Depicting the gap between politics, power-struggle and corruption in a very flamboyant manner, “Sarkar” (2018) is a spicy political action film directed by A. R. Murugadoss, which caught the attention of both audiences and critics upon its release. Vijay stepped into the unexpected role of Sundar Ramaswamy and proved that he can be not just a hero but also a harbinger of social awakening. Sundar, an innocent NRI corporate raider who comes from the US to cast his vote, when he realises that his vote has already been cast due to discrimination and fraud, goes from being a one-man politician to a leader who mobilises the people to fight the corrupt electoral system. Keerthy Suresh perfectly balances sensitivity and strength as Sundar’s childhood friend and love interest Neela, while Varalaxmi Sarathkumar sets the screen on fire as the ambitious ‘Pa’, embroiled in near-family dealings. Murugadoss’s fast-paced screenplay, Girish Gangadharan’s impressive cinematography and A. R. Rahman’s music make “Sarkar” not just an entertainer but also a social commentary. Releasing during Diwali week, the film did great business at the box office and infused new enthusiasm in the hearts of many viewers who were questioning electoral rigging.
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Title | Sarkar (Government) |
| Director | A. R. Murugadoss |
| Screenplay & Story | A. R. Murugadoss |
| Dialogue | A. R. Murugadoss, B. Jeyamohan |
| Producer | Kalanithi Maran (Sun Pictures) |
| Starring | Vijay, Keerthy Suresh, Varalaxmi Sarathkumar, Radha Ravi, Yogi Babu, Tulasi |
| Cinematography | Girish Gangadharan |
| Editing | A. Sreekar Prasad |
| Music | Songs & Score: A. R. Rahman; Additional Score: Qutub‑E‑Kripa |
| Production Company | Sun Pictures |
| Distributor | Sun Pictures |
| Release Date | 6 November 2018 |
| Running Time | 164 minutes |
| Country | India |
| Language | Tamil |
| Budget | ₹110 crore |
| Box Office (Est.) | ₹243.90–253 crore |
Sarkar Story
In the Netherlands, corporate raider Sundar Ramaswamy (Vijay) is known as the “Corporate Monster” because of his influential business. Sundar, who has come to vote in the Tamil Nadu assembly elections, is shocked to find that his vote has already been cast by someone else. They approach the Election Commission to complain about voter fraud and the commission decides in their favour. Sundar spreads awareness among the public and finds out that many people are also facing the same problem.
The corrupt politics of former Chief Minister M. Masilamani (Pala Karuppiyan) is exposed when the election results are cancelled and fresh elections are announced at Sundar’s insistence. Motivated by his self-defence and revenge, Sundar stands as an independent candidate. Initially, there was little public support for him, who came from the elite of the capital, but in a speech he tells how he rose from a fisherman’s family to make a name for himself abroad, which won the hearts of the people.
Sundar remains steadfast despite several failed assassination attempts by Masilamani’s son Mallarvanan (“Rendu”). Before the elections, Masilamani’s daughter Komalavalli (“Paa”) comes from Canada and plots to tarnish Sundar’s image. Allegations of a fake road accident, the murder of journalist Mukta Kumar and the death of her father by Komalavalli—all these manipulations tarnish Sundar’s image. But Sundar plays a trick: he exposes Komalavalli’s crimes on social media before the elections.
On the day of the election, Komalavalli’s mother reveals her daughter’s alleged conspiracy in a live broadcast, which leads the public to stand with Sundar again. Ultimately, Sundar and his supporters win the election, but Sundar himself refuses to become the Chief Minister. By electing an honest government official as CM, they show that true change does not begin with power but by challenging the corrupt system. “Sarkar” brings to the big screen this inspiring story of political struggle, morality and system reform.
Movie Review
Movies by some big stars or famous directors often feature “defying common sense” stories that seem far from reality. Be it “Kaala”, “Kaibali” or the upcoming “Enthiran 2”, the epic stories of these big heroes delivering justice on screen seem to defy the logic of real life. These movies can only be enjoyed by those who want to enjoy the big magical scenes “without caring about right or wrong”. In fact, such plots attract meaningless applause while the producers-actors pocket the huge money and drag the audience on a thrilling but irrational ride.
Let us also take a look at such flaws in “Sarkar” (2018). This film by A.R. Murugadoss seems to be a Telugu masala thrown into Tamil cinema. The lead character Sundar Ramaswamy (Vijay) single-handedly takes down a gang of 20+ goons—without taking a single hit himself. This “stunt choreography” is a direct insult to the audience’s understanding and intelligence. If the hero doesn’t get crushed even after being hit six times on the chest, we can’t believe if these scenes are really happening on the big screen or if he is a puppet in a cartoon series.
The first reviewer told Tajir that movies starring big names—Rajini, Vijay, Surya, Ajith—should be boycotted so that the audience can make wise choices without falling for these “blind entertainment” stories. They would now prefer to watch true, grounded, and more rational movies starring actors like Vijay Sethupathi, Vishwanath or K. He believes Kamal Haasan is still an exception—his films have substance and a social message, even if they sometimes veer into narcissism (films like “Daasavathaaram” are examples).
In another review, Vijay Sundar wrote that Murugadoss has blended real socio-political events to create a film that shows the heroism of a single man “saving the system” with unparalleled clarity. The format of the film is such that “every vote is counted, and only the deserving are allowed to win”. But serious questions arise here: Do the people really always need a savior? Or is it just a demand of the storytelling format? Also, if the same subject had come up five years ago, would it have been filmed at the will of the production house like the earlier films? The answers to these questions are both “yes and no”—because the story resonates with reality, but the dramatization with which it is presented on screen is a suffused fantasy.
Among the male characters in the film, only Vijay’s heroism is competent; seasoned actors like Radha Ravi remain underused, and Keerthy Suresh’s role, unlike Varalaxmi Sarathkumar, doesn’t contribute much except for the songs. Two songs like “Simtagaran” and “OMG Ponu” and two confrontation scenes are forced upon us like expensive popcorn—more or less necessary but indispensable. There is not a trace of humour here.
Still, Vijay’s agility and the spicy twists in Murugadoss’ screenplay create a kind of “miracle” that connects the film to the screen. Overall, “Sarkar” is an entertaining masala film that doesn’t lose its irrational, big-hero charm despite its social commentary. If you are a “common sense-lover”, this movie is not for you; but if you want to celebrate epic dramatic heroism without thinking, “Sarkar” explodes like a spicy firecracker.
Movie Trailer
Conclusion
After all, “Sarkar” is a complete masala-fire film in which an exaggerated heroic saga of a big hero is served under the guise of a social message. Vijay’s screen presence and Murugadoss’ flamboyant direction style certainly entertain the audience, but the irrational stunts and career-boosting heroism will disappoint lovers of “common sense”. If you want epic dramatic thrills without much thinking, this movie is for you; else the lack of strong dialogues and believable characters grounded in reality limits it to an average masala entertainer.
