Sarkar (film)
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| Sarkar | |
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 Movie poster for Sarkar |
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| Directed by | Ram Gopal Varma |
| Produced by | Ram Gopal Varma, Parag Sanghavi |
| Written by | Manish Gupta |
| Starring | Amitabh Bachchan, Abhishek Bachchan, Kay Kay Menon, Tanisha, Katrina Kaif, Anupam Kher, Supriya Pathak |
| Music by | Amar Mohile |
| Editing by | Nitin Gupta, Amar Parmer |
| Release date(s) | July 1, 2005 |
| Running time | 124 mins |
| Language | Hindi/Urdu |
| Budget | Rs. 7 crores |
| IMDb profile | |
Sarkar (Hindi: सरकार, Urdu: سرکار, translation: Government or colloquially, a title used in Hindi, to address someone of authority) is a 2005 Hindi film, directed by Ram Gopal Varma, starring Amitabh Bachchan in the title role. The film also stars Abhishek Bachchan, Kay Kay Menon, Katrina Kaif and Tanisha. Sarkar meaning "The Government", is considered to be Varma's homage to the classic The Godfather.
The sequel has been signed as Sarkar Raj with Abhishek Bachchan in the leading role, although Ram Gopal Varma has said that it would not be based on the story of The Godfather Part II.
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[edit] Synopsis
Subhash Nagare, who is known by his followers as Sarkar, lives in Mumbai. The opening scenes show a rape victim's father (played by Veerendra Saxena) approaching and asking Sarkar for justice (which the corrupt law and order system has failed to deliver) which Sarkar promptly establishes by having the rapist beaten up by his henchmen. His son, Vishnu (Kay Kay Menon), plays a foul-mouthed producer who is more interested in the film actress Sapna (played by Nisha Kothari) than his wife. Sarkar's other, more upright son, Shankar (Abhishek Bachchan), returns from the United States with his love with Pooja (Katrina Kaif) after completing his education there. Pooja's doubts about Sarkar's image cause Shankar, who firmly believes in his father's righteousness, to break up with her. One day, a Dubai-based don, Rasheed tries to strike a deal with Sarkar; he promptly refuses on moral grounds and also forbids him from doing it himself. Khan tries to eliminate Sarkar's supremacy with the help of Silver Mani, Sarkar's former associate and Swami Virendra. Meanwhile, they trap Sarkar by assassinating a righteous, upright, Ahimsa political leader and an outspoken critic of Sarkar, Motilal Khurana (Anupam Kher). Everyone, including Vishnu believe that Sarkar is guilty but Shankar has deep faith in his father. Sarkar gets arrested. Shankar now takes over the position of Sarkar temporarily. On learning of a plot to murder his father in prison, he approaches the police commissioner who mocks him and his father besides not providing protection. By the time he reaches the prison and appropriate action is taken, the attempt on Sarkar's life is already made. Sarkar is later acquitted. He remains bedridden as Shankar takes on Sarkar's enemies. Meanwhile, Silver Mani, Swami and Khan try to convince Vishnu to murder Sarkar. Vishnu was previously thrown out of Sarkar's house because he had murdered the actor who was having an affair with Sapna. Vishnu returns home pretending to have repented. When he approaches Sarkar in the dark of the night with the intent of murdering him, Shankar foils his plan and later kills him (establishing justice by the way of his father). Shankar eliminates Khan and Silver Mani. He also succeeds in making Swami his puppet. Shankar has also realized that Chief Minister Madan Rathore also has a part in the attempt to end Sarkar and his rule. This results in legal action against the Chief Minister. The closing scenes show people approacing Shankar for justice and his father apparently retired.
[edit] Characters
- Subhash Nagre aka Sarkar (Amitabh Bachchan) is an enigmatic man. His millions of supporters call him Sarkar - the government; also meaning Sir. He dispenses justice that is simple, effective and brutal - an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. He is not a criminal, yet his deeds are anything but legal. Sarkar is a parallel government. This character is believed to be loosely based on that of Vito Corleone and a famous political leader in Maharashtra. Director Ram Gopal Varma has denied the same.
- Shankar Nagre (Abhishek Bachchan) is the opposite of his brother. Suave, calm and calculative, yet extremely intelligent and foreseeing, he believes in his father completely and understands and accepts his ideals unquestioningly. This character is based on that of Michael Corleone.
- Vishnu Nagre (Kay Kay Menon) is a hotheaded and easily manipulated wastrel. He does not identify with his father's ideals. To him, power is meant to be used; abused, to get what he wants. He constantly is at odds with his father. Unlike the base of this character 'Sonny' Santino Corleone, Vishnu appears as a betrayer to his father, tried to have Sarkar killed. Sonny was killed by the Emilio Barzini's henchmen with the help of his treacherous brother-in-law Carlo Rizzi, but Vishnu was killed by his own younger brother after being held while trying to assassinate Sarkar.
- Silver Mani (Srinivasa Rao Kota) is an associate of Sarkar but is unhappy with Sarkar's unshakable righteousness (which obstructs the illegal activities he does without Sarkar's knowledge or approval). This causes him to enter into an alliance with Rashid to end Sarkar's rule. This character can be matched with two characters of The Godfather. Selvar, being one of loyal men of Sarkar, is possibly based on the character of Salvatore Tessio. But later his collaboration with Shankar specially in the way Shankar had him killed, has similarities with the character of Hyman Roth.
