Independent filmmaker Param Gill has done something few directors dare to attempt today. At a time when big studios avoid anything politically sharp, his satire Bad President has pushed straight into the global spotlight. The film arrived quietly, almost unnoticed, yet has now sparked a new wave of international interest.
Bad President follows the chaotic rise of a dubious businessman who unexpectedly climbs to the top job in the country. On the surface, the plot is comical, but beneath the humour lies an uncomfortable reflection of real political behaviour. Viewers have found themselves laughing one moment and questioning world leadership the next. The film takes aim not just at one figure, but at the wider culture that allows questionable leaders to shape public values and national direction.
Its first release struggled. It landed during the final months of Donald Trump’s first term, when political divides were at their peak. With limited publicity and a tense climate surrounding political storytelling, the film barely made a ripple. That might have been the end of it, until history repeated itself.
When Trump returned to office, the film suddenly exploded online. Without fresh marketing, clips were shared everywhere. Audiences began calling it uncanny, even prophetic, as if Gill had captured a political mood that would only make sense years later.
Gill believes the renewed interest comes from the film’s candid tone. Though it feels light and satirical, many of its lines are adapted from real speeches and genuine global incidents. “It was never meant to mock politics,” he said. “It was about the damage a poor role model can cause. Leaders in different countries had started echoing the same behaviour.”
His own background makes the story even more intriguing. Gill is actually a practising dentist who sings Bollywood songs for his patients, yet filmmaking remains his real passion. Perhaps because he stands outside traditional industry paths, he has the freedom and courage to tell stories without fear of backlash.
With Bad President 2 already in progress, one thing seems certain: audiences today are eager for films that challenge power, spark conversation, and speak uncomfortable truths with humour.
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