Posted on: June 11, 2008 - 11:01 pm
Prateeksha, Mumbai June 11, 2008 10:24 pm
Ram Gopal Varma sent me a mail with some attachments which I thought may be of some interest to those that are keen to follow collections and numbers.. as also some reviews -
Box Office: Sarkar Raj housefull openings (India centers list)
Sunday, June 08, 2008 -
Below is a sample of theaters which recorded 100% occupancies during Sarkar Raj’s blockbuster opening weekend across India despite screening massive volumes from north to south. This is not a complete list of theaters which opened to bumper response across the country, but serves as answer to question of how Sarkar Raj performed geographically over its opening weekend.
While the trend for weekdays is expected to drop somewhat, the film has recorded among the best openings of recent times at the box office, and is the biggest opening of Ram Gopal Varma’s career by a long stretch.
The Amitabh Bachchan-Abhishek Bachchan-Aishwarya Rai starrer has recovered most of its cost already in 3 days, and recorded 100% occupancies at, but not limited to:
• Rave 3, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh
• Satyam, Chennai, Tamil Nadu
• Prasads, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh
• PVR Indore, Indore, Madhya Pradesh
• New Excelsior, Mumbai, Maharashtra (Single Screen)
• Cinemax Andheri, Mumbai, Maharashtra (multiplex)
• Fun, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh
• Himalay, Ahmedabad, Gujrat
• Priya, Delhi
• Inox, Bangalore, Karnataka
• Wave, Delhi
• Urvashi theater, Bangalore, Karnataka (Single Screen)
• DT Centre, Gurgaon, Haryana
• City Centre, Chandigarh, Punjab
Sarkar Raj - www.channel4.com
our rating: 3.0
avg. user rating: 3.9
(28 votes)
Sarkar Raj Review
124 minutes, India (2008), 12A
Comment on this >
The sequel to Ram Gopal Varma’s critically acclaimed political drama Sarkar starring Amitabh Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai
Sarkar Raj was widely heralded as an homage to the Godfather trilogy, though director Ram Gopal Varma refutes comparisons, describing Sarkar Raj as “the new adventures of the Nagare family…. showcasing the aura of power.”
While the events of Sarkar, Varma’s 2005 film, still cast a shadow on the character’s lives, the omnipotent Subhash ‘Sarkar’ Nagare’s (Amitabh Bachchan) focus is now on the remaining scion of the Nagare family, Shankar, (Abhishek Bachchan), as he prepares to take the political helm.
Enter Anita Rajan (Amitabh Bachchan’s real life wife Rai), CEO of an international power company who presents a proposal for a power plant to be set up in rural Maharashtra. Established on the location of five villages, the plant would bring disruption and upheaval to the lives of the communities settled there. While Sarkar expresses his misgivings about the proposal, Shankar extols the need for change, recognising the benefits of modernisation. Accompanied by Anita, Shankar embarks on a quest to mobilise the masses to support the proposal. However malevolent forces are at work to sabotage his efforts and he unwittingly enters into a political minefield. In the battle for power and supremacy, blood is shed, lives are lost and cold vengeance meted, as Sarkar seeks out the forces that threaten to annihilate the Nagare clan completely.
With a triumvirate of Bachchan’s taking centre stage you can be sure of some sterling performances, and indeed no one disappoints. All of the characters are underplayed, giving way to a smouldering intensity that is further enhanced by the photography.
Amitabh Bachchan resurrects the unmistakable garb and gait of the steely Subhash Nagare, his subtle expression speaking volumes, his experience and presence making for a naturalistic performance. His son Abhishek Bachchan’s brooding intensity is, by comparison, more overt but he effectively captures the passion and underlying tensions in his character. Aishwarya Rai serves as the perfect foil for both characters as she reacts to unfolding circumstances.
At the core of the film is the relationship between father and son, and while the real life affiliations inevitably spill over onto celluloid, these serve to magnify the relationships rather than detracting from the proceedings.
The narrative flows seamlessly, with pertinent allusions to its precursor. The story only really jars in the portrayal of the relationship between Shankar and Anita which, though touching, develops too hastily to be plausible.
With the stamp of Varma on every frame, the film is painstakingly shot. The assiduous attention to lighting makes for a beautiful canvas. The raw emotion of the characters is captured in the extreme close ups and the ever shifting frame adds to the simmering intensity. Only the highly stylised photography is jarring, as it steals the attention from the actors.
Verdict
The combination of Ram Gopal Varma and the almighty Bachchan clan makes for an intense cinematic experience. Just don’t go expecting any colourful Bollywood-esque song-and-dance numbers.
Sarkar Raj review by: Poonam Joshi
*****
The Bachchan trio – Amitabh, Abhishek, Aishwarya – emerge as consummate actors, imbuing their characters with nuances and shades not easily seen in mainstream cinema.
– Times of India, Nikhat Kazmi ***1/2
Ramu’s characteristic dark brooding palette of shadow and light and his forte at laying bare the undercurrents of violence in urban society take you on a reassuring trip through familiar terrain.
– Times of India, Nikhat Kazmi ***1/2
Ram Gopal Varma reveals himself as a master of mood, atmosphere, and period – Harrow Observer, London ****
Abhishek delivers his best after Yuva and Guru – Harrow Observer, London ****
A rare sequel that surpasses its classic source – Harrow Observer, London ****
RGV shines like never before – Taran Adarsh ****
“An outstanding film in all respects, this film has all it takes to emerge a major success story at the box-office… and a landmark film in everyone’s careers”
- Taran Adarsh ****
SARKAR RAJ exudes a lot of Power from the word ‘Go’
- Taran Adarsh ****
Abhishek Bachchan is cast opposite the finest actor of this country, yet he sparkles in every sequence.
