Sarkar (2005)

[fizz]

Sarkar

Gritty, admirable retelling of the Godfather saga set in the crime riddled streets of Mumbai. Director Varma is a natual filmaker, who, unlike his more contemporary peers, does not shy away from making a film based on his vision or his love for another film. The story is familiar, yet it never becomes uninteresting. Like Scorcese and P.T. Anderson, the gift of fusing the entire running time of a picture with a sense of deep, relentless urgency throughout, is highly apparent. The performances are more than adequate, especially of the three leads - Bachan senior as the titular, shrewd, familial Sarkar; Bachan Jr as the son who will face his destiny and lead the family 'business' when required in the most untimely manner and especially scene stealing Kay Kay as the menacing, nefarious eldest brother (who is fused with the characteristics of both hot headed Sonny and ultimately cheating, Freddo). Falters in a few places, especially in its storytelling - there is nothing saga like about the setup, neither its running time, nor its time span (the Copolla original spanned a decade from rise to fall to memorable rise). Also, the odd mix of pundits and punter crime lords are never challenging enough as criminals to ever feel as real threats. The Katrina Kaif character who should be a the voice of reason, only comes across as a distraction. Yet, the film manages to be an intriguing mix of politics, personal vendeta and the seedy muck of India's criminal underworld. Never reaches the heights of the more potent, and slightly more original Varma venture Company, though still a great watch.

Rating: 3.5/5

[kaytee]

Fizz you actually sat and watched a Hindi movie?

Sarkar was an ok movie, Ramu has done better in the past especially with Company and Satya. Abhishek was the real reason I watched the full movie. Katrina Kaif's character was a total waste of time.
There are talks that Ramu want to do a sequel and focus more on Abhishek this time around. But that might just we an idea in his head, nothing concrete.

Fizz get a copy of Ramu's Kaun from somewhere and watch it. One of his bests.

[fizz]

Kaytee...I'm not averse to anything thats well made, and Sarkar certainly is, and not in that glossy way Bollywood likes. What I really detest are musicals (Hollywood included - blame that peice of shit film Moulin Rouge). Will try to get me hands on Kaun and Satya, of which I've heard nothing but good things.

[sandeep]

Sarkar 2 is definitely in the pipeline...

"Sholay is starting in September. I'm wrapping it up by year-end to start Sarkar 2 with Amitji and Abhishek" quote RGV in indiafm

As for Sarkar, I thought it was a fabulous film, because it was mainly based on the intricate discussions and silences between the father and his sons, wife, family... and how the outcome resulted the outside world... it was a different RGV, but no lesser in terms of quality or impact then COMPANY or SATYA.

[shariqq]

From earlier:

The movie is as well made as any of the better Ram Gopal Verma movies. The man knows the language of Cinema well and his technique flows very smoothly, but what takes this movie upwards and above RGV's other movies are the stellar performances.

The movie follows the story of the family of Sarkar, a powerful 'Bhai' of Mumbai who runs his own law. He executes justice for the down-trodden in the way he deems right, even if it may be (as it invariably is) outside the law. His seat of power, the opposition to it, and it's eventual inheritance is what the movie deals with.

AB Sr. does his most balanced portrayal since Aks. His 'Sarkar' comes across as a person aware of the power he controls, rather than one basking in it. And it is this underplayed demeanor that covers the Superstar we otherwise tend to see over the character he plays.

AB Jr. plays 'Sarkar Jr' in the movie and he pulls off the double-whammy of proving to be a worthy son/successor of 'Sarkar Sr.' & AB Sr. - I say that coz the dad took a lot more years & movies to prove himself as good as what AB Jr has already proved himself to be.

Most of the other characters are played by non-names, or small-names but each of them paints their characters with a reality portrayal - these people ARE the characters they play. I have come to realize that one of the trademarks of a RGV movie is to use actors that have rarely been seen in roles otherwise, leading the viewer into the character without any set expectations/typecasts.

But put all of that aside - and watch Kaykay. He plays the elder son of Sarkar, and does he play it. The director knows that this man can shout out words from his eyes what actors fail to do with their mouths, and uses it to full advantage, much to the delight of cinephiles. There are three distinct shots where the camera focuses on Kaykay's face, and one shows only his eyes. What we see in them is as clear as this text you are reading. The fact that this man does so few movies and so far apart makes his performance much more valued, coz one tends to forget how good an actor he is. Never is his name mentioned among the better actors of India, and would it be even now?

I would rate this above Company. The reason? Company was a movie about selective performance - Ajay & Vivek doing it then. But Manisha, being the wonderful actor she is, was nothing more than a distraction. And was Ajay Devgan ever able to shed his *star* from his role? No. As real as the movie's story was, the picturization made it quite 'filmy'.

The only other movie close to Sarkar in the RGV element is Satya - more so coz of the grittiness and lack of deliberate stylization. It stays in the real world creasing out any clichés that would give it a fictionalized feel.

Sarkar is the movie that would be played in the tributes of everyone associated with it, especially Ram Gopal Verma, Amitabh Bachchan, Abhishekh Bachchan and Kaykay (if he ever has one).

My Rating --> 4.5/5

[sulphurhead]

Sarkar 2 in the pipeline?? is that a rumor or confirmed news?

[sandeep]

Sarkar 2 in the pipeline?? is that a rumor or confirmed news?

Its confirmed news... its also confirmed news that RGV's new release 'SHIVA' has bombed because of too much violence and old rehashed story... this was his relaunch for actor Mohit, who he launched in 'JAMES'...

[kaytee]

Sarkar 2 is a definite go.

Ram Gopal Varma has done it again. After getting the real life father and son duo play reel life father-son duo for the first time in his film Sarkar, he has decided to extend the family. He has cast none other than Aishwarya Rai opposite Abhishek Bachchan in Sarkar 2 which also stars Amitabh Bachchan.

The sequel will start filming in February 2007. This is one of the many films that Aishwarya has signed opposite her rumored boyfriend in many times. Ramu finds Aishwarya Rai perfect for the role. Well if rumors of the couple being an item are true then this will be only the second time when all three come together after they did an item song in Bunty Aur Babli.
 

[shariqq]

"Sholay is starting in September. I'm wrapping it up by year-end to start Sarkar 2 with Amitji and Abhishek" quote RGV in indiafm

I really doubt if this would happen.