Movie: Sarkar
Rating: 2.5/5
Banner: Sun Pictures
Cast: Vijay, Keerthy Suresh, Varalakshmi Sharat Kumar, Yogi Babu, Radha Ravi and others
Music: A R Rahman
Cinematography: Girish Gangadharan
Editing: Sreekar Prasad
Action: Ram - Lakshman
Producer: Sun TV Network
Written and directed by: A. R. Murugadoss
Release date: November 6, 2018
The combination of Tamil star Vijay and director Murugadoss is considered one of the best combinations in south Indian movie industry as they delivered two blockbusters 'Thupaki' and 'Katthi'.
From the day it was announced, expectations began building up on “Sarkar”, their third collaboration.
Let’s find out whether they have managed to get a hat-trick...
Story:
Sundar (Vijay) who is CEO of a global company in USA comes down to India to cast his vote in the polls, but he finds that his vote has already been cast by some other person. Sundar takes legal course to stop the counting process till he gets the chance to vote again.
Due to his action, the newly elected government is stalled to take the charge in office. A series of incidents provoke him to launch a party to fight in the polls.
Will Sundar succeed in bringing change in the state?
Artistes’ Performances:
Vijay appears in the role of an NRI turned political leader. He played to the gallery with his antics and mannerisms. He played the typical mass hero role. It is Vijay's personality and charisma that holds together the movie.
Keerthy Suresh gets silly characterization. Radha Ravi as a politician is terrific. Varalakshmi Sharath Kumar as CM’s daughter and main villain gets another meaty role after “Pandem Kodi 2”.
Technical Excellence:
Murugadoss always extracts the best output from technicians. The cinematography is slick. Rahman’s music is a mixed bag, while BG score is top-class; songs are not that effective in Telugu. Editing is well-paced.
Tollywood's leading stunt masters Ram-Lakshman have left their mark again and they have composed terrific action stunts.
Highlights:
First half
Action stunts
Vijay's charisma
Drawback:
Unconvincing scenes and ideas
Dull second half
Weak villain characterization
Analysis:
Director Murugadoss has special knack in narrating a story with social cause as the central theme in a gripping way. He disappointed all with Mahesh Babu's "Spyder", but he has now come up with a film that has his trademark style here and there.
The idea of protagonist approaching the court when he finds that his vote was misused by another person and he bringing notice to the court about the existence of a section in law that allows the election commission to stop counting is a solid point.
Murugadoss has established this point quite well in the beginning. Thus the first half makes fairly good watch despite some issues. The interval twist is also perfect with his trademark "waiting" bang. By and large, the first half of the movie works neatly.
Generally, Murugadoss reserves his best for the final portions. However, here the film turns dull with Vijay's fight with the politicians is told in routine and regular manner which we have seen in umpteen other movies. His battle with CM and his daughter Varalakshmi doesn't provide any novelty either.
Vijay trying to bring change with the help of local youth and people building movements using Facebook Live and social media have no strong connect as such scenes were used in a better way in some of the recent movies.
The best scene in the second half is when he tries to convince the doubtful fishermen folk in the colony with an emotional story of his roots. Other than this, the second half falls flat. The conflict point is superficial.
Vijay keeps on saying that he would raise the questions to the ruling government much like Pawan Kalyan. Perhaps, this film would have been well-suited for Power Star.
Moreover, the romantic thread on Vijay and Keerthy is awkwardly bad. Keethy Suresh appears as a prop, more than a woman with an identity or character.
Overall, “Sarkar” is a political movie with predictable scenes and decent first half. It may work for Vijay’s fans in Tamil Nadu, but for Telugu audiences, it is an average show.
Bottom-line: Vijay's Show
