Think SHIVA (mob violence and politics at college level)… Think SATYA (Mumbai underworld with a peep into the lives of extortionists and henchmen)… And think COMPANY (the big bosses of the underworld syndicate, the decision makers)… Just when you thought that RGV has dealt with all the three levels of hierarchy of the corporate structure of underworld, comes SARKAR, which completes the cycle of crime-politics nexus.
Mario Puzo’s classic novel “The Godfather” immortalized by Francis Ford Coppola in his cinematic adaptation featuring Marlon “Godfather” Brando as Don Corleone and Al Pacino as Michael Corleone, has been a reference book for aspiring filmmakers. The cinematic masterpiece has been a guide with respect to using various tools available at a director’s disposal to tell a story in the most efficient, different and engaging way.
Ramgopal Varma has paid a tribute to this all time classic in his latest endeavor Sarkar, which has AB Sr and AB Jr essaying characters inspired by Don Corleone and Michael respectively. Sarkar is not a frame-to-frame copy of Godfather, but an adaptation. There are a few differences between both the films viz the setting… Sarkar is set in an Indian milieu as opposed to Godfather which was set in the US of A. Apart from this there are some other differences as well that will not be revealed here (Go check it out!).
As a technician, RGV has always ventured into new narrative forms that intrigue the audiences every time they watch his offerings. In Sarkar, he has just thrown his artists’ faces on the celluloid in tight close ups and has depended on their emoting skills, where they have to convey tonnes of things and a gamut of expressions through the eyes. So it is ultimately the silent facial expressions of all the artists and the dark lighting pattern with heavy use of shades that convey the character development and the story.
Now this kind of narrative pattern can easily backfire if you don’t have the artists of that caliber and class to pull off something like this but in Sarkar the performances from all the lead players is of such high standards that it registers a strong impact on you even after the show has concluded. If you saw AB Sr portraying a totally verbal character in Black, then this performance is in total contrast to it. He has conveyed a gamut of expressions through his eyes – be it anger, frustration, cold bloodedness or helplessness. This performance should serve as a text book for aspiring actors. AB Jr matches his father step for step. He is simply stunning in the movie with his demeanor, body language, his walk or his eye movement. This performance deserves kudos. Kay Kay is another actor who’s is just awe inspiring in the movie. Every time he comes up on the scene he just lights up the screen.
The background score heightens the impact of the scenes manifold and so does the sound effects. The violence as depicted in the film is grim but what makes all the more effective is the cold blooded reaction on the faces of the artists taking part in the scene. Technically, Sarkar could make for a good cinema learning experience as well a good movie watching experience.
Raise a toast to Varma for accomplishing a near impossible task. He has paid a fitting tribute to the all time classic.
Bravo Varma n his team!