OPINION: Can Badass Ravikumar ‘Spoof’ his way to Box Office Glory?

Can Himesh Reshammiya's movie Badass Ravikumar create a box office splash? Know it from the perspective of a Bihar based single screen exhibitor.

By Vishek Chauhan

Published on Feb 04, 2025 | 01:49 PM IST | 6.8K

Can Badass Ravikumar become a big box office sensation? (Credit: Himesh Reshammiya Melodies)

In the early 2000s, a peculiar phenomenon took hold of college campuses across India. Kanti Shah's Gunda, a film originally intended as a gritty gangster saga, became a cult classic—not for its action or drama, but for its unintentional comedy. Shared widely on intranet networks, the film's rhyming dialogues, absurd character names, and outlandish screenplay turned it into a laugh riot, but in the best way possible. Students reveled in its over-the-top antics, transforming Gunda into a killer spoof. Ironically, this was an outcome Kanti Shah likely never envisioned. Yet, the film's legacy endures, cementing its place as one of India's most beloved "so bad, it's good" movies.

This accidental success story highlights a curious gap in Indian cinema: the lack of spoofs and parodies. While Hollywood has thrived on spoof films for decades—think Naked Gun, Hot Shots, Austin Powers, Scary Movie, and Johnny English—India's spoof genre remains woefully underexplored. A quick glance at Wikipedia's list of Indian parody films reveals a sparse lineup: Ramgarh Ke Sholay, Oh Darling Yeh Hai India, Baadshah, and Arjun Patiala. These films, while entertaining, hardly compare to the dedicated spoof libraries of Hollywood, which often spawn sequels and franchises.

Globally, spoofs thrive because they tap into a universal audience desire to relive iconic cinematic moments with a comedic twist. Films like Tropic Thunder, The Dictator, and What We Do in the Shadows parody specific genres or films, creating a unique blend of nostalgia and humor. Far from demeaning the original works, these spoofs often amplify their popularity. For instance, Hot Shots didn't demean Top Gun; it celebrated its essence by exaggerating, making the original even more iconic. Similarly, Scary Movie paid homage to the slasher genre while poking fun at its tropes. As the saying goes, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, and in show business, it’s also a lucrative one.

India, however, has rarely embraced this formula. Enter Himesh Reshammiya's Badass Ravikumar, a film that seems poised to crack the code of spoofing. While the film hasn’t released yet, the trailer alone has garnered a staggering 81 million views on YouTube, with its dialogues going viral and its songs becoming chartbusters. The youth, in particular, are buzzing with excitement, and it's easy to see why. Badass Ravikumar proudly wears its spoof badge, declaring itself an '80s wali picture' and gleefully parodying the action-drama genre of that era.

Reshammiya, who first introduced the character of Ravikumar in Xpose, appears to have taken the spoof element to the next level. Modeled after the legendary Rajkumar, Ravikumar is now a full-blown "badass" and a killing machine, delivering dialogues with a finesse that borders on self-aware brilliance. If the trailer is any indication, the film doesn't just parody the '80s; it revels in its absurdity, creating a meta-commentary on the genre itself. This intentional spoofing, combined with Reshammiya's infectious energy, has the potential to strike a chord with audiences.

What makes Badass Ravikumar intriguing is its ability to balance humor with homage. The film doesn't seem to mock the '80s action genre; instead, it celebrates it, much like how Hot Shots celebrated Top Gun. If executed well, the result could be a paisa vasool experience—a comedy show packed with gags and punches that evoke nostalgia while delivering fresh laughs

Looking at the buzz surrounding Badass Ravikumar, it's clear that the film has tapped into something special. While the film’s success at the box office remains to be seen, the early signs are promising. If the trailer views and viral moments are any indication, Badass Ravikumar might just be the breath of fresh air Bollywood has been desperately searching for.

In a world where cinema is often taken too seriously, perhaps it's time for Bollywood to embrace the spoof genre wholeheartedly. After all, as Gunda and the anticipation around Badass Ravikumar have shown, there's nothing quite as satisfying as a good laugh—especially when it comes at the expense of our favorite films. Only time will tell if Badass Ravikumar lives up to the hype, but one thing is certain: the spoof genre in India is ready for its moment in the spotlight. With Badass Ravikumar, Himesh Reshammiya is taking a bold step into this uncharted territory, and if the early buzz is anything to go by, the gamble could pay off in a big way.