Superman Full Story Explained (1987)
Imagine a Superman movie where the hero breakdances to Michael Jackson, uses telekinesis to set the dinner table, and fights villains in a cheap costume. That is exactly what you get in the 1987 Indian Hindi-language film 'Superman'. Directed by B. Gupta, this unofficial adaptation stars Puneet Issar as Shekhar, the Indian Superman. Dharmendra plays his biological father Jor-El in a special appearance. The film also features Sonia Sahni, Shakti Kapoor, and Ashok Kumar. It is famous for being so bad that it is hilarious. The movie lifts special effects footage directly from the 1978 Christopher Reeve Superman film. It is a wild, confusing, and oddly charming mess that has become a cult classic for fans of bizarre cinema.
A Baby from Krypton
The planet Krypton is about to explode. Jor-El and Lara-El send their baby son to Earth in a small spaceship. The baby lands in a village in India. An elderly couple, Jonathan Kent and his wife, find the baby and adopt him. They name him Shekhar. This is how the Indian Superman begins his journey.
Full Plot
The film begins on the doomed planet Krypton. Jor-El and Lara-El send their infant son to Earth in a small spaceship. The baby lands in a village in India. An elderly couple, Jonathan Kent and his wife, find the baby and adopt him. They name him Shekhar. Shekhar grows up on a farm. He discovers he has superhuman powers like incredible strength, speed, and telekinesis. He can move objects with his mind. His adoptive parents teach him to use his powers for good.
As a young man, Shekhar falls in love with a girl named Gita in school. Years later, he learns the truth about his origins from a holographic message from Jor-El. He decides to go to the big city to find Gita, who has become a newspaper reporter. Shekhar creates a secret identity as Superman. He wears a blue costume with a red cape. He arrives in the city and starts looking for Gita.
Gita works for a newspaper. The editor, played by Sonia Sahni, is a strong and independent woman. Gita has a new admirer named Verma. Verma is the chairman of the underworld, played by Shakti Kapoor. He is a wealthy and powerful criminal. Verma wants to destroy parts of India using natural disasters. He also wants Gita for himself. He sees Shekhar as a rival.
Superman starts fighting Verma's criminal operations. He stops robberies and saves people from disasters. Verma sends his best goons after Superman. The fights are clumsy and funny. Superman uses his strength to throw villains around. The film suddenly shows footage from the 1978 American Superman movie. Superman flies around the Earth and reverses time. The special effects are clearly stolen.
Verma kidnaps Gita to lure Superman into a trap. He traps Superman in a dangerous location. Superman is weakened by a strange substance. He cannot use his powers properly. Verma plans to kill Gita and destroy the city. Superman finds his strength again. He breaks free from the trap. He flies to save Gita just in time. He defeats Verma and his gang in a final fight. The natural disasters are stopped.
Superman is hailed as a hero by the people. Gita realizes that Shekhar is Superman. She is grateful and loves him. Verma is arrested and sent to jail. The film ends with Superman flying into the sky. He smiles at the camera. The message is clear: good always wins.
Act Breakdown
Origin of Superman
The film opens on Krypton. Jor-El and Lara-El send baby Shekhar to Earth. He lands in India and is adopted by Jonathan Kent. Shekhar grows up and discovers his powers. He learns about his origins and decides to go to the city to find Gita.
Superman Arrives
Shekhar arrives in the city and becomes Superman. He finds Gita working as a reporter. He meets his rival Verma. Superman starts fighting crime. Verma plans to destroy the city. The interval sets up the conflict between Superman and Verma.
Verma's Plan
Verma kidnaps Gita to trap Superman. He uses natural disasters to threaten the city. Superman fights Verma's goons. The film shows stolen footage from the 1978 Superman. Superman is weakened and captured. The city is in danger.
Final Battle
Superman breaks free from the trap. He saves Gita and defeats Verma. The natural disasters are stopped. Verma is arrested. Superman is hailed as a hero. Gita and Shekhar are reunited. The film ends with a happy and cheesy conclusion.
Characters
Shekhar / Superman
Played by Puneet Issar
Shekhar is the Indian Superman. He is a kind and strong man from a village. He has superpowers like strength, speed, and telekinesis. He loves Gita and fights the villain Verma to save her and the city.
Editor
Played by Sonia Sahni
The Editor is a strong and independent woman. She runs the newspaper where Gita works. She is a supportive boss. She helps Gita in her career.
Jor-El
Played by Dharmendra
Jor-El is Superman's biological father from Krypton. He appears in a special appearance. He sends baby Shekhar to Earth to save him. He guides Shekhar through a holographic message.
Verma
Played by Shakti Kapoor
Verma is the chairman of the underworld. He is a wealthy and powerful criminal. He wants to destroy parts of India using natural disasters. He also wants Gita for himself. He is the main villain.
Lara-El
Played by Ranjeeta Kaur
Lara-El is Superman's biological mother from Krypton. She appears briefly in the beginning. She sends her baby to Earth with Jor-El.
