A tribute it is... Review on Sarkar

The first movie that actually had the two Bachchans on board, with the bigger one directed by wacko Ram Gopal Varma for the first time is enough to set up expectations. Added to that is the open admission that it is inspired by one of the highly acclaimed movies of all time.

The basic story is certainly derived from the Coppola classic -- the first two parts. That is transplanted to the world of politics and crime in Mumbai aptly. Certain scenes and dialogues provide for instant recall.

The screenplay is tight with hardly any unwanted scenes. But the progress is slightly slow for the audience to handle. Actually, the scenes are many but full of pauses. Dialogues are kept to a minimum and the emphasis is on emoting, bringing out the best from the actors. The absence of songs is just perfect. Violence is limited and not on-the-face. But the familiar setting does induce a sense of disinterest in the proceedings.

The Big B gets to show yet another dimension of his after Black. He is loaded with so much silence that when he speaks, everyone just listens attentively. His charisma is used in a fresh manner. The junior, meanwhile, is on a successful spree on his own. Here, he proves that he is a worthy successor both on reel and real life. Menon too is good and one wishes he had some more screen-time. Pathak, though having very little scope, stands out in one shot. Kaif and Tanisha have been used well. Rao provides the laughs, though with a bit of overacting. The supporting cast is well chosen and simply brilliant.

Dark lighting sets the mood for the movie superbly. But one wonders why people in the movie refuse to use lights at home even when required! Along with cinematography, editing too is impressive. Varma continues to introduce new talent. Mohile comes up with a suitable background score. The 'Govinda' chant is a bit overdone though.

Despite doling out several movies per year from his 'factory', audience still await the ones that are actually directed by Varma. He doesn't fail to stamp his class. He begins by saying that this is his tribute to The Godfather and keeps his word.