fend off an alien invasion.What starts as a simple childhood rant takes an interesting turn when two interesting characters (Saharsh Shukla and Kumar Saurabh) in bright costumes enter and turn this children’s fantasy story into reality. After this the kids are completely in ‘mission mode’.
Jackie Shroff became famous as ‘grandfather-superhero’
It’s not a VFX-heavy film in the Marvel style, nor is it a stylish flying film like ‘Krrish’; Instead, it shines most in its rustic and comic-book style.In the film, Jackie Shroff plays the role of a lovable and elderly grandfather, who on one hand claims to save the world but on the other hand panics at the sight of a small lizard and his entire ‘superhero’ disappears in an instant. Jackie makes this character very lively, mysterious and fun rather than an old man giving a heavy sermon.
Star performances and highlights
Strong Child Actors: Mihar Godbole has shown remarkable confidence in the lead role of Deepu. As their friends, Shivansh Chorge and Jeehan Hodar’s natural playground chemistry and innocence win hearts.
Outstanding Supporting Cast: Iconic Smita Patil has given the alien character a wonderful touch of mystery and charm instead of making it a simple caricature. Bhagyashree Patwardhan’s cameo and ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’ scenes add to the drama of the film. Along with this, Durgesh Kumar’s absurd character also easily fits into the atmosphere of the film.
To be clear, this is not a ‘Marvel’ style epic film trying to compete with the biggies from around the world, nor is it a ‘Krrish’ type film where the hero wears a stylish flying suit. In fact, the film works best when it fully embraces its homely, somewhat crude, comic-book style. The aliens are quite dramatic, the situations are a bit weird and the kids are in ‘mission mode’ all the time. Many people may find this film a little funny or even a parody, but due to the sincerity with which its story is told, ‘The Great Grand Superhero’ succeeds in touching the hearts of the audience.
And then, Jackie Shroff enters the film. He plays a lovable and aging grandfather who can either save the world or make you search for your lost glasses. One of the film’s most endearing and funniest moments is when this ‘fearless’ grandfather, described by his grandson, panics at the sight of a lizard, thereby momentarily losing his ‘superhero’ status.
It’s clear that Jackie is having a lot of fun in this film, which makes it even more entertaining to watch. Seeing him as a ‘grandfather-superhero’ in a film instead of playing some other serious old man teaching the hero life lessons is an endearing experience in itself. He brings warmth, humor and a bit of mystery to his performance, leading the kids – and, frankly, the audience too – to believe that maybe this guy really does fight aliens after dinner.
The film also deftly touches on a common childhood memory: believing every story told by grandparents. Be it ghosts, hidden treasures, secret powers or impossible adventures, grandparents have always been experts in storytelling. The Great Grand Superhero builds its entire emotional structure around this idea, and this is where the film becomes more than just an entertaining children’s film.
The young actors are to be commended as the film’s energy largely depends on them portraying the madness with complete sincerity. Mihir Godbole leads the film with verve and confidence, while Shivansh Chorge and Jeehan Hodar as his friends add a wonderful innocence and playground-like energy to the adventure scenes. Their chemistry feels natural, passionate, and very carefree, especially in the moments when they feel like they’re in the middle of a terrifying alien invasion.
The iconic Smita Patil also makes her mark as the alien character at the center of the chaos, creating a blend of mystery and charm rather than turning it into a generic sci-fi masterpiece. Bhagyashree Patwardhan’s powerful cameo and ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’ sequence add to the excitement of the interplanetary drama, while Durgesh Kumar’s no-nonsense character fits seamlessly into the film’s unique microcosm.
Another strength of the film is that it does not try to be educational, motivational or sentimental. It just wants to tell an entertaining story of children, imagination, friendship and a reluctant but courageous grandfather. And in an industry obsessed with violence, dark universes and hyper-masculine heroes these days, this film full of aliens, childhood turmoil and grandpa energy feels really refreshing.
Of course, the film is not flawless. Despite being less than two hours long, some parts feel stretched. Mood swings are also erratic at times, and adult viewers looking for concise science fiction can sometimes find themselves engrossed in their phones. Additionally, the momentary shift from alien attack energy to environmental protection missions could also turn many off.
However, the greatest thing about Great Grand Superhero is its amazing experience. Understands that children don’t always need perfection; Sometimes they just need a story that can make them believe that magical things can happen around them. Perhaps in their school, perhaps in their neighborhood, or perhaps in their own home. Or maybe in his grandfather. And that’s how cinema creates magic.