Singham is the first of two Hindi action/comedy films. Released in 2011, it was directed by Rohit Shetty and starring Ajay Devgn as the titular character.
In the city of Goa, India, an honest police inspector named Rakesh Kadam commits suicide following false corruption charges levied against him by corrupt businessman/gangster Jaikant Shikre. His widow, Megha Kadam, swears revenge, but due to Shikre's influence within the city she is powerless to do anything.
At the town of Shivgarh near the Goa-Maharashtra border, Bajirao Singham is in charge of the local police station, and commands a great deal of respect from the townspeople by mediating most of their problems without pressing charges. When Singham demands that Shikre reports to his police station to sign off on his bail regarding a murder charge, Shikre uses his political influence to have Singham transferred to Goa, where he can take his revenge on Singham.
This film's sequel, Singham Returns, released in 2014. A film set in the same universe called Simmba came out in 2018. Another film set in the same universe, Sooryavanshi, was released in 2021 after being postponed from 2020 due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. Singhham also received an animated TV show in 2018 called Little Singham.
This film has the following tropes:
- Awakening the Sleeping Giant:
- Piss Singham off at your own peril.
- The entire Goa police force after Singham shames them into moving against Shikre.
- Big Bad: Jaikant Shikre. Respected businessman whose pasttimes include corruption, kidnapping and exortion.
- Boom, Headshot!:
- Inspector Rakesh Kadam when pushed past the point of no return.
- Shikre, with Singham himself doing the deed.
- By-the-Book Cop: Bajirao Singham, to a T. Also, Rakesh Kadam before Shikre framed him.
- Curb-Stomp Battle: A horde of Mooks versus Singham? Must be Tuesday.
- Crusading Widow: Kadam's widow, Megha Kadam, who seeks to clear her late husband's name.
- Diplomatic Impunity: Shikre's ultimate goal of being elected to a government job.
- Dirty Cop: Satyam Patkar, the Deputy Superintendent of Police, who is on Shikre's payroll.
- Disappointed in You: The look in his son's eyes is possibly what drove Inspector Kadam to suicide.
- The Dragon: Shiva, Shikre's right-hand man.
- The Dreaded: Jaikant Shikre is a corrupt politician and business man that wields a lot of power.
- Driven to Suicide: Inspector Rakesh Kadam, who had been framed for corruption by Shikre.
- Friend to All Children: Singham. Even the lyrics to his theme says that he's a child at heart.
- Heel–Face Turn: DSP Satyam Patkar reveals that he supports Singham after initially protecting Shikre.
- Meaningful Name: Baijirao Singham's surname means "lion." It's fitting for a strong and unrelenting police officer.
- Oh, Crap!: Shikre, when he realizes that the Goa police force plans to kill him.
- Real Men Love Jesus: Or more accurately, "Real Men Love the Gods." Singham is a devout Hindu.
- Shame If Something Happened: When one of his victims tries to bargain with Shiva, Shikre takes the phone instead. The ransom was paid soon after.
- Theme Music Power-Up: Kicks in, complete with ominous chanting and lion roaring sound effects, when Singham finally hits a Rage Breaking Point and starts whooping ass.
- Would Hurt a Child: More like Would Kill A Child if Shikre doesn't get his way.
