Sarkar
File:Sarkar movie poster.jpg Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Ram Gopal Varma
Produced by	Parag Sanghavi Ram Gopal Varma
Story by	Manish Gupta
Starring	Amitabh Bachchan Abhishek Bachchan Kay Kay Menon Katrina Kaif Tanisha Mukherjee Anupam Kher
Music by	Background Score: Amar Mohile Songs: Bapi-Tutul
Cinematography	Amit Roy
Editing by	Nitin Gupta Amit Parmar
Distributed by	K Sera Sera Sahara One
Release date(s)	1 July 2005 (2005-07-01)
Running time	123 mins
Country	‹See Tfd› India
Language	Hindi
Budget	13 crores[1]
Box office	40 crore[1]

Sarkar (Hindi: सरकार, translation: Government, or colloquially to address someone of authority, a political overlord) is a 2005 Indian dramatic thriller film set in the world of politics and crime, directed by Ram Gopal Varma. It stars Amitabh Bachchan in the title role alongside his real-life son, Abhishek Bachchan as the younger son, Shankar Nagre, alongwith Kay Kay Menon, Katrina Kaif, Anupam Kher, Supriya Pathak and Tanisha Mukherjee. The film is a homage to Coppola's 1972 American film The Godfather.^[2], set in the world of Indian politics. The film's sequel, Sarkar Raj, was released on 6 June 2008.

Plot[link]

Subhash Nagre (Amitabh Bachchan), who is known by his followers as Sarkar, lives in Mumbai. The opening scenes show a rape victim's father (Veerendra Saxena) approaching 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 (Nisha Kothari) than his wife Amrita (Rukhsar). Sarkar's other, more upright son, Shankar (Abhishek Bachchan), returns from the United States with his love 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 later in the movie.

One day, a Dubai-based don, Rasheed (Zakir Hussain) tries to strike a deal with Sarkar; he promptly refuses on moral grounds and also forbids him from doing it himself. Rasheed tries to eliminate Sarkar's supremacy with the help of Selvar Mani (Kota Srinivasa Rao), Sarkar's former associate and Swami Virendra (Jeeva). 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 (Anant Jog) 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, Selva Mani, Swami and Rasheed 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 Rasheed and Selva Mani. He also succeeds in making Swami his puppet. Shankar has also realized that Chief Minister Madan Rathore (Deepak Shirke) 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 approaching Shankar for justice and his father apparently retired.

Cast[link]

• Amitabh Bachchan as Subhash Nagre (Sarkar)
• Abhishek Bachchan as Shankar Nagre
• Kay Kay Menon as Vishnu Nagre
• Katrina Kaif as Pooja
• Tanisha Mukherjee as Avantika
• Anupam Kher as Motilal Khurana
• Supriya Pathak as Pushpa Nagre
• Rukhsar as Amrita (Vishnu's wife)
• Ishrat Ali as Khansaab
• Raju Mavani as Vishram Bhagat
• Zakir Hussain as Rashid
• Kota Srinivasa Rao as Selvar Mani
• Ravi Kale as Chander
• Virendra Saxena as Girl's Father
• Anant Jog as Police Commissioner
• Deepak Shirke as Madan Rathod
• Carran Kapoor as a Hero in Vishnu's film
• Priyanka Kothari as a Heroine in Vishnu's film
• Jeeva as Virendra Swami
• Mangal Kenkre as Shoba
• Saurabh Dubey as Pooja's Father
• Dinesh Lamba
• Rushad Rana
• Anil Yadav

Commercial and critical reception[link]

Sarkar was an above average success at the box office and was greeted very well by critics. Critics liked the way the movie indigenised The Godfather and introduced a political angle to it. The actors, particularly the trio of Amitabh Bachchan, Abhishek Bachchan and Kay Kay Menon, were lavished with praise for their controlled yet intense performances. Abhishek Bachchan in particular, was rewarded for his portrayal as a son who is inexperienced but enters an unknown world so as to save his father. He won the following awards:

• Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award
• Zee Cine Award Best Actor in a Supporting Role - Male
• IIFA Award for Best Supporting Actor

However, some^[who?] critics felt that the movie lacked the depth and subtlety of the plot, dialogue and characterization present in The Godfather.

Soundtrack[link]

The music of the film is composed by Bapi and Tutul. Lyrics are penned by Sandeep Nath.

Track listing[link]

References[link]

External links[link]

• Sarkar at the Internet Movie Database