Madras Cafe

nice movie

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Now a day's one inevitable news is a movie release ban in India for the reason it might create political issues (Vishwaroopam, Thalaivaa and now Madras cafe). I watched this movie in theatre (Abu Dhabi) one day before its release in India. I was so eager after the controversy it has created and doubling my eagerness was the plot which was about Sri Lankan Tamil problem. This movie is a kind of political drama thriller though it has not got its commercial base in the entire film. The movie starts with an as usual note that all characters are in the movie are not referring to any one in personal. But which automatically assures you it's closely based on persons in real life. Basically as we get from the trailers and the news it is about the Sri Lankan Tamil Eelam, LTT, civil wars based on ethnic crisis and assassination of Rajiv Gandhi. The plot is too sensitive so the essence of cinematic elements where very less in the movie and it was more of a documentary type. The story happens in 80's and 90's. In one line it's about a Research and Analysis Wing agent (RAW) grieving for his failed mission and his wife's death. The director's perspective was too raw to be taken by a common man. The movie talks about intercepts, de-coding, code red, intelligence, Power, RAW agents, source, Foreign journalists etc., which is too much off information to be understood by common audience. Sure we have to applaud and appreciate for such a bolder attempt. Definitely casting was good.But I felt John Abraham could have given a better performance in his role. The Lead lady Nargis Fakhri fits picture perfect to her role as a journalist from London, which closely resembles to many BBC war correspondents. Verdict: Overall it is a slow reality cinema and an informative documentary. Bottom line: Not recommended for those who want to watch a cinematic glitzy action thriller like Ektha Tiger. Take it from me this will make you uneasy and test your patience. -Reviewed by Sivakumar Balachandran (bsiva84@gmail.com)

Some sections of the Indian media may be going gaga over the 'realistic', 'non-dramatic' film 'Madras Cafe' of Shoojit Sircar. Some have, rather shamelessly, compared it to Zero Dark Thirty – in reality, GI Joe: Retaliation is a more gripping watch. While the poor sense of aesthetics of these pseudo-critics is lamentable, their contempt for history as it happened leaves much to question. Selective history, grand conspiracy theory, not-so-subtle Indian patriotism all go into the making of a movie that principally exonerates India from all culpability of the brutal war crimes committed against the Tamils by the IPKF. From the start till the end, the subtext of the movie is to project India, a nuclear power state with the fourth largest army in the world, as a victim of the LTTE. For the record, at the height of the IPKF-LTTE war, over 100000 Indian soldiers armed to the teeth confronted about 3000 LTTE cadres. Despite this, India lost. "They were powerful. In this game, we lost our prime minister, and the Lankan Tamils, their future," confesses RAW agent Vikram Singh (played by John Abraham) to a Christian priest. The entire movie is the confession of Vikram to the priest, from his activities as a RAW agent in IPKF occupied Jaffna, to the failure of the RAW to break the LTTE, to their failure to stop Rajiv Gandhi's assassination. The numerous atrocities suffered by the Eelam Tamils under the IPKF, the murders, tortures, rapes and disappearances, do not form part of his confession. Thus, no mention of the same in the film. On the other hand, the reel LTTE are shown as fanatics, who even murder the wife of Vikram in India in their attempts to get to him. I am yet to hear of a single case where the real LTTE has deliberately targeted the family of officers or soldiers of even the genocidal Sri Lankan military. The LTTE, shown in the film as Liberation of Tamils Front (LTF), are shown as some intransigent armed rebel group that has support of the local population. Why did the armed struggle come about, what did the Sinhala state do to create such a situation, why did the Tigers oppose the Indian solution of 13th Amendment, why did the Tamil people stand with the 'rebel group', and what did the IPKF actually do in the course of its intervention – these are questions not even considered by the filmmaker. But the words "provincial council elections" are repeated to the point of being a slogan throughout the movie. Contrast this with the bare minimal usage of the word 'Sinhalese' in the movie – it is as if they had no role to play at all. The tagline for the movie was "Intercept the truth".

