SARKAR RAJ

India, 2008, 125 minutes, Colour.
Amitabh Bachchan, Abishek Bachchan, Aishwariya Rai Bachchan.
Directed by Ramgopal Varma

An Indian film where there is no dancing as such and, while there are some songs, they are part of the background and atmosphere of the film and do not put a halt to the action.

Sarkar Raj is a political film, a sequel to the successful 2005 film, Sarkar, which drew its inspiration from the Godfather films. The director’s statement for this film insists that the sequel does not relate to The Godfather 2. The concern here is with global companies, corruption and politics. It is more Western-audience friendly than many other Bollywood films.

Ramgopal Varma employs a particular visual style that relies on close-ups of faces and unexpected framing of faces, the camera tracking slightly introducing light and shadows that can be suggestive, especially of sinister dealings. The continuously changing angles make for differing perspectives, overhead, ground level, tilting. We are drawn into the characters, listening intently while trying to read their faces and their minds.

Popular Indian star for many decades, Amitabh Bachchan plays the 60 year old Sarkar, a man of status, power and dominance. A statesman, his critics describe him as a gangster in the guise of a leader. Bachchan’s son, Abishek Bachchan, plays his powerful son, Shankar. A corporation in London wants to build a power plant in a rural areal and seeks the support of Sarkar and his son. What follows is a complicated tale of business intrigue, changing loyalties, manipulation of supporters, especially the outspoken son of a local dignitary who operates as a power behind many thrones while being the venerated leader.

Glamour is introduced into the film by the casting of former Miss India and popular star, Aishwarya Rai (who, in real life, married Abishek Bachman in 2007). She plays the influential daughter of the London head of the corporation.

Supporting characters include government ministers, security staff and rival business interests and gangsters.

While some of the performances move over the top for less demonstrative audiences, the key roles are performed with quiet intensity to make this an intriguing film of intrigue.