- Taran Adarsh ****
*****
Sarkar Raj almost cracks top 10 in USA Box Office charts
Tuesday, June 10, 2008 -
While a large part of Indian trade lobby was trying to paint the false picture of a poor box office opening for Sarkar Raj, the film even in USA almost cracked the top 10 charts in its opening weekend, which would have made it the first Bollywood film to do so, and in a market where any Bollywood films of this genre and backdrop have hardly even released up until now. The movie’s opening weekend alone in America is higher than the total gross of original Sarkar which was declared a hit soon after its release.
The primarily Mumbai-Hyderabad shot gangster-politico Sarkar Raj has recorded reported collections of $642,523 despite being on only 70 screens for a per screen average of $9,179 per screen.
In Canada, Sarkar Raj did cross the top 10 mark, placing at #9 for a collection of $70,216.
The 25+ crore film, whose satellite rights were sold for Rs 12 crores, could recover around another Rs. 12 crores from the overseas theatrical box office gross over the next couple weeks. It could be filling up the profit coffers early given that in India, the film took a much favorable opening compared to the NRI market.
USA Box Office Jun 6-8, 2008 Weekend
__________________________________________
1. Kung Fu Panda
2. You Don’t Mess with the Zohan
3. Indiana Jones
4. Sex and the City
5. The Strangers
6. Iron Man
7. The Chronicles of Narnia
8. What Happens in Vegas
9. Baby Mama
10. Made of Honor
11. Sarkar Raj
______________________________________
Last year, BBC did a documentary on me, which hopefully we could put up once the website starts, as also the docu made by Ram Madhvani called ‘Everlasting Light’ for the Lincoln Center Retrospective in New York.
The person who did the research for BBC, is an avid Hindi film lover. She had a few remarks to make on Sarkar Raj, which I attach for your reading -
*****
“The first thing I did observe is that having scanned the reviews very closely, I can’t find a single negative word about your personal performance. Whenever journalists do bother to mention it, every word is praise, even if the quality of the description is not high. (Nikhat Kazmi of TOI probably comes closest with “the Bachchan trio - emerge as consummate actors, imbuing the characters with nuances and shades not easily seen in the mainstream cinema”).”
“But in several reviews the balance is tilted so heavily towards attacking the story and the politics that the astounding performances are totally ignored. And it must surely be the duty of a reviewer to consider all the creative aspects of a film, especially in this case when the acting is so astonishing that you have to question what negligence or prejudice makes the writer seem blinded to it. Or in the case of Khalid Mohamed, hiss the word “tolerable”, because even his monstrous talent for biting invective appears to fail him when confronted with a performance that I would say is blessed with genius.”
“I am now about to write something that might hurt you deeply, but I only trying to pay you the greatest respect by being honest. I’ve been agonizing about how to express this, but I do have sympathy with the reviewers who criticise the story and the script. It has long grieved me that, almost without exception, I find that your performances succeed so brilliantly DESPITE the flaws in the scripts of your films, and you bring immense layers of complexity and depths of emotion that quite frankly were never within the dreams of the screenwriter. (Sarita Tanwar in Mid-Day says “AB once again rescues the film from mediocrity with his performance” and “he’s the only shining Sarkar in an otherwise lacklustre Raj”. TOI: “You may have your quarrels with the ideology of the film, but you will applaud the style and the performances”). The reviewers should perhaps be commended where they are making honest criticisms of what they perceive to be weaknesses in scriptwriting, especially when the film is tacking serious and contemporary issues as in Sarkar Raj. If the writer and director take on important, resonant themes then the bar is set higher. (”The politics are half-baked”, Deepa Gahlot, Afternoon, “The script is underdeveloped… none of the characters shows a growing curve in their representation” Johnson Thomas, DNA). I can’t be certain of the motivation for such journalism, but on the face of it there is an increasing plea for higher quality story telling and script writing, so that films become more convincing and involving for a discerning audience.”
“In a most strange way, the warped and bitter writings of Khalid Mohamed, have almost hit on a nerve. Sometimes love turned to hatred can produce a peculiar insight. Of course some of his utterances are banal beyond contempt. After failing to come up with any criticism of your performance, he dismisses it as “tolerable”, remarking “He’s done it all before.” Failing to notice the truly remarkable aspect - that despite having indeed experienced other roles of similar magnitude, this never for a nano-second shows on screen in a “done it all before” attitude. Instead you approach it with the freshness of an newcomer, AND the incomparable refinement of deepest experience. “He’s done it all before”, is transmuted into “he’s never done it better”.”
“But I think Khalid Mohamed is on to something with his references to Brando and Shakespeare, even if he mangles them willfully. I’d like to believe that deep down he is crying out in agony, like the rest of us, that you are not able to take part in a family drama written with the psychological depth and universal humanity of a Shakespearean tragedy. And also marvelling that you are able to invest even sub-Shakespearean dialogue with such profundity and emotion.”
