Sarkar - Vijay's One Man Show

Thalapathy Vijay and A.R. Murugadoss are coming together for the third time looking for a hattrick blockbuster hit backed by the big player Sun Pictures.  The story is already out thanks to the controversy a few days back and do the magical combo deliver the goods this time too remains to be seen.

Vijay plays Sundar the CEO of the world's top company with the reputation of ruthlessly wiping off rival businesses one after another. When he comes home to Chennai to fulfill his voting duties he is shocked to find that his vote has already been cast.   He goes to court earning the wrath of the would be Chief Minister( Pazha Karuppaiah and his deputy (Radha Ravi).  Situations escalate to the level of the elections getting canceled and the hero contesting the re-election against the vengeful veteran leaders.  What happens next forms the rest of the screenplay.

Vijay as Sundar has given full joy to his fanbase and the general audience with his versatile performance.  If he is lightning quick with the dance moves, he is an absolute tornado in the fight sequences.  Add to that the trademark Thalapathy punches and swag that sends the "Nanbas, Nanbees and Kutty kutties" into ecstasy.   Keerthy Suresh the heroine sadly is made a mute spectator who appears randomly in some scenes with a look of admiration for Vijay permanently fixed on her cute face.  Varalakshmi Sarathkumar is the surprise package in 'Sarkar' with her physique and dialogue delivery elevating Komalavalli to one of her career best.  Watch out for her cold murder of a dear one.    Yogi Babu gets a bigger buildup than Vijay for his entry but he too disappears after a few smile-worthy counters he is known for.  Radha Ravi has played the role of the wily politician with subtleness this time and his experience shows in every frame especially when he faces defeat in the hands of Vijay everytime.  Pazha Karuppaiah brings to life the seasoned politician in such a convincing manner there is no doubt we will get to see more of him in future films.

The first half of 'Sarkar' has all the commercial ingredients mixed in the ratio of the opening song, mass scene, love song, fight scene, punch dialogue scene and an emotional inciting incident that works well.   The director has drawn incorporated a lot from real life incidents into the screenplay that connects well with the audience from Jallikattu to the family immolation suicide to Vishal's MLA nomination rejection.  The political references are pointed more at the ruling party and the Sellur Raju speech in a crucial scene brings the best laughs.  The high production values that Sun Pictures is known to splashes the richness in every frame.

On the downside, the screenplay is completely devoid of logic right from Vijay taking his case to court to contesting in the elections that all seem too easy and unconvincing even by commercial cinema standards.  The screenplay slump is massive in the second half with the last one hour loaded with over the top speeches making it an ordeal to sit through as there is nothing new or intelligent in the hero's methods to best his enemies.  The director could have handled a sincere actor like Vijay better and not let his performance border on overacting.

A.R. Rahman's songs are a notch better when seen visually especially "Oru viral puratchi" which is the backbone of the film..  His background score themes for the grey and the heroic shades of Vijay are commendable.  Girish Ganghadaran has grabbed the opportunity to do a mass hero film with his colorful lighting and camera movements especially in the stop frame fight sequences.  Veteran editor Sreekar Prasad could have done better in trimming the second half to make it less taxing.  Stunt masters Ram Lakshman deserve pats on their backs for coming up with some pulsating action sequences including the car and bike chases and accident effects.   A.R. Murugadoss has depended largely on the real-life connect to the audiences on the recent political occurences in which he succeeds partly.  The screenplay is too contrived and lags throughout and the core elections sequence has been handled like child's play which lets the film down.  Sadly the old ARM who balanced the commercial and art in filmmaking to deliver memorable films is missing again.

Verdict: Go for Thalapathy Vijay's One Man 'Sarkar'