Sarkar

While Sarkar may not exactly be a prototypical Bollywood film, do not be put off, because it is in fact one of the most suspenseful and thrilling films to come out of India in recent years. The film begins with a quote from the director, intended to cue the audience into the type of film they are about to watch. It reads, “Like countless directors all over the world, I have been deeply influenced by The Godfather. Sarkar is my tribute to it.” What plays out from there is a modified version of the story from The Godfather, transported seamlessly from the streets of New York to the streets of Mumbai.
The word “sarkar” translated into English means either government or the word to address someone in authority, such as an overlord. This is a perfect description of the character of Sarkar, the “godfather” or Don Corleone character in the film. He is the head of the family, the man who makes the decisions which are carried out by his many followers. His word is tantamount to law, and in a way he stands as a form of government outside the official government. He is the judge, he is the jury, and his supporters are his executioners.
Sarkar, as he is known to his followers, has two sons, the first being the hot-tempered Vishnu. He is the more wild and less virtuous of the two sons, getting himself in trouble due to his lusting after the star of the movie he is producing (He is married). Sarkar’s other son, Shankar, has just returned from the United States where he has just completed his education. He is cultured and fully aware of what his father does but does not disapprove, understanding the complex honor code his father lives by.
When one day a Dubai-based shady businessman proposes a deal with Sarkar on his territory, Sarkar refuses, saying he knows what type of illegal materials the businessman is proposing to ship into his city. While it is left unspoken, presumably Sarkar is referring to drugs, much as in the original The Godfather, Don Corleone refuses to enter into any drug dealing enterprises. Sarkar’s refusal sets off a war with a rival gang, which eventually develops into a war between Sarkar’s two sons. What results from there I will not divulge, but needless to say the two gangs do not come to a peaceful solution.
The film is filled with violence but is never gratuitous, certainly nothing as bad as you commonly see in Hollywood films today. While everyone should be able to enjoy Sarkar, fans of The Godfather in particular will find much to love here, as the film carefully reworks plot elements and characters from the original. As well, while the film is not a musical, it features a terrific soundtrack which helps build the incredible suspense the film relies on. Overall, Sarkar is a truly great film, one that should not be missed by serious Bollywood fans or even just those who like a good mafia film. -Ben Strassfeld