“I think Khalid Mohamed could also profitably turn his attention to the parallels between you and Brando, which have often preoccupied me. Both of you made the most historic and sensational impact early in your careers, with what has widely been attributed both to “animal magnetism”, once-in-a-epoch acting genius, and a ground breaking form of naturalism that blazed on to the screen with an directness of appeal and an emotional impact that audiences, East and West, had never seen before. But while Brando had huge problems of temperament that led him to dissipate much of his genius, Indian cinema has been phenomenally blessed that you have continued to hone your talents with exceeding dedication and discipline over the decades, so that we can marvel at performances like Sarkar Raj today. And yes, you don’t need to stoop to Brando’s psychological and physical props of padding in the cheeks to portray a masterful Sarkar. (Note to Khalid - Brando’s autobiography says that he stuffed Kleenex in his cheeks - NOT marbles. How ludicrous to think anyone could talk like that.) ”
*****
“…. your interview with Subhash K Jha, where you say: “No performance of any actor can ever be beyond the narrative or the script of the film.” Every atom of my emotion and intellect just screams out that this is not the case. I base my view on watching your performances in far more than 50 of your films.”
“I also recall my interview with Abhishek when he was talking about the relative merits of your performance in different films, and I believe I do not paraphrase him too inaccurately when I say the he felt that your performance in the first Sarkar had been greater than that in Black, specifically because the latter was a more perfectly constructed story and script, while in the first Sarkar you were called upon to bring qualities to the role that were not always fully realised in the script. Apologies to you both if I have recalled this inaccurately - I can consult the transcript tonight if it is of any interest, but it is a remark that has stayed in my mind.”
” So Khalid Mohamed graciously finds Mr Bachchan’s acting “tolerable”. When a man with such a dubious talent for invective can only come up with such a limp adjective, it is must surely signify that even his near-extinct conscience won’t quite allow him to slander a performance that is awesome by any standards. Instead he falls back on that lazy riff “he’s done it all before”. (Yes, many journalists have written that before).”
“And Amitabh has done it all before. But he’s never done it better. And that’s the true measure of his greatness. We, the audience, never, ever, get the feeling that this is just another film for Amitabh. We feel, we believe, that this is THE film. The scene we are watching is THE moment he has lived to share with us. An actor with the hunger and freshness of an newcomer, yet the refinement and strength that only come from deepest experience of acting, and life. What other actor has this haunting ability to make us feel tragedy. Who else could say so much about love just through the light of his eyes as he hugged his son. Sometimes it feels almost too painful, as if you are staring into a man’s soul. Yes, having “done it all before”, he’s distilled his performance to a rare purity, a subtlety, restraint and sensitivity, yet resplendent with power and emotion and passion, that for me no other actor in the world comes close to it.”
“I ask myself, was Mr Mohamed really watching the film, and the actors’ performances, or was he too busy trying to think up desperately unwitty remarks, like shudder the shudder, or superfluous manglings of language, like tobacco-nicotine coloured.”
“And strange that Khalid Mohamed finds himself compelled to bring up Brando - arguably the one Western actor who came close to Amitabh’s blazing talent and screen magnetism. Tragically Marlon’s troubled psyche led him to dissipate his genius in his later career. Contrast Hollywood’s loss with the fortune of Indian cinema, whose greatest actor has shown infinite discipline and dedication to acting. I can only speak for myself, but surely many of us feel blessed to be seeing Amitabh today at the very peak of his art, even if we occasionally wish he was blessed with slightly better scripts. But one will never get a job as a film critic by expressing sentiments like that. Standards of cynicism - and in the case of Mr Mohamed of meaningless drivel - have to be maintained at all times.”
“PS: Surely Marlon Brando would boogaloo in his grave to learn that Mr Mohamed appears to believe the actor put marbles in his mouth to portray the Godfather. Brando’s autobiography clearly states he padded his cheeks with Kleenex tissues.”
*****
See you tomorrow,
With my love and best wishes,
Amitabh Bachchan
so amitji, has the producer and distributor and RGV recovered their total cost????
the marketing and worldwide distribution must have cost few crores
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what was budget of film?? how much was marketing and other related cost? how much profit did it make?
aamir is much better film to watch….Sarkar raj is boring except amitabh bachchan acting…
pahle baap pehle aap is also better
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amitji, frankly tell us what was jayaji comment on sarkar raj–if she is not biased that it is her family as actors in it
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Hi RGV,
Thanks for dropping in an email to AB. I belive you took my point and collected all the positive comments about your movie and pasted it here. soooo very good. Such a positive reading. Thank You for reading and doing the positive.
Negative peopel are going to be there. Dogs are always going to bark. Let ‘em bark. It is their job anyway.
All the best for your future endevours……{of course hopefully more comign with Biiig B trio}
Thank You Sir for postting RGVs e mail
I haven’t watched it so far. will sure do this weekend
TC
Pratish
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Dear Bacchan Faimly.
Congrats for the Sarkar Raj. I have seen it yesterday in PVR Cinemas. Your acting is mind blowing. Relly I like.
I will give 8.5/10 for this movie. Nice one. Abhishek ji is also doing well. Tell to him. Plz. & I like his acting in the Guru Most. You are looking very nice in beard.
I love you Aishwarya. You are too much beautiful. Is there is someone likes you? Your acting is also good. I like your acting in Devdas Most.
Regards,
Surya
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hello sir, hope ur fine n doing good, i lv reading u , for u i might be just one out of the world, for me ur the one out of world. i m in london n i came to knew about ur blog, this is just amazing , if u read this , i would be the happiest person as i never imagined i would converse a sentence to sirji, do reply if u have time, n take care.