Jonathan Kent
Played by Ashok Kumar
Jonathan Kent is Superman's foster father in India. He finds baby Shekhar and adopts him. He raises Shekhar with love and teaches him to use his powers for good.
Scene Highlights
The Baby's Arrival
The film opens with Krypton exploding. Baby Shekhar's spaceship lands in an Indian village. Jonathan Kent and his wife find the baby. They adopt him and name him Shekhar. This scene sets up the entire story. It is a direct copy of the 1978 film but with an Indian twist.
Breakdancing to Beat It
In one of the most bizarre scenes, Shekhar breakdances to Michael Jackson's 'Beat It'. He is at a party with friends. The dance is clumsy and funny. The scene has nothing to do with the plot. It is a memorable moment of pure 1980s Bollywood weirdness.
Telekinetic Dinner
Shekhar uses his telekinesis to set the dinner table. He moves plates and unwraps bread with his mind. The special effects are very cheap. It looks like a magic trick. This scene shows his powers in a silly and charming way.
Stolen Flying Footage
The film suddenly shows footage from the 1978 American Superman movie. Superman flies around the Earth and reverses time. The Indian Superman is edited into the same scenes. It is clearly stolen. This scene is hilarious for how blatant it is.
Final Fight with Verma
Superman fights Verma and his goons in the climax. The fight is clumsy and full of bad choreography. Superman throws villains around easily. He saves Gita and defeats Verma. The city is safe. It is a cheesy but satisfying ending.
Cast & Context
This film is notable for casting Dharmendra, a major Bollywood star, in a special appearance as Jor-El. Dharmendra was known for action films and had a huge fan following. Puneet Issar, who plays Superman, was famous for playing Duryodhana in the TV series Mahabharat. Shakti Kapoor, a legendary villain actor, plays Verma. The casting of Dharmendra as Superman's father was a big draw for audiences. It was a unique and unexpected pairing.
Themes
Good vs. Evil
The film clearly shows the battle between good and evil. Superman represents goodness, kindness, and justice. Verma represents greed, power, and destruction. Superman always fights to protect the innocent. The film ends with good winning over evil.
Identity and Belonging
Shekhar struggles with his dual identity. He is both a simple village boy and a powerful alien. He learns about his origins from Krypton. He also feels a deep connection to his adoptive family in India. He finds his place as a protector of Earth.
Love and Sacrifice
Shekhar's love for Gita drives the story. He risks his life to save her from Verma. He sacrifices his own safety to protect the city. Gita also shows loyalty to Shekhar. Their love is a powerful force that helps Superman win.
Music & Soundtrack
ComposerKamalkant
The film has five songs composed by Kamalkant. 'Kankari Jhade Paon Mein' and 'Maine Maana Tumhi Ho' are the main songs. The music is typical of 1980s Bollywood. The film also features Michael Jackson's 'Beat It' during a breakdancing scene, which is not part of the original soundtrack.
Similar Films
The 1987 Indian film is an unofficial adaptation of this American classic. It lifts special effects footage directly from this film.
This is another Indian adaptation of Superman, but in Telugu. It stars N. T. Rama Rao as Superman. Both films are Indian takes on the superhero.
Both films are considered so-bad-they're-good cult classics. They have cheap special effects, bizarre dialogue, and hilarious moments.
Ending Explained
In the final scenes, Superman breaks free from Verma's trap. He finds his strength again after being weakened. He flies to save Gita, who is about to be killed by Verma. Superman defeats Verma and his gang in a clumsy but victorious fight. The natural disasters that Verma planned are stopped. The city is safe. Gita realizes that Shekhar is Superman. She is grateful and embraces him. Verma is arrested and taken to jail. The people cheer for Superman. The film ends with Superman flying into the sky, smiling at the camera. The message is simple: good always wins over evil. It is a happy and cheesy ending that fits the tone of the film.
This film is a must-watch for fans of so-bad-it's-good cinema. It is not a good movie by any standard. The acting is wooden, the special effects are terrible, and the plot is stolen. But it is incredibly entertaining for its sheer absurdity. The breakdancing scene, the stolen footage, and the cheesy costume make it a hilarious experience. If you want a serious superhero film, look elsewhere. If you want a laugh, this is perfect.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it is an unofficial Indian adaptation of the 1978 American Superman film. It follows a similar story but with an Indian setting. It also lifts special effects footage directly from the 1978 movie.
Puneet Issar plays the role of Shekhar, the Indian Superman. He is known for his role as Duryodhana in the TV series Mahabharat. Dharmendra makes a special appearance as Jor-El.
It is worth watching if you enjoy so-bad-it's-good movies. The film has cheesy special effects, funny dialogue, and stolen footage. It is a cult classic for fans of bizarre cinema. But it is not a good film by normal standards.
The runtime of the film is 2 hours and 3 minutes (123 minutes). Some sources say it is 2.5 hours long. The film includes many long and pointless scenes.
Yes, the film has a soundtrack with five songs. The music was composed by Kamalkant. Songs include 'Kankari Jhade Paon Mein' and 'Maine Maana Tumhi Ho'. The film also features Michael Jackson's 'Beat It' during a breakdancing scene.