I’ve read some negative reviews about this movie, but you should know that I never ’’listen’’ to anything I read on movies, till I go see it myself, Then I went to see this movie!!!
Let me firstly say that to compare this movie to the Godfather would be insult to both Mario Puzo and RGV. Yes it was inspired by the godfather but yet at the same time different. I think the way the actors portrayed their characters brings much of the difference between the movies.
The plot:
subhash Nagre (AB Sr) is sarkar, has two sons, Vishnu (Kay Kay) and Shankar (AB Jr). Then there’s the women in their lives, Pushpa (Sarkar’s wife), Amrita & Chiku (Vishnu’s wife & son), Avanti & Pooja (shankar’s love interests) and Avanti’s mom. Sarkar is loved and respected, if not feared by the people, and his rationale is to help those not in any position to help themselves and impart justice on those who hurt, use or exploit his people. Vishnu as the eldest son feels that it his right as the eldest son of Sarkar to use his power to get what he wants, while Shankar, freshly returned from America with his love Pooja (Katrina Kaif), is oblivious to his father’s less than conventional code of conduct and is therefore blindly loyal and trusting. While sarkar’s good deeds for the people gains him their undying loyalty, conflict of business interests begins a conspiracy to bring down Sarkar by falsely accusing him of the murder of a benign political leader. The law turns against Sarkar, so does his puppet chief minister, leaving him defenseless in prison. A disagreement between Sarkar and his eldest son Vishnu, leaves the responsibility of the ’’Family’’ business to Shankar. The transformation of Shankar from a quiet almost docile young man to the next Sarkar, is indeed something to watch out forl.
The Cast:
Amitabh Bachchan (Sakar): This man is really something else. His dialogue in half the movie is only through gestures and his eyes. I cannot imagine anyone else but him in the role of Subhash Nagre. His mere presence convinces the viewer of his power as Sarkar, and his dialogue delivery is first rate.
Kay Kay (Vishnu): I haven’t seen a lot of movies wit Kay Kay, but let me tell you, he is good in this one, infact this is the best movie I’ve seen him in. His portrayal of the angry and frustrated Vishnu is spot on. you want to hate him, but at the same time you feel sorry for him as he struggles between betraying his family and gaining the power he feels is rightfully his. You want to feel sorry for him because even though he’s the biggest jerk, (spoiler ahead) when Swami tells him to kill his father, he hesitates even if that would make him the next Sarkar.
Abhishek Bachchan (shankar): When is everyone going stop calling this marvelous actor a newcomer? I believe, he is the one actor out of the young generation of actors who will stay on for a long time. He is convincing as the American returned idealistic young man who sees no fault in his father, or at least if he does, he knows where his loyalties lie. His transformation into the next Sarkar is astounding. You can actually feel his anger and his ruthlessness is almost chilling.
The supporting cast was also brilliant and each suited their role to a tee.
Let’s disect it:
Although I loved this movie and I thought it was exceptionally good, there were some aspects of it that were not top notch. But then again, I’m just splitting hairs here. My biggest problem was the Avnti (Tanisha) Shankar (Abhishek) love story. I felt that it was unnecessary and if it had to be there, they could have had it before the rise of Shanker as sarkar. I felt that putting a bit of romance there sort of dampenned the effect of his gradual transformation. Katrina Kaif was wasted, she didn’t really have enough scope to develop her character. Tanisha was okay, I liked her in Neal ’n Nikki better.
The pace of the movie was fact and hard hitting the whole way. The soundtrack was fitting and the Govinda Govinda track made it even more chilling to witness Shankar’s transformation.
On the whole, A great movie, well worth the watch. My advice, go see it!!