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Please note correction in review by Poonam Joshi, (Amitabh Bachchan’s real life wife Rai) I am still in awe of the movie and the person but its still Abhishek Bachchan.
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the person who did a docu on you sir, you did’nt mention her name
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Mr Bachchan
I haven’t seen the movie yet but I am really keen to watch it as soon as I can get it here in US. But yes, I am a great fan of your blog and I take out time from my schedule to read it everyday.
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Hello Amit Sir ,
I am regular on your blog and do not know how to adddress you as just saying myself an ardent or die hard fan may very common compliments to some one so charismatic as you.I have grown in a family whose each and every member loves and respects you.
There are few things which are common in our families , i am from a sikh family and ur mother was a sikh too.You and jaya ji got married same year as my mom and dad and shweta was born the same year as me as the eldest child of the family and then abhishek the same year as my sister.
I just watched Sarkar Raj a couple of days ago and both father ans son set the screen ablaze and it is a delight to watch the two of you.
All these reviews are wonderful to read and i wish you all the sucess in the near future and “MAY U be GOD MOST FAVOURITE CHILD”
Simran
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Hello Sir,
I have seen “SARKAR RAJ” and is a real good movie. Any film need not be judged on the basis of reviewer because a reviewer is after all a human being and has every right to make an error. I had loved one movie called “DAHEK” - an Akshaye Khanna Starrer but the rating that movie got was 3/2 *. It all individual choice and gut feel. Bachchan trio can’t make a blunder in selecting a movie. I was quite confident of that and hence went on to see the movie without looking at a review. In order to MAKE MY OWN REVIEW. And I must appreciate your , abhishek and aishwarya’s effort. Not to forget RGV for a well made and commendable movie.
Warm Regards
APJ
Amrit Parashar
Sr. Manager
SAINT-GOBAIN
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Enter Anita Rajan (Amitabh Bachchan’s real life wife Rai),????????????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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I am not feeling very good now but can still drop in a line to say that your performance in Sarkar Raj was amazind and as was the story telling by ramu.
THANK YOU.
Regards,
AJ
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Sirji
Its really bad that our trade analyst lobby is trying to false the movie.
Movie is too good. I have heard from my all friends that movie is best.
I read each and every review which mentioned in the blog before i saw movie. However i have not changed my mind and saw movie. As per my earlier blog movie really excell than her prequel. Ramu really shows that Nagare family has increased their power in maharashtra.
I read your Q&A in the timeofindia with not sure about journalist.
Before a reviewer the person should be in the queue of audience. These reviewers get tickets and money from the respective media so they dont bother abt the impact of review.
Only true movie watcher can identify the changes in the your character after each frame in the movie. I also identified about your sleev thing. It was in the middle till last frame of the movie but suddenly it gets up…. i.e. what i called the directors cut.
Sir Movie doing well and will really do the best in coming days. If each and every your fan go and sit in the theater it will become the mega hit.
Now I am worry abt do i have to follow review of ‘Rajiv Masand’, ‘Khalid Mohamed’ and some others.
I read all the comments of RGV and I do agree with all his answers.
Take care
Raj Surywanshi
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Boss would u stop ever publicising your movie through your blog. Enough of it Mr Big so called B. Well for starters the movie is a drag and you are very predictive and repititive. You see the problem with our nation is half of us are just crazy fans who accept anything thats being dished out by our favourite stars and you are no exception to that. Getting back to your earlier comment on your sons performance in last 3 yrs I am sorry to say besides Guru he has had no movie where he can claim to be an actor par excellence. I give him full marks for his performance in the movie. However in last 3 yrs Mr Big B you are forgetting there were many performances from actors like Aamir Khan in Taare Zameen Par, Irfan Khan in Maqbool, Saif Ali Khan in Omkara the list is endless. You are telling us that your son has been the best performer in last 3 yrs I am sorry sir pls do a rain check. I have just come back from IIFA awards in Bangkok and it was a dismal awards ceremony to the tune that your son has no manners to respect the general population.
ANYWAY PLS STOP BLOWING YOUR OWN TRUMPET FOR A REHASH MOVIE. NO MATTER WHAT EVER YOU TRY YOUR MOVIES WILL NEVER BE THE BIGGEST GROSSER LIKE PAST AS YOU HAVE BECOME REPITITIVE AND PREDICTABLE.
HOPE THIS IS TAKEN POSITIVELY.
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please read this review
http://www.twitchfilm.net/site/view/review-of-sarkar-raj/
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Just wanted to say hi…
good night & take care
With Love…as always,
Vishal
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Dear Sir !!!
Tonnes of congratulations for delivering 02 consecutive hits…. Bhoothnath & now Sarkar Raj…..!!!
Impeccable performances….!!!
With Love, Respect and Faith…
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i can’t believe it…..i am the first one today….wahhh..hurray!!
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one more from the estimable The Guardian of UK
http://film.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/Critic_Review/Guardian_review/0,,2284031,00.html
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great i am the 1st to reply n lucky too but frankly speaking the world has a image for you sir looking back to your movies i feel RVG must do better n big i got a story fresh not copied father son and it has a strong lineup of things happening with great action plz my number is +2307608791 i try to call you but your staff does not let this happen but its realy a good story i wrote and there is no harm listining to it so thats it and good luck and love
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Hi Amit ji,
mehnat aur duaien rang laati hain, no doubts about that. Excellent work, Thanks and congrates to u3.
with regards.
Rhodeislander.
