Movie Review: Sarkar Raj
So me and the missus went to watch Sarkar Raj. The Verdict: Disappointing.
I was mightily impressed with Sarkar, and was looking forward to Sarkar II. But this movie seemed more like an advertisement for the great Bachchan family, and their loyalty to the state of Maharashtra.
More about that later…
About the movie. Big Daddy Bachchan is still going strong; a kingmaker who blesses the government as well as anything of importance that happens in the state. Small Bachhan (Chhote Sarkar, anyone?) meanwhile has grown up and is taking the ‘business’ forward.
Who is Sarkar? Is he a gangster? Seems too socially inclined to be that. He is the Hero, and portrayed as a people’s hero. But whats the place for such characters in a democracy? A person who is so poweful that he is bigger than the government?
Anyway, the Bacchan bahu rani Aishwarya (NRI industrialist) wants to setup a power plant in the state that would displace just some 40,000 people. Sarkar doesn’t like this social injustice, but Chhote Sarkar feels this is good for the long term benefit of the state. And this is the movie’s entire premise.
“It will solve all our power problems”
“For long term gains we would have to overlook short term losses”
(Image courtesy: moviewallah.com)
Here the electrical engineer in me winced at some numbers. The project cost is Rs 200,000 crore, which translates into 50 billion dollars. All this money for just 5000 MW. As far as i know this money might get you some 10 times that much electricity. Plus there is mention of Rs 20,000 crore profit in the first year! Power plants have long gestation periods and take a long time to make money. Little technicalities…
This movie is a family drama…the Bachchan family drama. Hum saath saath hain they sang…
This movie is also a song of their loyalty to the state of Maharashtra after all the recent controversies involving them. Sarkar speaking Marathi several times is oh so endearing. As is their concern for the welfare of the state. Given the opposition to the project, there is talk of taking the project to Gujarat, and this is completely unacceptable to Chhote Sarkar. So it really is each man to his own state’s welfare? Whatever happened to national unity? Whatever happened to the national grid which makes state lines irrelevant as far as electricity transmission goes?
And what’s up with Aishwarya flirting with Abhishek who is a married man with a pregnant wife? Actually, not for too long. They just couldn’t keep the Bachchan kids apart…the wife gets blown up in due course, and the lovers’ are, well, free to love.
The movie does have some interesting stuff towards the end..and we see glimpses of vintage Bachchan. But it’s bitter sweet…just when you begin to enjoy the movie it finishes. It’s like those Nagraj comics i used to read as a kid where towards the end the villain just flew away and you were told to read the next part to find out what happens next. Its a movie made to be sequel-ed.
Not that i don’t mind sequels…but to make a sequel of a movie the original movie needs to be good. Harsh as it may sound…this one is not.
My Rating: 2.5/5 (Watchable, but keep expectations low)
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Blogosphere is agog with sarkar raj reviews and there is a mixed response. Hmmm no I wont risk it.
AD: Those technicalities were distracting and I am glad someone else noticed them too.
I have not seen the first film so many cross-references were lost on me despite my cousin’s update.
Anyway glad to see you remembered your blog again
Hi Shefaly!
Its amazing how much i used to think about updating the blog…but always got caught up in something. Finally, i think now i am back in action.
You are right 5000MW is too less. My mind refuses to take in numbers, so I didn’t bother. But now that I read your post, how naive was their scriptwriter and director.
Its funny how some filmmakers are so particular about details…and how some others seemingly dont care at all about very significant details such as these.
Haven’t watched this movie yet…
Will definitely watch it tonight and let you guys know what I think.. I heard it is amazing this movie
Well Said…
I too was expecting a tad too much from the movie since the part 1 was fabulous…
This one was a sad, slow and a lil senseless for the thinking viewer…
Again, Sarkar had good performances and an amazing background score…things this movie lacked completely…
My guess..Ramu wanted to cash in on the newly packaged Bachchan parivar…yet even the Bs can’t help it if the movie lacks a strong premise.
A fantastic Aishwarya as always but the film is a lot below my expectations too.