After Ahmed has his stroke, he starts speaking with the same "fat-lipped mumble" as Don Corleone, and Ahmed hands over control of the family to Perhan, similar to how Don Corleone hands over the family to Michael.
At the end of the movie there is a short dream sequence in which one of the lead characters plays the role of Perhan, with some of the most recognizable scenes from Kusturica's film being played out in the background.