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Dear Amitji,
Ms Poonam Joshi, has given a nice review of Sarkar raj however by mistake she has given ur name as Ash’s husband and not Abhi’s. A small error on her part but I think you should look into it and change the same on the blog.
regards
Best wishes always
AA
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The rights for distribution of Sarkar Raj, made on an estimated Rs 28 crore-plus budget, has been purchased by Balaji Telefilms from the initial buyer Adlabs Films. “The costs of production and distribution are much higher. We need at least a good two weeks’ run to be satisfied,†says Nandu Ahuja of Balaji Telefilms.
amitji, tell us after 2 weeks of film release, was it worth casting ash/abhi in sarkar raj.
whatever crore u get paid for film is all worthy for producer, how they manage to spend on ash is weird………………………….
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Respected Sir,
This is for the first time that i logged into ur blog.Its really cool.
No one can ever imagine to surpass ur aura of fame and passion for acting.
I m from Allahabad,having the same air,water n intellectual legacy,I salute to ur achievements………………..ur work……………..U r really a genius………..I salute to the “FATHER OF ACTING”,if there exists any such title.
U r awesome,really marvellous………………entertaining almost three different generations in one life cycle.
May life shower everything it has on to u as it has done…………………
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dear sir,
we are absolutely speechless after reading all this and we have not even seen the movie yet….just shows that there are politicians and politics in every field…thanks and warm regards.
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i havent seen sarkar raj till today.Have read all the reviews and interview with subash k. jha .Yes, i m among those people that AB was better in several of the scripts of his movies like KALIA, NASTIK ETC.
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a 4/5 review for sarkar raj.none or u though.but the reviewer is honest.
http://www.glamsham.com/movies/reviews/06-sarkar-raj-movie-review-060802.asp
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i am yet to watch the movie but my expectations r high as the trio working together 1st tim. i have dominating memories of power packed performance from abhisekh in SARKAR and i am excited abt how the pair will manage each other magnetic field because aishwarya is very script bound genuine actor. sorry sir but i do believe that abhisekh is far better performer than any of you. his screen presense. all is there in his eyes & when he is on screen dominates everything. something rarely seen & yes somewhat god gifted. isn’t it? it is something feeling heavenly pleasured watching him in full flow. it’s infectious whether u like him or not.
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Just to let you know Mr B, I’ve heard loads of positive comments on Sarkar Raj from fans and non-fans alike over here in London…It’s been playing in Leicester Square too, and seems to be attracting a lot of positive attention…
Shameera
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Pranam,
Looks like I m the 1st to respond to this blog
How r u
Had quite a busy schedule, u r too good
What r ur comments on SRK missing from IFFA awards
I saw Priyadarshan’s comment on indiafm.com, he said he was a great fan of urs and likes all ur movies.
We fans are ur followers , we will follow u in any movie u act. Even if it Nishabd or Boom. I loved Nishabd, no doubt. every one should appreciate ur interest in various roles u do .
LOVE U ALWAYS
GOD ALWAYS KEEP HIS PROTECTIE HANDS ON U AND PROTECT U FROM THE LIKES OF SHATRUGHAN AND SRK
U R THE BEST, LET PEOPLE SAY WHAT THEY WANT
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sir, lets jus say dat Sarkar Raj is a worthy heir, but lets not try to glorify it in terms of box office accolades. The film is not doing well as the previous one and will not be able to match up to it. In many parts of the country, including Bihar it wil b pulled out of theatres in a week. The best business is in mumbai and rest of india is a loosing proposition. But in my opinion you should not justify it to the people of how well it is doing, it undermines your gr8ness. Its a good film and you were good as ever. But the movie commercially is a loosing proposition.
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We are in Egypt and out here we dont get Hindi Movies , however thanks to the internet we got to watch sarkar raj on the 2nd day of its release . I enjoyed the movie and agree that it should be doing well back in India.
Btw - One trivia for you (you may be aware of it)
Here in egypt Indians are synonymous with Amitabh Bachchan !
You can verify it if you want : Whenever an Egyptian comes to know that we are from India . the first …. i repeat the very first thing that they say is “Amitabh bachchan (in their typical accent) . I have experienced this almost 95% of the time .
This is something which i havent understood . How is it that you are so popular here in Egypt? Although they hardly play any of your movies here BUT India is associated with you here for sure.
Would like to know from you on how did this come about ? Whats the story behind Egypt . Would love to hear it from you.
Btw. People are damn sweet here .
Thanks
Warm Regards
Rama
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Eversince I read in the paper that you have taken up blogging, I have been wanting to read your Blog. Some people do have a golden touch and that is indeed true with you. You sing well, act well and write well too. You do things in style. I am looking forward to read more from your end. Hope to see some novels from your end..
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One reviewer who constantly and consistently elevates the rather sloppy and bitchy bussiness of indiam film review with his keen observation and insight is not mntioned here.Bharadwaj Rangan of The New Indian express Chennai edition.I hope you have read his reviews.He is opinionated without being biased and outright without being rude.Some of his reviews esp early ones are classics.He has of late writes more with his brains having sent his heart packing.A good intelligent and fair reviewer .
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very good movie……
i want to ask u 1 ques.
Do u know what is the meaning of ”JAN MAN GAN” (OUR NATIONAL ANTHOM)
IF U KNOW THEN TELL ME n not then ask me…..
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Fantastic performances by you and Abhishek!
The introduction given by you in terms of Palace Politics seriously gave me a great take on the plot!!
ROCK ON MR Bachchan!!
