If you were bemused to watch the Ram Gopal Varma’s Sarkar back in 2005, just imagine what would be the extent of the film, today, in 2017. Yes, the Ram Gopal Varma production, Sarkar 3 is now on the box office charts.
It has almost been a decade that Ram Gopal Varma has worked with Amitabh Bachchan. Whenever the two have united, the audience has got a great 3-hour show. To add more, this time Varma has roped Manoj Bajpai, an actor that is well known for his perfect finish on screen. Gangs of Wasseypur, Satya, Shool are some example to vouch for it.
Like most remakes, Sarkar 3 had an overwhelming initial response. But, as the day matured, the movie came up as an effortful project and a reason why you must believe Ram Gopal Varma all over again.
Interestingly, the movie completed a lap for the Megastar Amitabh Bachan as it releases on the same day, when forty-four years ago, Zanjeer was released in 1973. This was one film that established Amitabh Bachchan in Bollywood and showcased his true talent. He played the role of an Angry Young Man.
The Sarkar series has been equally important for Amitabh Bachchan. Subhash Nagre, the screen character that Amitabh plays for the movie is one of the strongest roles he has played recently. The role is said to take inspirations from Balasaheb Thackeray, the late Shiv Sena Supremo and Don Corleone from The Godfather (1972).
In 1973, in Zanjeer, Amitabh Bachchan enacted a young policeman who had to break the law to save the humanity. Until then, Bachchan was another name in Bollywood. The role he played was refused by Dev Anand, Raaj Kumar, and Dharmendra; the stars of the then era. It was only after Om Prakash or Pran suggested Amitabh’s name that he bagged the role. Om Prakash shared the screen with Amitabh in Parwana (1971) and both the veteran actors were to play a pivotal role in Zanjeer.
Director Prakash Mehra had his own doubts in casting Amitabh because of no proof of his excellence. He asked the writer duo, Salim & Javed to watch the then running movie of Amitabh Bachchan; Bombay to Goa (1972). The action was always Amitabh’s interest, he was great in action scenes in Bombay to Goa, the writer duo was impressed and when back at the studio, they convinced Prakash Mehra to cast Amitabh. The lanky young fellow was hired and the rest is history.
Despite initial doubts that Bachchan had about the project Sarkar 3 comes up as a perfect movie.
Sarkar was the first project Amitabh & RGV worked together and Big B has his own doubts. He found the project shaky, despite the assurance for his son, Abhishek Bachchan, who happens to be a co-actor of Amitabh in Sarkar, big B seemed unpleased. It was only after RGV took a shot where Amitabh sipped chai from a saucer, edited its, added some sound effect and made Amitabh watch that, he seemed to be confident.
After Sarkar (2005) RGV & Amitabh Bachchan came together for Nishabd (2007) and Ram Gopal Varma ki Aag (2007), the latter being a project everyone regrets.
RGV takes great inspiration from The Godfather and Bruce Lee. He has watched Enter the Dragon (1973) over 30 times. In fact one of the dialogues from Sarkar; “Subhash Nagre ek aadmi hai… Sarkar ek soch… Aadmi ko maarne se pehle, uski soch ko maarna zaroori hai” is a Hindi version of a dialogue from Enter The Dragon, “the enemy has only images and illusions behind which he hides his true motives. Destroy the image and you will break the enemy.”
