★★★★☆ (4/5) Rating (Critic Scale): ★★☆☆☆ (2/5) Verdict: Turn off your brain. Turn up the volume. Let the Singha roar. Have you watched Bikram Singha (2012)? Do you think Prosenjit’s Rana was funnier than his Bikram? Leave your thoughts in the comments below. For more retro reviews and action deep-dives, stay tuned to the MovieBaa archives.
The plot thickens when a young orphan girl mistakes Bikram for Rana, pulling the lion into a fight against the very system he was sent to dismantle. The emotional core rests on Bikram’s transformation from a detached officer to a protective father figure, culminating in a bloody, fiery climax where the lion truly returns. 1. Prosenjit Chatterjee’s Career-Defining Performance By 2012, Prosenjit had already delivered several hits, but Bikram Singha showcased his versatility. In one scene, he is a crying, clumsy village fool; in the next, he is smashing twenty goons with a single chain. His dialogue delivery—growling "Ami Bikram Singha" (I am Bikram Singha)—became a pop culture phenomenon. 2. High-Octane Action Choreography Unlike the grounded thrillers of the time, Bikram Singha embraced "logic-defying" action. Fights involved flying kicks, slow-motion punches, and background scores that made your spine tingle. The climax fight, set in a burning factory, is still cited by action fans as one of the goriest and most satisfying in Bengali cinema history. 3. The Music Composer Jeet Gannguli delivered a chartbuster album. The song "Bikram Singhe" became an anthem for Durga Puja pandals. The remix of "Love Maa" and the energetic "Matiir Putro" played on every FM channel for two consecutive years. 4. The Villainy of Rajatava Dutta A hero is only as good as his villain. Rajatava Dutta, as the menacing feudal lord, delivered a performance that was both terrifying and theatrical. His chemistry with Prosenjit elevated the second half of the film. Critical Reception vs. Box Office Verdict Critics were divided. Mainstream reviewers called the film "loud," "illogical," and "derivative." They pointed out that the special effects were dated even for 2012 and that the comedy track (featuring actors like Kharaj Mukherjee) was too crass. Bikram Singha The Lion Is Back -2012- -MovieBaa...
Prosenjit plays Bikram Singha , a ruthless, no-nonsense police officer in Kolkata. He is the "Lion"—short-tempered, honest, and willing to bend the law to break the backs of criminals. His encounter with a local don sets the stage for his transfer. Have you watched Bikram Singha (2012)
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In a brilliant narrative shift, Bikram is sent to a lawless village terrorized by a feudal lord. Here, the film reveals its secret weapon: Prosenjit in a dual role . He also plays Rana , a simpleton lookalike who is the village idiot. The contrast is jarring and hilarious. Rana wears floral shirts and dances goofily, while Bikram wears black khaki and breaks bones.
While the film is a classic, we encourage you to watch Bikram Singha legally on official OTT platforms or purchase the DVD. The theatrical experience—with the grainy film stock, the roaring surround sound, and the intermission bell—is where this lion truly shines. Unauthorized copies often have poor audio mixing, which ruins the impact of Jeet Gannguli's background score. Where Does the Franchise Go? After the massive success of Bikram Singha , a sequel was inevitable. Bikram Singha: The Lion is Back 2 was released in 2019, again starring Prosenjit. However, while the sequel had better VFX and a bigger budget, it failed to capture the raw, rustic energy of the 2012 original. For most fans, Bikram Singha (2012) remains the definitive entry. Final Verdict: A Time Capsule of Early 2010s Tollywood If you judge Bikram Singha The Lion Is Back by the standards of The Godfather or Shakespeare in Love , you will hate it. But if you judge it by the rules of mass entertainment —sweat, blood, slow-motion walks, double roles, and a hero who cannot die—then this film is a masterpiece.
In the landscape of Indian regional cinema, few remakes have generated as much raw, unapologetic mass hysteria as the 2012 Bengali action drama Bikram Singha: The Lion Is Back . Directed by the prolific Rajiv Kumar Biswas, this film was not just another release; it was an event. For fans of superstar Prosenjit Chatterjee (known affectionately as "Bumba Da"), Bikram Singha marked the definitive arrival of a larger-than-life action hero in Tollywood (Bengali cinema).