FILM REVIEW: Sarkar (2005)

Director: Ram Gopal Varma
Producer: Ram Gopal Varma, Parag Sanghavi
Cast: Amitabh Bachchan, Abhishek Bachchan, Kay Kay Menon, Supriya Pathak, Rukshar, Katrina Kaif, Tanisha, Anupam Kher,
Music: Amar Mohile, Kunal Mehta, Pariksht Lalwani, Anup Dev
Cinematography: Amit Roy
Editing: Nipun Gupta, Amit Parmar
Screenplay: Manish Gupta
Art Direction: Sunil Nigvekar

Radio Sargam Rating: 7/10

Thank god! Ram Gopal Verma is obsessed with mafia dons and underworld. Other wise we would be deprived of the wonderful films. His every project has innovative appeal. He makes movies with simple stories but portray them in such a manner that u may not ask for more. In his movies the characters and dialogue are not important. What comes to fore is relationship. His gaze over the other side of good vs. evil conflict has won him many praises.

The movie Sarkar not only relates to Godfather in Mumbaiya style but very much to Bal Thackeray. RGV’s Subhash Nagre ‘Sarkar’ is in fact Bal Thackeray portrayed by Amitabh Bachchan. The film delves into his life, his position and stature in Mumbai’s political scene; stating how his every word is a law into itself and not even his siblings can change that. Everyone knows the family feud of Thackeray clan, how he went to jail and what happened after that. Ram Gopal Verma has tried to depict his life in this 2 hours 15 minutes of sepia-toned celluloid drama.

Storyline:
The opening of the movie is gripping where a hapless father (Virendra Saxena), whose daughter has been raped while the rapist acquitted by the law, goes to Sarkar Niagara for help. The daughter, we’re told, has now committed suicide. Subhash Nagre (Amitabh Bachchan) Sarkar, the man who rewrites the law instructs his trusted lieutenant (Ravi Kale) to take the rapist to task.

He has two sons Vishnu (Kay Kay Meon) and Shankar (Abhishek) – the elder and the younger. Vishnu goes astray, joining with the baddies, while Shankar is a foreign-returnee.

Sarkar warns drug-trafficker Mastan to check his drug trade, which is a social evil. His enemies increase. On the family front, Vishnu becomes a big problem in the family. His lust for a film actress makes him emotional and he murders the girl’s co-star in a fit of jealousy. Just Sarkar avoids shielding his son. He takes refuge with Sarkar’s enemies – Selva Mani (Kota), Rasheed and Mastan.

The stage so set, the opposition leader (Anupam Kher) is murdered by the baddies gang. But, Sarkar is suspected and put in police custody. Shankar comes to know the ugly realities – that his brother is lured by the villains. He survives an attack on his life; and saves Sarkar from an assassination attempt in the jail.

Back home, Shankar kills his own brother Vishnu, who attempts to kill his own father Sarkar. The honest son is on the revenge spree, kills all, and destabilizes the government for a mid-term poll. All for his dad!

The ending of the movie is very powerful. Sarkar waves to the crowds from the terrace, and the power behind Sarkar, i.e. Shankar sips the tea. Shankar takes over the parallel government which his father used to run earlier. And the rule of Sarkar continues.

Critique:
Sarkar has an amazing opening sequence and equally appealing ending. Sarkar is an ambitious attempt for even a director as accomplished as Ram Gopal Verma. Ramu has managed to give even an actor like Amitabh a challenging role and draw out a performance that’s leagues ahead of any actor ruling the roost of Bollywood. But Ramu falters midway. The story drags and u twirl in your cinema seat. The assembly of half a dozen girls (Katrina, Tanisha, Rukhsar etc) in the movie and excessive footage spend of love life of Abhishek cannot be justified.

Sarkar has redefined again the art of expression facial expression and acting by eyes.

Amitabh Bachchan comes out of director hands and gives soul to the character of Balsaheb Thackrey. I don’t feel that any other person here would have lent that much gravity to that character.

Abhishek Bachchan doesn’t have much to do in the first half of the film. Abhishek is brought forth in the second half, and he does it really well. Though, his role doesn’t demand him to display much histrionics, it still demands a very expressive and an intense actor; so Abhishek completely fits into the character of Shankar.

Kay Kay Menon is another actor who never fails to register an impact. None of the women are at all important; each does all right in her limited role.

Technically, the movie is far more detailed than other average fare, especially, those scenes where cameras travel between chairs and tiny crevices to fill up Mr. Bachchan in every scene. Also, the background score is phenomenal with the ‘Govinda’ track still running in your head long after the movie is over.

Amit Roy’s sepia-toned cinematography is exceptional. Nipun Gupta and Amit Parmar are good with the editing, and Sunil Nigvekar’s art direction also is quite impressive.

Bottom Line:
Riding on Big B’s histrionics, Sarkar is a must watch movie of this weekend.

Credit: This review was submitted by Ankit Jain of Footprints.in. They run their own movie Blog at DCECinemas. To submit your own review for posting on radiosargam.com please email.

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