Sarkar

Article Updated 03 July, 2005 06:45:24 AM IST

Sarkar

Ram Gopal Varma says in the beginning of the film, 'I have been deeply influenced by 'Godfather ' and this is my tribute to him'. I don't think Francis Ford Coppola would feel flattered if he watches the film! To begin with, the Godfather, which Ramu would rather term as the 'Good Samaritan' looks completely out of character. Where is the power in that listless frame and those dead eyes? Forgot to add, his deadpan expression too! To beat it, Mr. Bachchan underplays but there is no underlying tension within! The way he carries himself, he could well be termed as the 'Mahatma'. For he walks in the typical Gandhi style, with his hand resting on his younger son's (Shankar played by Abhishek Bachchan) shoulders. A Rudraksh mala and a red Tilak on the forehead does not necessarily allow a person to assume the Indian Godfather look! The charisma is definitely missing. So the film is already a letdown.

Before we get into other things let's be done with the story of the film. Suresh Nagre (Amitabh Bachchan) is 'Sarkar'. He's the man who dispenses instant justice, makes and breaks the law with the help of a group of hit men under his control. We assume that Sarkar has fallen from Heaven as there is no background on him. Unless of course, Ram Gopal Varma is planning a prequel to it. Sounds scary! The audience will also wonder if he has inherited a lot of family property because no one in the family seems to be doing any sort of work. Besides, Sarkar is not indulging in any kind of financial transactions with the people he helps. He even refuses bribe money offered to him to allow an illegal operation to take place. This leads to conflict. We'll come back to this later. Let's complete the family tree first.

The elder son, Vishnu (Kay Kay Menon), is producing a film while Shankar has just returned from the US after his education. He has a girlfriend, played by Katrina Kaiff, who returns to India with him. Presumably they were classmates. There is also another character, played by Tanisha, who calls Sarkar, Kaka. She is his late friend's daughter and has been in love with Shankar since childhood. She is heartbroken when she hears of his girlfriend but puts up a brave front.

The scene in which she is telling Shankar about how she's always loved him but is still happy for him is enough to raise a few laughs. Actually it was meant to be a highly emotional scene but it misfired. It sounded more like the girl had forgotten her lines. Then there is the usual wife, daughter in law (Rukshar) and grandson.

Coming to the conflict that was mentioned earlier. Sarkar antagonizes Rashid (Zakir Hussain) by refusing to let him carry on his illegal business in an area that is under his jurisdiction. To make matters worse for Sarkar, his elder son, Vishnu is rebelling against him. Sarkar's enemies seize this opportunity to get even with him. They also kill his opponent, played by Anupam Kher. Obviously Sarkar is prime suspect and is arrested. There is an attempt on his life but he is saved.

And junior Bachchan? Well he (Shankar) is happy to live in his father's shadow and even refuses to return to America after this attack on his father. As a result he loses his girlfriend but gets another one- Tanisha. He also comes closer to his father. The climax shows him sipping chai while listening to a distraught woman telling him about her husband's killing.

The new Don is born but unfortunately the teacup looks more imposing than him. The film too opens with Senior listening to a distraught father talking about his daughter's rape by a rich brat. Justice is done then and now also. Shankar's character has no graph. There is no change in him considering he makes a transition from a foreign-returned son to a Don. We forgot the chant, 'Govinda Govinda' in the background that further irritates you. As if you haven't had enough 'underplaying' by the Bachchan's to drive you nuts!

The film is irritatingly slow. RGV has definitely attempted to capture the same mood as in Godfather but there was an underlying tension in that one to give that edge-of-the-seat feel. Here the pace and pauses are very irritating! But one man who has really performed and almost walked away with the film is Kay Kay. He rocks and is the only memorable thing about it. A pity that this talented actor still hasn't got his due in Bollywood. But hopefully things might get rosy for him now. To sum it up, 'Sarkar' is yet another film with great style but no content! Cannot predict its fate at the box office but will surely not last after the initial hype is over.

* * (TWO STARS)
*poor; **average; ***good; ****very good; *****excellent

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