It’s finally time to go back to the Spider-Verse! Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, the second installment following Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018), is out in theaters.
The film, directed by Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers, and Justin K. Thompson and featuring the voices of Hailee Steinfeld, Shameik Moore, Daniel Kaluuya, Oscar Isaac, and others, expands on Miles Morales’ story along with other key Spider-People. One of the new Spideys making noise internationally is the Indian Spider-Man – Pavitr Prabhakar. The film marks the character’s first onscreen appearance, raising a few questions. Like, who is he?
Across the Spider-Verse Expands
Pavitr Prabhakar, the Indian Spider-Man from Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, brings a unique cultural perspective to the Spider-Verse. Created in the Spider-Man India comic book series, Pavitr’s story combines Indian mythology and cultural elements with the classic Spider-Man narrative.
Pavitr’s character undergoes changes in the upcoming film, including a futuristic setting and a revamped appearance. His relatability and engaging personality make him a memorable addition to the Spider-Verse. As fans eagerly await Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, they can anticipate an exciting adventure that brings together Spider-People from various dimensions, including Pavitr Prabhakar, the Indian Spider-Man.
Who is Pavitr Prabhakar?
Spider-Man India was created by writer Jeevan J. Kang, Suresh Seetharaman, and artist Sharad Devarajan. The first known comic book was released after a collaboration between Marvel Comics and Gotham Entertainment Group to bring superheroes from the West to the Indian market. The collaboration resulted in a four-part mini-series titled Spider-Man India. The Indianized version adapted the web-slinger with a mix of mythological and cultural references.
In the comic books, Pavitr is the defender of Earth-50101, who lives in Mumbai. He was born in a village and raised by his Uncle Bhim and Aunt Maya. Sound familiar? This is also where a powerful amulet coveted by supervillains is hidden. Pavitr moves to Mumbai for further studies, and while some of his fellow students bully him, he finds an empathetic friend in Meera Jain, the MJ counterpart.
To guide him through his hardships, his uncle Bhim tells him that his intellect is his power and comes with great responsibility. A short while after his move to the city, Nalin Oberoi – the big bad of his story, kills everyone in his village while seeking the amulet. Oberoi is none other than a Green Goblin-like Rakshasa or demon. After the tragedy, a clueless Pavitr is approached by a man who goes by Master Weaver, and he helps him unlock his Spidey powers. He then begins web-slinging across Mumbai city. It isn’t long before he starts using his powers for good in his neighborhood.
Meet Pavitr Prabhakar from Spider-Man
Pavitr’s Spidey suit is a bodysuit like most Spider-People. His suit has a white spider symbol on the chest. It also has a desi touch with a dhoti. There have been multiple versions of the character’s look over the years. Coming down to abilities – like most Spideys, Pavitr has superhuman strength, speed, and the spider-sense that warns him of danger coming. And, of course, he can produce webs from his forearms that help him scale walls and swing across distances. He also has a penchant for robotics with his impressive intelligence.
Pavitr’s allies include Peter Parker – Spider-Man from Earth 616, and Billy Braddock – Spider-UK from Earth 833. He also joins the Multiversal Superior Spider-Army and goes up against the Inheritors with a larger Spider-Army. His enemies include Nalin Oberoi and a demon, Dr. Octopus.
Pavitr Prabhakar in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
In Across the Spider-Verse, Pavitr’s arc is set on Earth-50101, just like in the comics. Quite a few liberties have been taken with Pavitr’s look and his origin story, including the setting. Pavitr lives in Mumbattan – a futuristic mash-up of Mumbai and Manhattan. In a recent interview, the film’s producer Christopher Miller explained, “That’s based on an Indian comic-book look – and Nueva York from Spider-Man 2099’s world, that’s based on Syd Mead-style illustrations of what the future might look like.”
Pavitr is a remarkable Spider-Man who thinks being a superhero is easy. He is also as relatable as it gets. From highlighting the traffic in his city to explaining how chai tea is just “tea.” His costume has gone through a significant transformation for the movie. For starters, it’s more colorful. The blue and red suit has a white spider symbol that covers his entire torso. He wears two gold bracelets on each wrist. His mask doesn’t conceal his dark brown wavy hair, which he’s pretty proud of. Like most versions, he wears a dhoti. This one is blue and gold.
Indian Spider-Man in the Spider-Verse
The Indian Spider-Man is voiced by Karan Soni, who luckily lends a natural voice without a forced accent. Fans will recognize him as the voice of Dopinder in Deadpool. Opening up about the stint, Soni revealed, “It’s just fascinating because I grew up in India, and we love Spider-Man. When it was announced that I was playing him, I cannot tell you how many messages I got from people. Firstly, they were just excited, and then there were a few more serious messages, saying mainly, ‘Don’t mess this up.’ I don’t think we did!”
While Karan Soni is the voice of Pavitr Prabhakar in the original dub, the famous cricketer Shubman Gill has lent his voice to the character in the Hindi and Punjabi versions.
What is Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse about?
Set over a year after the events of Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, the film sees Miles Morales continuing his work as the friendly neighborhood Spider-Man after a time skip. His routine, which includes skipping school while leading a dual life, is disrupted when Spider-Gwen visits him. Gwen is on a mission to save people in general, and Spider-People across universes, a mission Miles isn’t a part of.
However, he eventually gets tangled in the dangerous web that takes him across the expansive and chaotic Spider-Verse. This is where Pavitr Prabhakar comes in as a significant superhero who joins the likes of Jessica Drew – Spider-Woman, Hobie – Spider-Punk, Miguel O-Hara – Spider-Man 2099, and Ben Reilly – Scarlet Spider, among others.
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is currently in cinemas.
Also, read A Look At ‘Fast X’ And Its $18 Million Midweek Opening
FAQs On Indian Spiderman
Is Pavitr Prabhakar a new character in the Spider-Verse?
No, Pavitr Prabhakar is not a new character in the Spider-Verse. He was created for the Spider-Man India comic book series and has now been debited onscreen in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.
How does Pavitr’s story differ from other Spider-Man versions?
Pavitr’s story differs from other Spider-Man versions regarding background, setting, and cultural references. The Indianized version of Spider-Man incorporates elements from Indian mythology and culture, making it a unique interpretation of the character.
Who voices Pavitr Prabhakar in the English and Hindi versions?
Karan Soni voices Pavitr Prabhakar in the English version of Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. In the Hindi and Punjabi versions, the famous cricketer Shubman Gill has lent his voice to the character.
Will there be more Indian representation in the Spider-Verse?
As the Spider-Verse expands, we may see more Indian representation in future installments. The introduction of Pavitr Prabhakar signals a willingness to explore diverse characters and storylines within the Spider-Man universe.
What can fans expect from Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse?
Fans can expect an exciting and action-packed adventure in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. The film will continue the story of Miles Morales and introduce new Spider-People from different dimensions, including Pavitr Prabhakar. The Spider-Verse concept allows for creative storytelling and surprises, making it a must-watch for Spider-Man fans.