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Its great to visit in this website for bigadda with Mr. Bachchan. I will try to read most of the blogs and join myself in the “bigadda”.
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Dear Amitabh sir,
I always think I am the first one to submit my coment on your blag but that’s not the case. let us see if you read mine comment and mention it in your blog.
I was reading about your world tour . I noticed that Dallas(Texas) is not in your list However Houston is .Please Plan to visit Dallas along with Houston. We will be delighterd to see you all!!
Thanks
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sir
i am not exactly yr fan… i just like a handfull of yr films….. but Sarkar Raj simply changed my outook…. its an amazng film.. i hadnt previously watched sarkar…. but sarkar raj is a real blast…… all the best for yr next films….
devaleena
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CONGRATULATIONS>>>>>ON HUSE FULL OF YOUR BEST PERFORMENCES…………..THE SARKAAR RAAJ>>>>
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PERSONALLY…A VERY EXPENSIVE MOVIE
Sir,
Your movie Sarkar Raj was absolutely a hardcore gripping movie. When I saw Sarkar…I simply loved the (crisp) dialouges. I went with my husband for the late night show on the 7th. When the movie just began,my husband said, “This is our desi version of Godfather”….how true. Well, I’m already waiting for the next sequel though I’ll miss Abhishek… While we were coming down the steps..we both shared r thoughts about the movie & both of usfound ur dialogue “Mujhe Kranti lal Vohra chahiye….Abhi”…it was mind blowinng. However,a greater MIND BLOWING shock awaited us… our car was stolen…..
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please read house full sorry for spelling mistake
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Dear Amitji, Sarkar Raj is one of the master piece of great Indian cinema. It is your towering performance & Ramu’s passion that clearly visible in each frame of SR. Please do not be perturbed by nasty reviews of sick socalled critics. Wish u all the best. I m eagerly waiting for Sirkar Raj-3. bye !
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good evenin sir,just read ur comments wanted to ask one thing tht hav u ever asked these critics that wht right they hav to criticise anyone who has put in so much of hard work and time and enrgy to accomplish the task.just ask them to switch roles come in ur place and act like u and then pass comment.ans sir i think that u hav reached tht stature now that u dont hav to put figures and comments of others on u in front of people .people know u very well and wht a fine gentleman ur tht all these things doesnt matters those who like u will not leav u and those who dont like u wl start doin it sooner or later coz ur humbleness wl make them do so.sir wl wait for ur reply.bye .
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Amitji:
I enjoy your blog everyday. I am looking forward to your website. Any timeline?
When you talk about your father, it takes me back to my father whom I lost 20+ years ago. In your blog from Nanital you talk about education for women. Yes my father also said the same thing to me. “Your brother will inherit my business and he will survive. But as a girl you need to educate yourself so that in times of need you have something to fall back on.” He encouraged me to a point that I left India to study computers abroad and I saw ATM first time in my life in 1980. Today I have a successful career in computers thanks to forward thinking of my father. And my brother still runs my father’s business. Only thing he knows is how spend father’s money. I had to send money for my mom’s hospitalization because he blew away all my father’s investments. I cried a lot when I watched Baagban. And your performance in Black was out of this world. I will watch Sarkar Raj soon.
Daxa
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SARKAR RAJ is simply outstanding movie in all aspects. well done Ramu.
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Bravo.i have to see SR yet but you rule on our hearts trully and so will your film. Just a remark to add after religiously following your blogging. A literature person son always has that writtgng skill in his DNA
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Hello Sir,
I saw the movie and liked very much. It’s nice movie.
Best wishes for your future movies.
With Regards,
Amit
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HI AB,
I loved Sarkarraj and all 3 of u. i could not digest that junior Sarkar got killed in the movie. i though he was the spear head in both the movies and should have continued that in the next sarkar moive too..
I regularly read your bolgs. Tnx for writing so much for us !!
One of my frnds thinks you could have been successful writer if you have started writing much earlier. We love u for what u r :)…
Did u read Ramu’s blog called “review of reviews” ? it was fun reading. he slams all the critics for giving nasty reviews of sarkarraj. Do read if you haven’t.
I cant belive you are reading this !!! :))
Tnx again..
Hainn !!!
Devang Adhyaru
Ahmedabad
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Dear Sir,
I hope you won’t mind if I say what my heart say’s.I have seen Sarkar Raj & it comes across to me as one film with a good plot but without logical interpritation. It is surely not the best performence by abhishek & the other actors also failed to deliver what was required.The only factor that makes the film different was you.You really rocked .
Regards,
Your Fan
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but sarkar raj is not as good as sarkar……it seems to b made forcefully just as sarkar did well… every dilogue has a punch line which pains a lot……specially when the dialogues r meaningless
still 1 can go n try it….
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Great Post, Saw SR yesterday, Loved it !!
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amitabh sir, me and my dad r biggest fans of yours……. i havnt missed even a single movie…specially, deewar, janjir,,khaki., kabhi kabhi, silsila…..n lot…hope to see a great hit soon to remind every1 that still you r the king of bollywood
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I watched Sarkar Raj today.enjoyed it very much.Abhi,Ash were good too…but u were outstanding!!! I wish you all the best in your future and I hope to see Sarkar Raj part 3(i could see space has been left to carry on the legacy) so keep up the good work…You are the best…with lots of luck and love from Kathmandu,Nepal
J.P
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Yeah, I live in Fremont (CA), USA..we a group of 8 people reached NAAZ just to know that its HOUSE FULL..(that too on week day night show..).
