Sarkar: Movie Review

Rating: ***

A lot has been written about Sarkar, Ram Gopal Verma's dream project. About connections of the film with Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackerey, and about how the father son duo of AB Senior and AB junior are working together. And of course about the adaptation of Mario Puzo's acclaimed bestselling novel The Godfather. Well, I think that there has been too much of talking without anyone actually fairly reviewing this movie as a movie - not as a dream or an adaptation. And I hope to do so now.

To be honest, I liked the movie. Yes, I did. But I didnt love it. It definitely has the RGV stamp and grooming, and I would say it is much better than some of RGV's latest projects like Naach. Technically, the film is awesome, and the shots have been called in a manner that is not very typical. Innovative camera angles and amazing sense of lighting and shadows is superb. The background music and chanting of "Govinda Govinda" is used very effectively. Although, at points the use of sitar in the background somehow doesnt gel too well with whats happening in the frame. The setting of the movie is well chosen, and the haveli that RGV has used looks very authentic and well chosen. Costumes and make up suit the setting and ambience. RGV has used mostly black, grey, white and rather earthy shaed in most of the movie, and that sets the mood for this film very aptly. There are no songs and the editing is very crisp. The fact that the movie is less than 2.5 hrs is also a welcome change. All in all, I would say that the movie is technically near its best.

Let us now talk about the characters. They are very well defined and casting is very convincing. Amitabh Bachchan has once again, given a restrained performance after his recent role in Black. And he does a very good job at playing this role. The camera mostly focusses on the faces and eyes of most characters in the movie, and that makes it very very important that everyone delivers a good performance. And indeed, everyone does. To my surprise, even Katrina Kaif does a pretty decent job of her small role (not to mention the loud whistles every time she came on the screen). Tanisha seems okay and quite likable in her role, though the way her dialogues were written didnt impress me. Supriya Pathak looks every bit a marathi housewife, with serene and uncomplaining eyes. A typical mother (NO, not a typical Bollywood mother, but a real life mother). Rukhsaar, playing Kay Kay's wife doesnt get any scope to act at all. Abhishek Bachchan delivers in yet another good role, although he isnt quite as impressive as he was in Yuva. But his fan following is definitely going to increase after this role. And last but not the least, Kay Kay is the scene stealer in the movie. Playing the elder son of Sarkar, he imbues his role with such emotion that it almost pours out of the screen. And in the real close ups with just his face or eyes in the entire frame, you can see what a marvellous actor he is.

So far so good! But it is not that rosy a picture after all... Although Sarkar has everything going for it, I think there are some things that go to make it less than phenomenal. Some of them are probably to subtle to explain in words. But it feels that RGV has used some sterotypes in his film that he has used in most of his gangster or underworld movies. The dilemma of Abhishek Bacchan when he decides between going back to America and helping out his father could have been focussed more on. Amitabh's character, Sarkar, is unnecessarily shown to be too-white - meaning that he is shown as a do gooder to people and not doing any evil deals against the people or the country... though there is a mention of his illegal activities, but not even one instance of that is shown. I would have preferred a picture that was more grey than Colgate white. Besides, the revenge of Abhishek Bacchan on his father's enemies is shown so fast and rapid that the impact doesnt register. Particularly, how Abhishek manmages to know who the kingpin in the whole enemy gang is beyond me! RGV has certainly tried to make a quality product, and I would also say that he succeeds to a certain extent. But to call this another Godfather would be a mistake. The characters are not as strong and the whole movie does not have the kind of impact The Godfather had. Actually, the two are so different, that we must actually not even try to compare the two. And yes, there is no resemblamce between Sarkar and Bal Thackerey except for the rosary beads that Sarkar carries all the time.

A good film and well directed venture. Worth a see!