"Sarkar" is a re-working of the Hollywood film "The Godfather". However, unlike many Indian remakes of American films, the filmmaker, Ram Gopal Varma, acknowledges this in the introduction...crediting the Copolla film for his inspiration for this movie.When the film begins, you meet Sarkar (Amitabh Bachchan). He's the local godfather but unlike the Marlon Brando version, he's basically an honest guy--less a traditional mobster and more a 'fixer' who is very powerful and works for his own moral code. However, there are two huge problems looming- -his one son, Vishnu (Kay Kay Menon) is an unstable hot-head and the other is that another mobster has decided to destroy Sarkar (Vishnu is like Sonny and Fredo from "The Godfather" combined into one character). So, after Vishnu is disowned by Sarkar for murdering an innocent man, Sarkar finds himself accused of murder...the murder of an honest politician. But the plan isn't just this...it's to murder Sarkar when he's in police custody. The only one who can stop all this and MIGHT be able to defeat Sarkar's enemies is his other son, Shankar (Amitabh Bachchan's real life son, Abishek Bachchan).In many ways this is like a modern and very sped up version of "The Godfather". While the American film was really, really long and involved, this Indian picture is amazingly short. While 3-4 hour films are the norm for Bollywood films, "Sarkar" is only two hours long...and this makes this otherwise excellent film seem a tad rushed. Still, despite this, it's an exciting and well made film that keeps you on the edge of your seat.

Most people will argue with me for that and some of the fans will even go shitting me out but in my point of view this is the most realistic performance of amitabh bachcchan with neither a single bit of "larger than life" kind of overdrama in acting if I bluntly say kind of "overacting".I feel the most ire I will get is ,from the fans of agneepath because they think its his best till date but the fact is that during those days the actors were forced to do some over the top drama for the audiences' sake which was far from reality . And you see he gets six to seven bullets and still gets his life back without any extensive injuries. I must accept that this was all director's fault or more appropriately the expectation of people of India from mr. bachchan . Thus , there was a bit of "godness" in the role and therefore a little bit of overacting. In fact barring HUM all of the mukul s anand films consisted of mr. bachchan's overacting e.g- KHUDA GAWAAH.This film on the contrary is almost real. Once in a time in the movie we get a feel that we will never get to see AB sr. and RGV made sure that our POWERMAN seems very susceptible, this is what makes this film even more gripping thriller. RGBV's angle of cameras and scenes are magnificent plus AB's greatest performance till date .Its a landmark cinema in Indian history .

It's Ramu's(Ram Gopal Varma)turn to pay homage to the Cult Classic 'The Godfather'.I have no idea how many Directors actually got inspired by THE GODFATHER,but I am least bothered.Because Ramu's 'Sarkar' is good enough for me.Subash Nagre(Amitabh Bachan/Big B) is a ray of light for the down-trodden and ill-treated in the dirty lanes of Mumbai.He is respected by the 'aam janta'(public) and feared by the sinners.If found reasonable,Nagre is a man who will murder a person for the sin he committed!!!His family comprises of his wife,elder son Vishnu Nagre(Kay Kay Menon) a wastrel,foreign returned MBA graduate Shankar Nagre(Abhiske Bachan),Avantika(Tanish) Shankar's cousin.Nagre is up against Selva Mani(Srinivasa Kota Rao),Swami Virendra(Jeeva)amongst other.Rashid(Zakir Husain in a chilling villainous role) approaches Sarkar with a drug and the latter warns him against moving forward the drug plan.Rashid teams up with Sarkar's other enemies and they try their best to dethrone Sarkar,but to no avail.In the midst of this,we have Shankar returning to Mumbai with his girlfriend Pooja(Katrina Kaif),who later is force to ditch him for obvious reasons.Vishnu lands himself in trouble over a murder and he is thrown out of the Nagre house and he is aptly used by the Rashid team.With everything against him,Sarkar is is imprisoned and an attempt is made on his life.And at this point of time,Abhishke(Shankar) takes over the show and delivers one of his unforgettable performances ever.His revenge spree coupled with the haunting 'govinda govinda' background score,sends shivers down the viewers spine!!! Big B is too good for us to ignore his performance and the scenes are power-packed with his presence.Things get even better when his Shankar slowly gains screen presence and marks his stamp during the final part of the movie.It is difficult not to make comparisons with 'The Godfather',but when Ramu has given us an excellent piece of adaptation,who is to complain.I thoroughly enjoyed the film..two thumbs up Ramu!!!

Ram Gopal Varma wrote a disclaimer in the extras on this DVD which includes a praise of his idol Francis Ford Coppola (the director of The Godfather) the inspiration for this masterpiece of a film. If that is not enough for you haters, then I really think you need to go park someplace where the sun don't shine. This is the sort of film that makes you proud and every actor in this film does just that. From the double whammy Bachchans (Abhishek actually manages to upstage his father here) to Kay Kay Menon, there is truly nothing to complain about. Katrina Kaif, a surprise actress in this film plays an NRI Barbie doll and does so with utmost conviction! This is probably her best performance to date, too bad that if you join the film too early or too late you might miss her. I haven't seen the Godfather myself, so for those people who like me are unfamiliar with the storyline, that of Sarkar goes like this: Amitabh plays the Godfather of Mumbai's most mistreated, ill-treated and poor people. When the government fails them, he steps in to bring justice. His only crime is that he doesn't believe nor abide by the law of the land but otherwise he is admirable. He has two sons, one good (Jr. Bachchan) and one bad (Kay Kay Menon). The former is an overseas business man and the latter is a film-maker. The latter soon grows tired of listening to his father's wisdom as well as abiding by his ways and decides to go and join forces with the wrong kind of crowd, one of whom is a shady business man from Dubai hell-bent on taking down the Sarkar (because of a business deal that did not cinch). Together this team of bad guys temporarily succeed in bringing down the Sarkar but encounter trouble when trying to destroy his philosophies. Thankfully, Shankar (Jr. B) who is visiting from America takes it upon himself to redeem and ultimately save his father. I tip my hat to Jr. B for his performance (his best so far, next to his turn in Yuva) in this film, he totally blew me away, as did Kay Kay Menon. This film is a 10 with a capital T.