I can imagine how good the movie is doing..!!
Congratulations to you n Mr. Verma..!!
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Dear Sir, Sarkar Raj is a great movie and doing exceedingly well in Bikaner. Best wishes to Ramu, & whole team of SR for providing such a magnum opus. We r waiting for SR-3. Take care. Bye Bye !
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As they say,you can’t keep a good actor down!This is my first visit to your blog.And a jolly good blog it is too!Am looking forward to seeing the movie.
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Contratulations RGV, Mr. Bachchan and the cast and crew of Sarkar Raj! More power to Sarkar!
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hhope sarkar raj will do well……………..n please take care
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I am really looking forward to seeing Sarkar Raj this weekend and reviewing it on my blog as well as reading all the reviews posted here (i like to watch the film without reading any reviews so I can make my mind up about it!)
Loving your work sir!
Bhushan
London
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i simply loved the movie Sir
Awesome movie !!! COngratulations to the team of Sarkar Raj !
Great Work indeed
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Dear Amit Ji,
I wonder one thing that do u have enough time to have a look over these huge fans writeup (long and healthy approx. a small size note book). If I could get an answer for that I would be a lucky guy.
regards
parijat_knp@yahoo.co.in
09935121586
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Der Amitji,
Great to see SR doing great all over globe!
You know Sir, critics can not be blamed for all these, as they need cheap publicity and jealous of your success.
You have good wishes of billions of fans. Please keep it up!
We need more & more power pack performances….
I worship you as an actor & person. Thanks for being on earth during our time!!
God bless you and your family.
Take care!
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hmmmmmmm…………..aap jaante ho.. mein forwarded messages nahi padta.. haath ka likha 2 alfaaz muzhe bahut bhaate hain.. kam se kam woh apne to hote hain.. forwarded.. is very rare i like…so am not reading the same… though saw the photograph.aur haan.. i still need ot watch sarkar raj… …..life busy chal rahi hain… sirf internet mein blogging ka time hi nikal paate hain.. woh bhi raat ke 1:25.. so jayoon munna… nahi to kal office late ho jayoonga…. keep blogging.
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I liked the film and obviously “YOU”. Nothing can ever match you and the MAN you are.
Awesome life and live.
- nsp
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Completely agree…there have been many times when your performance has carried a film…can’t say about Sarkar Raj, have not seen it yet.
There used to be a time when you could say it all with your eyes - and somewhere along the way you lost that sparkle - saw flickers of it now and then - but i’ve noticed it’s back again…saw it in Cheeni Kum, Bhootnath…
You’re good at what you do for a living…there don’t seem to be many ‘actors’ in the industry who take acting as seriously and as professionally as you do…and there are millions who appreciate your talent and want to see more of it.
There are hundreds of thousands of your fans who visit your blog daily, if not hourly, but there are tens-of-thousands more of your wellwishers who don’t visit the blog, but watch your every movie and appreciate what they see…
Sent a message to you regarding the pleasant suprise I had last week when I met a number of people from Nigeria who all assured me that you were the next best thing since sliced bread…they’d watched your movies, sung your songs, copied your dance moves…the lot!! …not bad eh?!
Even in Egypt, everyone from the staff at the Sheraton to the locals in the Market Place…all called out Amitabh Bachchan on sighting our Asian faces…(and I didn’t even have my white beard on that day!! ;0) ) not one person called out another actor’s name…that was truly amazing…people the world over associate Indian movies with Amitabh Bachchan…even over here in London; University professors and academics alike, city professionals, locals…I’ve been impressed with the number of non-indians I’ve met in every life who recognise your name and face (and beard)…
Hell! you’re even on the menu in a little restaurant in the middle of Hampstead!! There’s just no escaping…!! :0)
Not bad for someone who just enjoys his job and works hard at it, eh…?! ;0)
Lost my train of thought now…
Shameera
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Completely agree…there have been many times when your performance has carried a film…can’t say about Sarkar Raj, have not seen it yet.
There used to be a time when you could say it all with your eyes - and somewhere along the way you lost that sparkle - saw flickers of it now and then - but i’ve noticed it’s back again…saw it in Cheeni Kum, Bhootnath…
You’re good at what you do for a living…there don’t seem to be many ‘actors’ in the industry who take acting as seriously and as professionally as you do…and there are millions who appreciate your talent and want to see more of it.
There are hundreds of thousands of your fans who visit your blog daily, if not hourly, but there are tens-of-thousands more of your wellwishers who don’t visit the blog, but watch your every movie and appreciate what they see…
Sent a message to you regarding the pleasant suprise I had last week when I met a number of people from Nigeria who all assured me that you were the next best thing since sliced bread…they’d watched your movies, sung your songs, copied your dance moves…the lot!! …not bad eh?!
Even in Egypt, everyone from the staff at the Sheraton to the locals in the Market Place…all called out Amitabh Bachchan on sighting our Asian faces…(and I didn’t even have my white beard on that day!! ;0) ) not one person called out another actor’s name…that was truly amazing…people the world over associate Indian movies with Amitabh Bachchan…even over here in London; University professors and academics alike, city professionals, locals…I’ve been impressed with the number of non-indians I’ve met in every life who recognise your name and face (and beard)…
Hell! you’re even on the menu in a little restaurant in the middle of Hampstead!! There’s just no escaping…!! :0)
Not bad for someone who just enjoys his job and works hard at it, eh…?! ;0)
Lost my train of thought now…
Shameera
BigB Yahoo Group London
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glad we made it the top 10 in Canada!
