Apun Ka Choice: After being pummeled by one and all for his disastrous and tortuous Ram Gopal Varma Ki Aag, the director redeems himself with a fairly engrossing tale of political intrigue, deception and betrayal in Sarkar Raj. Watch this film for Amitabh Bachchan and Abhishek.
BBC: An intense political drama involving power and manipulation.
CNN-IBN: Sarkar Raj is punishingly slow! RGV’s Sarkar Raj is a gabfest. There’s really no other way to describe this film. It’s all talk and very little action. And excessive talk seldom makes for exciting viewing.
DNA India: After the debacle of his Aag, we certainly expected a much more accomplished effort from Verma, but all we get instead, is an eminently passable film instead of a convincing one!
Glamsham: The director has redeemed himself after the failures of Nishabd and Aag. This here is vintage Ramu at his best, no doubt about it. Just goes to show that one should stick to what one is best at. And no one uncovers the underbelly of crime and politics as succinctly as RGV!
Hindustan Times: Abhishek Bachchan mistakes inflexibility, a dour gaze and dark business suits for intensity. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, for a tough Rebecca Mark the Shark, sheds too many crocodile tears! Sarkar Raj is recommended only for those in need of a depression pill.
IndiaFM: On the whole, Sarkar Raj is an exceptional film in all respects. At the box-office, it has all it takes to set new records in days to come!
Movie Talkies: Sarkar Raj is one of the best films of the year and could arguably be one of Ram Gopal Varma’s best films, as it is a fine amalgamation of proficient storytelling and characterization, tight screenplay supported with powerful dialogues, superb cinematography, taking and close ups, soulful and pace enhancing background, flawless performances and yes, masterful direction.
Now Running: Dark, sinister, sinewy and rugged. Sarkar Raj is Shakespeare on cocaine! Or the lacerated life of a Thackeray-like family with the concept of spatial harmony becoming meaningless because of the disembodied camera movements.
Rediff: This is a watchable yet entirely forgettable film, and fans of the original are advised to re-watch that one again!
Times Of India: This film carries the sequel forward without losing out on the gritty feel and retains the charisma of the central characters. Ramu’s characteristic dark brooding palette of shadow and light and his forte at laying bare the undercurrents of violence in urban society take you on a reassuring trip through familiar terrain. Yes, you may have your quarrels with the ideology of the film and the validity it seeks to give to outlaws like Subhash and Shankar Nagre, but you will applaud the style and the performances.
Ram Gopal Varma: If the point of a review is to critically analyze someone else’s work and to possibly inform/educate or psyche the viewer why to or why not to watch a particular film, I think it’s only fair that the filmmaker too should give his reaction to what the reviewer commented upon. I exactly know what the reactions of the critics are going to be. They will write as nasty and as bitchy articles as possible in their capacity and influence whatever they might have with the management of their concerned outfits. But I will answer them too in my blog. You readers have a ring-side seat and watch!
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{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
I was waiting patiently to go and see this film, and during last weekend I finally did. I can honestly say that I was pleased with the movie. Usually such build ups are dashed but this delivered the goods. Reading other comments, they mention that there was little action and more talk, this is precisely what the film is about.
The meaning and thinking behind this film must of been difficult. I am proud to see both Sarkar and Sarkar Raj. Considering that typical Bollywood films are far fetched, it’s good to see realism within its means. The audience should not prejudge but be open to the story. If I were to watch Sarkar Raj again, I’ve no doubt that there are other hidden meanings which I surely missed the first time around.
Well done to Ram Gopal Varma and the rest of the cast.
Saw this movie yesterday…Liked it..
As usual steller performances by AB and AB JR….tho Aish could still emote more than blank looks…
It was very interestingly tied into the first one…the only let down was the last 10 mins of the movie…why did RGV have to explain everything…wasnt it implied throughout…the whole purpose of paying attention to the enigma was lost in the end….he could have had a dramatic ending with people left thinking…
Anyways have a feeling Chikku is going to come for the third part…and aish is going to become “smita thakerey”
commendable though to risk making such movies….
Both part 1 & 2 were excellent, except the backgroud music in part 2 was a bit loud. But the cinematography, performance, story, everything was perfect. Just watching Big Be on screen is enough for me, himself and do nothing except talking would be enough. He’s really a great actor, a legend and couldn’t be compared with any one else. I wish him a continuous success.
There was a lot of expectations from Sarkar Raj and I must say it lived up to the expectations. The movie is intense right from the beginning and all the characters are penned down beatifully. There is a lot of surprises the director comes up with. This is surely a paisa vasool.
Being a huge fan of Big B, I could not miss this movie for anything in the world.
Ram Gopal varma has done what he has been good at…. his movies on underworld nexus with politics. I know there was a lot of expectations with this movie as his earlier two movies both “Nishabd” aswell as ” Aas” was a box office disaster. But name one directoror artist whohas not faced low in life. It all part and parcel of the film industry, you loose some you win some.
instead of critisizing his work look for the finer points in the movies, a fantastic starcast, good performance according to script and I am not wrting only for Big B but the entire starcast of the movie be it even fleeting reference and telephonic conversation with Chiku Sarkars only surving legal heir left now , who may get groomed by Sarkar now to fill the void left by Shankar’s dastardly assasination to take over as sarkar’s Successor..
the movie was really good. though i am not a great fan of Bachan family…….i enjoyed the movie, and it is different
i havnt seen this movie but i m sure i ll enjoy after seeing it bcoz i m big much delighted to read all comments.i m anxiously waiting when will my examz over n i ll watch the movie.
I went to Siliguri, 350kms from my native city, to watch the movie. I saw first show on 6 June. Being a RGV fan I rarely miss a movie from “factory”. From RGV’s other works like ‘RGV KI AAG’ and ‘Nishabd’ etc., I assume it was totally a different project for him. And he made it. Many thing is improved from ‘Sarkar’ like sound, dialogues, storytelling style. ‘Sarkar’ was too advance for the Indian audience-in my opinion-but RGV has improved a lot of things. A project from a NRI industrialist, a new challenge, a new political issue- everything goes like it should be with Sarkar. About Vishnu(Sarkar’s first son who is killed by Shankar), Shankar says,”I don’t have any guilty for what happened with Bhaiyya and you too must not have any”. This is the Sarkar family’s mentality. At one place in press conference when people asks who will be responsible for 40,000 village people , Shankar replies,”You, because you never think about them, and if someone wants to do something you just don’t let him” this is the judgement power of Sarkar.
And at last, no matter whatever happpens with Sarkar’s family (as Sarkar says, “One who lives in his own conditions has to pay the price”), Sarkar’s power still exit, his mentality is not changed-and it must not.
Don’t expect any hip-hop music from the movie. Watch the movie if you want to see Sarkar’s life, his family life, his emotions.But to him above all it is Maharashtra and its people.
Good job RGV.
Hi, i saw this movie on last sat, its really good movie, i think its better then sarakr , three B’s r good enough to make hit film
I just watched the movie yesterday on DVD. I thought it was quite boring initially, but loved the second part of the movie. The plot was really good and I guess it truly reflects how politics is really played out.
RGV’s direction was quite good. I really liked the way he’s shot it. It’s more of a Director’s movie than an actor’s.