The Adarsh Vidya Mandir school in a small town has a new student. Dipu (Mihir Godbole) is brilliant but aloof, and therefore a bit lonely. Dipu’s friend circle expands overnight when he declares that his grandfather Jagdish (Jackie Shroff) is a superhero in disguise.So what if Jagdish is scared of lizards and can barely stand upright? Dipu declares that Jagdish will save the world when aliens eventually attack. Nobody is more convinced about Jagdish than Dipu’s freshly minted best friend Ladoo (Shivanssh Chourghe).However, Chanakya (Jihan Hodar) is sceptical, demanding evidence at every turn of Jagdish’s powers. When two strangely attired men (Saharsh Shukla and Kumar Saurabh) do turn up, it’s time to put Jagdish’s special talents to the test.Manish Saini’s The Great Grand Superhero is all about modest joys and simple pleasures. The Gujarati director’s first feature in Hindi after four films, including two aimed at children, is a good-natured and hilarious chronicle, steered by a bunch of utterly charming kids and a sporting senior actor.Up until the extra-terrestrial invasion, represented by Prateik Smita Patil and basic visual effects, The Great Grand Superhero is cantering along beautifully. An investigative reporter who livestreams his stories and talks of page views notwithstanding, the 112-minute film is set in, and paced for, the pre-cellphone era.Jackie Shroff in The Great Grand Superhero (2026). Courtesy Amdavad Films/ZStudios.Saini and editor Deepa Bhatia judiciously refuse to rush through the scenes in which Dipu is spinning yarns of universe-travelling and global domination. Saini has a fine ear for dialogue too, as well as a rare skill for directing children to behave naturally and say the things they expected to say at their age.The boys urge their grandfathers to match up to Jagdish, with Sharat Saxena’s boxer stepping up to the challenge. Although the scenes concerning the aliens, which include a Bhagyashree Patwardhan cameo and a “Bharat Mata Ki Jai!” moment, aren’t as smooth as the antics of the young boys, the movie has already cast its spell. Ladoo especially embodies the power of imagination and the willingness to believe in magic that are typical of childhood. Shivanssh Chourghe superbly plays a boy with unwavering confidence in Dipu and Jagdish. Mihir Godbole, as the precocious Dipu, and Jihan Hodar, as the cynical Chanakya, are memorable too.The object of the children’s collective interest is deftly portrayed by an acting veteran who gamely steps out of their way. Jackie Shroff is marvellously, and typically, large-hearted towards his diminutive co-stars.Shroff watches benignly over a brood that has most of the funny lines and the winning moments. By never exaggerating his presence and submitting to the script’s various turns, Jackie Shroff proves to be the perfect casting choice. Through his generosity and warmth, the movie earns its title.