Sarkar Raj (2008)

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A slick, unofficial Hindi-language update of The Godfather that is drenched in Bollywood stylistic tropes, Sarkar Raj (2008) constitutes a sequel to the 2005 crime saga Sarkar. Like its predecessor, it tells the story of Subhash Nagare (Amitabh Bachchan), a powerful crime lord who controls the… More A slick, unofficial Hindi-language update of The Godfather that is drenched in Bollywood stylistic tropes, Sarkar Raj (2008) constitutes a sequel to the 2005 crime saga Sarkar. Like its predecessor, it tells the story of Subhash Nagare (Amitabh Bachchan), a powerful crime lord who controls the region of Mumbai, ensuring that raw justice gets dispensed where the law proves ineffectual. Wise, self-controlled, and outwardly gentle, he is nevertheless capable of shattering violence at the right time and place. As the tale opens, a western corporation swoops in and tries to persuade Subhash and his son Shankhar (Abhishek Bachchan) to give their permission for clearing the residents out of a particular area and building a power plant. Shankhar feels completely enthusiastic about the proposal, his father a bit more skeptical. But most furious about the matter is the son of a diminutive spiritual leader, Sanjay Somji (Rajesh Shringarpore), who resents everything that the plan entails, and does everything in his power to raise the ire of the people and stop it. All is not what it seems on the surface, however, for beneath the plans lurk deeper and more sinister, hidden motivations and schemes on the part of those involved. Meanwhile, one of the representatives of the said corporation, the svelte and gorgeous Anita Rajan (Aishwarya Rai), begins to fall for Shankhar, and he develops reciprocal feelings for her. ~ Nathan Southern, Rovi