- Motilal Khurana (Anupam Kher) is a righteous leader, a preacher of non-violence (Ahimsa) and an open critic of Sarkar's policies which violates the rule of law. He accuses Sarkar of maintaining an army of thugs in the name of justice. Despite all this, Sarkar genuinely respects him and feels that the world needs leaders like him desperately. The influence of this character over the circumstance encourages to bring possible similarities from Mario Puzo's other novel & suggested to be a sequel of The Godfather, The Sicilian. It appears that this character is loosely based on Silvio Ferra. Khurana had immense popularity among people of Maharashtra but later ultimate rivals of Nagre assassinates him and frame the assassination as if it could have been done by Nagre. The assassination theory of Silvio Ferra is exactly same from the point of view of The Sicilian.
- Rasheed (Zakir Hussain) is a Dubai based criminal who traffics illegal commodities. He, like many people, misunderstands Sarkar's parallel rule and approaches him to "seek blessings" for his new "business" in an area controlled by Sarkar. Sarkar promptly refuses and forbids Rashid from doing his "business". He then plots to end Sarkar and his Rule. This character is based on that of Virgil Solozzo.
- Swami Virendra (Jeeva) is a delinquent Hindu pundit or "Swami" who is exceptionally intelligent and aware of Sarkar's strengths, weaknesses and philosophy. He enters an alliance with Khan and Selva Mani to end Sarkar's rule.
- Pushpa Subhash Nagre (Supriya Pathak) is the wife of Subhash and the mother of Vishnu and Shankar. She silently observes her husband's dealings and calmly watches Vishnu abuse his power. Nevertheless she loves her family dearly and tries to make sure they stay together. Appearance of this character is based on that of Carmela Corleone.
- Amrita Vishnu Nagre (Rukhsar) is the wife of Vishnu. She knows that her husband cheats on her everyday and that she'll probably never get the love and respect she deserves. However she puts up with Vishnu's temper and stays strong for their son. Calmness of this character shows that this character is based on that of Sandra Corleone.
- Avantika (Tanisha) is Shankar's childhood friend who has loved him for years. His parents want him to marry her. When he returns she is happy but is devastated when he comes back with his girlfriend. She puts on a brave face in front of him but it is not long before he finds out her true feelings. In the end Shankar marries Avantika.
- Pooja (Katrina Kaif) is Shankar's girlfriend and has studied with him abroad. When she witnesses what Shankar comes from she is shaken and scared. She makes Shankar choose between her or the life of guns and death. This character shows up with some confusions while seeking similarities between Sarkar & The Godfather. In The Godfather, Michael's girlfriend Kay Adams had some annoyance about the Corleone family's illegitimate operations but Michael had her managed by giving words that he would bring legitimacy in five years. But in Sarkar, Shankar was enormously offended at Pooja's suspicions & remarks over his father. He finally broke up this relation, which the base character Michael Corleone managed to carry on. So, in Sarkar, more likely than Avantika, the character of Pooja is based on that of Kay Adams, though Shankar finally didn't marry Pooja.
- Savatya is Subhash Nagre's most trusted informers & an important man in Sarkar's intelligence & crime network. He is known as one of Sarkar's most loyal informer in the underworld. This is the character which seems as an important character according to the base film The Godfather, but the most interesting thing is this character has not been played by anyone. After Rashid came to Sarkar with the drug-trafficking deal & got refused, Sarkar mobilized Savatya to gather every possible intelligence about Rashid & his aides. Sarkar mentioned that this Rashid seemed dangerous to him, the only moment in the entire movie where Sarkar is seen to be tensed about any single person. The information of Savatya's getting deployed, got leaked to Rashid. Sarkar's most trusted capo regime found Savatya dead in his apartment while he looked for him after the arrest of Sarkar. This character is based on that of Luca Brasi.
- Khan is the counselor of Sarkar. He is one of most trusted men whom Sarkar gives importance to have every operations discussed with him. When Selvar Mani trapped Shankar to have him killed by Rashid's hitman Ullas, during the shot Khan pushed Shankar aside and took the shot to himself. Then Shankar fled from the scene and Khan was brushed by bullets from others of Rashid's men. This character is loosely based on Tom Hagen.
[edit] Trivia
- Ram Gopal Verma had signed Amitabh Bachchan for another movie Ek, he decided to scrap that script and decided to cast both father and son together for the first time in this movie.
- The term "Sarkar" is a title, used in Hindi, to address someone of authority. It is also the Hindi word for government.
- Contrary to popular belief Sarkar is not only based on The Godfather,but also has important plot elements borrowed from The Godfather 2.For example the characters of Fredo Corleone and Santino Corleone has been punched into one character played by Kay Kay Menon.So the defection of Fredo Corleone against the family and his eventual assassination by Michael Corleone which takes place in Godfather 2 takes place in Sarkar itself.
- Some believe that the film's main characters are based on Bal Thackeray and his associates, although director Ram Gopal Verma has denied this.[citation needed]
[edit] Awards
Sarkar became a hit at the box office. Abhishek Bachchan in particular, was rewarded for his portrayal as a son trying to save his father. He won the following awards:
[edit] Cast
- Amitabh Bachchan ... Subhash Nagare 'Sarkar'
- Abhishek Bachchan ... Shankar Nagare
- Kay Kay Menon ... Vishnu Nagare
- Supriya Pathak ... Pushpa Subhash Nagare
- Rukhsar ... Amrita Vishnu Nagare
- Katrina Kaif ... Pooja
- Tanisha ... Avantika
- Anupam Kher ... Motilal Khurana
- Srinivasa Rao Kota ... Selva Mani
- Zakir Hussain ... Rashid
- Ravi Kale ... Chander
- Raju Mavani ... Vishram Bhagat
- Jeeva ... Swami Virendra
- Ishrat Ali ... Khan
- Veerendra Saxena ... Rape Victim's Father
- Deepak Shirke ... Chief Minister Madan Rathore
- Nisha Kothari ... Sapna, Film Actress
- Anant Jog ... Police Commissioner
[edit] External links
Sarkar at the Internet Movie Database
Official site (K Sera Sera Productions)
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