Movie Review: Sarkar 3
First published: Follo.in
In a particular scene in Sarkar 3, Jackie Shroff who plays the baddie, tells his seductive female companion that she asks too many questions. Later in the film, he has enough of her questions and figures a way to fix her… forever. I don’t intend to give spoilers, but the scene may make you wonder if that’s what Ram Gopal Varma might want to do to viewers who raise questions regarding this film. Just a thought!
There was a time when the words Ram Gopal Varma and unparalleled genius would easily fit into a sentence. The man gave us jewels like Rangeela, Satya and Company before Sarkar (2005), the crowning glory of his filmmaking career. His tribute to the Francis Ford Cappola’s The Godfather was just the perfect mix of politics, business, and crime. Irony hence, although he has given us some good pieces of cinema since then, his work has been more or less disappointing in the last 12 years. To a point where he even stopped letting down!
Sarkar 3 may be seen as an attempt to reclaim what he lost. He sets the story a few years from the death of Sarkar’s two sons. The son of the elder son is now a grown up and joins Sarkar as his support. Setting the story in an alternate timeline, RGV removes characters like Anita Rajan (Aishwarya Rai Bachchan) who were a part of Sarkar Raj (2008). The question: Does he manage it? Frankly, the answer is more complex than what could be provided in a single word.
RGV has maintained the essence of Sarkar – the character who draws unlimited power, all emanating from the love and respect for him from his city people. Sarkar remains away from politics but not from the throne. His age has not diminished his influence or strength. But his enemies have only grown, in number and strength. And this time he faces his most difficult challenge yet.
But while the character of Sarkar is kept intact, for which Amitabh Bachchan’s impeccable performance is as responsible, Sarkar 3 stumbles in the department that has been RGV’s weakest link in last few years– writing. More specifically the dialogues, which have no coherence! The patchy and slow-paced screenplay should leave questions in your mind. Although he actually manages to build a considerable suspense and twist towards the end, the pace at which things unfold is a downer.
Sarkar 3 scores in cinematography. RGV has his unique way of showing his characters, adding symbolism and revealing plot points through his framing. He has resisted from going overboard with the camera angles unlike certain other films like Rakta Charitra. Multiple moments in the film will leave you spellbound by the way the director decides to shoot them. Amol Rathod, who has earlier shot Rakta Charitra, understands the need of the film and delivers accordingly. They cinematography adds a lot more to the characters – to their personality as well as their looks. Yami Gautam, for one, has never looked as stunning in any other film and neither has she been as effectively in a role that barely has dialogues. The director also keeps away from changing the signature background score, sticking to ‘Govinda Govinda’ during key moments.
Where RGV fails is however in casting his second lead. Amit Sadh is a major letdown as Sarkar’s grandchild. He fails to create the aura needs for his character. His dialogue delivery stands like a sore thumb amongst some really good performances. These include Manoj Bajpayee, who in one scene stands up to Amitabh Bachchan with ease. Ronit Roy is another powerful performer. Jackie Shroff has the suavity required for his character but he is given some ridiculous dialogues, making his scenes funny in the wrong way.
Sarkar 3 has enough reasons to pull it down. For the fans of the Sarkar franchise, it is a complete disappointment. But if you are a fan of RGV’s trademark style of filmmaking in recent years, this film has enough of his quirks to entertain you. And then, of course, there is Amitabh Bachchan as Subhash Nagre.
There was a time when the words Ram Gopal Varma and unparalleled genius would easily fit into a sentence. The man gave us jewels like Rangeela, Satya and Company before Sarkar (2005), the crowning glory of his filmmaking career. His tribute to the Francis Ford Cappola’s The Godfather was just the perfect mix of politics, business, and crime. Irony hence, although he has given us some good pieces of cinema since then, his work has been more or less disappointing in the last 12 years. To a point where he even stopped letting down!
Sarkar 3 may be seen as an attempt to reclaim what he lost. He sets the story a few years from the death of Sarkar’s two sons. The son of the elder son is now a grown up and joins Sarkar as his support. Setting the story in an alternate timeline, RGV removes characters like Anita Rajan (Aishwarya Rai Bachchan) who were a part of Sarkar Raj (2008). The question: Does he manage it? Frankly, the answer is more complex than what could be provided in a single word.
RGV has maintained the essence of Sarkar – the character who draws unlimited power, all emanating from the love and respect for him from his city people. Sarkar remains away from politics but not from the throne. His age has not diminished his influence or strength. But his enemies have only grown, in number and strength. And this time he faces his most difficult challenge yet.
But while the character of Sarkar is kept intact, for which Amitabh Bachchan’s impeccable performance is as responsible, Sarkar 3 stumbles in the department that has been RGV’s weakest link in last few years– writing. More specifically the dialogues, which have no coherence! The patchy and slow-paced screenplay should leave questions in your mind. Although he actually manages to build a considerable suspense and twist towards the end, the pace at which things unfold is a downer.
Sarkar 3 scores in cinematography. RGV has his unique way of showing his characters, adding symbolism and revealing plot points through his framing. He has resisted from going overboard with the camera angles unlike certain other films like Rakta Charitra. Multiple moments in the film will leave you spellbound by the way the director decides to shoot them. Amol Rathod, who has earlier shot Rakta Charitra, understands the need of the film and delivers accordingly. They cinematography adds a lot more to the characters – to their personality as well as their looks. Yami Gautam, for one, has never looked as stunning in any other film and neither has she been as effectively in a role that barely has dialogues. The director also keeps away from changing the signature background score, sticking to ‘Govinda Govinda’ during key moments.
Where RGV fails is however in casting his second lead. Amit Sadh is a major letdown as Sarkar’s grandchild. He fails to create the aura needs for his character. His dialogue delivery stands like a sore thumb amongst some really good performances. These include Manoj Bajpayee, who in one scene stands up to Amitabh Bachchan with ease. Ronit Roy is another powerful performer. Jackie Shroff has the suavity required for his character but he is given some ridiculous dialogues, making his scenes funny in the wrong way.
Sarkar 3 has enough reasons to pull it down. For the fans of the Sarkar franchise, it is a complete disappointment. But if you are a fan of RGV’s trademark style of filmmaking in recent years, this film has enough of his quirks to entertain you. And then, of course, there is Amitabh Bachchan as Subhash Nagre.
Comments
Post a Comment