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After going through todays blog i really cannot express my anger, my frustation towards the media. The whole set of people propagating falsehood are sick !!!
Sick is the only word i could think of for these people.
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good
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Namaskar GURUJI,
I saw ‘Sarkar Raj’ again (2nd time).Going again today.
Yours,
Neal
USA
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Sarkar Raj received a number of very complimentary reviews but the best of the lot was the stellar piece written by the gold standard (to my mind) of Indian film critics, Baradwaj Rangan. Here’s a link to his piece:
http://www.desipundit.com/baradwajrangan/category/hindi-film-review/
I don’t believe there’s anyone approaching Rangan’s gifts as a writer or his incisiveness when it comes to reviewing films or writing on other related matters. Rangan gives the reader something ‘to think’ and therefore agreement or disagreement seem beside the point.
I am glad you have addressed the box office aspect here as well. I think you will have to do a lot more to combat the media narrative on Sarkar Raaj. I’ve been observing this for years and it hardly surprises me anymore to see the media very predictably run a hatchet job on a Bachchan film, especially one starring Abhishek (this last point is particularly importance; it is precisely the question of inheritance that must be effaced for those who oppose all films starring a Bachchan). Nonetheless this has happened once again. In the early stages of this blog I referred to the ‘lie’ and how modern democracies in Arendt’s worldview were great labs for the ‘lie’ to flourish as never before. Well, with the reception accorded to Sarkar Raj one sees yet another example. The media and the trade have not just misrepresented things on this score but blatantly lied.
I have heard from a number of people in different parts of India who saw the film on Fri, Sat, Sun either in houseful shows or near capacity crowds. Yet the media has falsified the strong opening and called it ‘average’ or ‘below average’. The narrative is always to suggest that the Bachchans cannot open films and when the films work these do because of good word of mouth. The same thing was done with Guru and when the film worked in a big way the engagement decision was considered to be the reason for the film’s ‘pickup’. Ah… were it only that easy to deliver hits at the box office….!
Now most in the media are suggesting that the film has collapsed after the weekend. As far as I’ve been able to gather information on this rains did create havoc in some parts (Aditya Chopra lost a set!) which might have affected amny shows adversely. The film is quite stable through the week. Tue was better than Mon I am told. Wed and Thu are quite stable even if these do not necessarily live up to the Tue mark. These things happen with every film. What’s new with this one?!
There are only a few so called trade sources who disseminate these false stories in the media. There are still a few sources who have held out and haven’t offered a complete verdict at this point but there has been a great deal of negativity for no good reason whatsoever.
Meanwhile the film has opened well in the US, especially creditable given the genre. It has done twice what Chak De India over its opening weekend. How many in the media talked about it at the time?
One could go and on about this. Whether it was Bunty aur Babli or Guru or Sarkar the media in these and other cases has advanced what amounts to propaganda. The stories have no relation with events on the ground. It’s not just misrepresentation therefore but the ‘lie’.
I would urge you to combat all of this as vigorously as possible. In the media intensive age we live in the significance of media generated narratives can hardly be overstated.
Of course I won’t even get into some of the negative reviews because most of these, if not all, were simply written by incompetent writers and frankly ones illiterate in cinematic matters. To be fair this is true for even many of the positive reviews as well. India unfortunately lacks a genuine film culture in this sense and hence critics schooled in and trained for the field. What we therefore get are hacks who would be at home on Grub St. Perhaps someone ought to do the viewers a favor and ship this educationally and ethically misbegotten bunch there! But then the film media in Bombay as I keep repeating ad infinitum and ad nauseam is really an arm and an extension of the film industry. These ‘writers’ and ‘tradewalahs’ belong to camps, they are paid to do various things, they are provided gifts of all sorts so on and so forth. I don’t need to tell you all of this. It is just a very corrupt enterprise. Barring very rare exceptions. These days one finds the underlings of various camps also feverishly at work in the blogosphere, spreading the usual propaganda every single day. One star has done more than anyone else to foster such media narratives and to really rely on such complicity and corruption for sustenance. He shall go unnamed here.
The stakes are simple today. One cannot win the game completely if one does not manage the media to a great degree. This does not mean that one go down the unethical route. But there are other ways to apply pressure. Such must especially be used when the media resorts to downright partisanship in its reporting and reviewing of certain films.
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Hello Sir,
congrats on your new hit!
Well I just wanted to share aomething with you, when I was growing up I was a highly picky eater so one day my mom told me that you are my mama and you send me all the new video cassettes of your new movie. As you live in mumbai and you are very busy, you are not able to meet me but by sending those movie you are telling me that how much my mama loves me, I was three and I totally trusted every single word she told me.
Now I am a woman and mother of a three year old, I still feel so connected to you and your family. I always wish you guys best and never forget to pray for you too.
Once again I am happy on your success and wish you good health too.
Namita (imaginary banhji)
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Isn’t that way too much gloating on your part? I doubt if you really need to blow the trumpet or get all worked up for a bad review… Harrison ford summed it best recently, when he said i don’t care about the Cannes critics ripping the latest Jones flick..all i care about is the viewer..
Let us decide it…all this gloating or hitting back at (idiot) critics just shows insecurity..if not yours, then definitely RGV’s.
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Namaskar GURUJI,
I am going with friends and family to watch ‘Sarkar Raj’ again.I already watched two times and going for third time to grasp acting.
Your student,
Neal
USA
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