Madras Cafe attempts to do to Bollywood what D-Day (2013), Agent Vinod (2012) failed to do. It is a perfect example of spy-action-thriller in the backdrop of politics, revolution & patriotism. It provides hope to the Indian janta that movies in the lines of spy-crime genres of international is possible... finally! I am stunned by the story being so pure in its rawness. But am equally terrified by the ridiculous off-show narration. The editing is awful, so is the cinematography. Direction & music is well-taken care of. Special appreciation to the newcomers & forgotten/shadowed thespians like Siddharth Basu & Piyush Pandey as supporting cast. The theme which the movie slides itself is very deep & ubiquitous. John Abraham looks crude in his portrayal & is fine as the desi covert operation guy, Nargis Fakhri's accent truly supports her as a journalist; her role is one of the most important. The one man army idea & relationship tension are what I mean by stereotypes. Thank heavens, there is no pesky item songs or melodrama. Action is dull, due to the editing blunder. Setup is average as the first half focuses on action & prologue. Second half starts flat but emerges as a shiner giving its viewers enough food for thought about war, terrorism & revolution. We have only heard about Operations & Intelligence. Madras Cafe serves it out with proper description. A humble 5.5 out of 10 for a good attempt. The credit song is fine, all right! And I was convinced enough to forget two goofs & one plot hole. BOTTOM LINE: Many reasons to grab a seat in that nearby theater. And it wouldn't be fair not telling you that the 130 minutes of screenplay slightly does go off bounds, which MAY bore you. Watching it with like- minded partner or group will nullify this factor. Recommended! Can be watched with a typical Indian family? YES Profanity/Vulgarity: No | Sex/Foreplay: Implied | Mouth-Kiss: Very Mild | Nudity: Mild | Violence/Gore: Critical | Alcohol: Mediocre | Smoking: No | Drugs: No | Porn: Very Mild

Madras Cafe is a kind of political and espionage thriller that Bollywood never tried before. First half requires your patience. It is a mix of striking visuals, haunting sound design, introduction of key characters, their motives and the felling that something is not right. Second half is a piece of cinematic perfection where characters gets meaty dialogs, feel of danger keeps growing and finally in the climax you feel helpless like our hero. Based on actual events mixed with fictitious characters, Madras Cafe becomes a very important movie that should be watched by every Indian. Acting is top-notch. You won't be able to forget the imagery of first half and tension of second half long after the end credit starts. Director Shoojit Sarkar provides the ample conviction and uniqueness to whole idea and surprises you with his versatility (he directed Vicky Donor before). The movie has little flaws like packing too much information in first half and few key details not described clearly. But I can say with full comfort that it would be a mistake if you give this movie a miss.

without refer well a sensitive freedom fight ,this movie came up with lie's about a big political crime in India, funded by a country which is believed for a structural genocide and used chemical bombs to kill innocent civilians, why should the actor and producer to meet a war criminal twice since it's just a movie ? Is the movie just made the people fool and make them believe that Rajiv Gandhi assassinated by LTTE? political knowledgeable people would spit on this movie to hid the truth for sure, others would cheers as usual, an actor who unbutton his trouser for money will never ever feel about a true freedom fight , i will salute him if he make a movie about what the Indian army has actually done in there ? will he?

There is absolutely no reason why you should not watch this movie. It is by all means a pretty decent thriller. Utterly devoid of the superfluities and terse to the point of being of labelled as "un-bollywoodish" the movie represents all that is desirable in an entertainer. My brother quite ably put it into words when he declared that the charm of the movie lay in it's abstinence from over indulgence. John Abraham does a commendable job (except for , may be a few scenes, where it is his bad make up and hair do which need to be blamed more than him) . He is supported by an able cast of actors who deliver credible performances. The script isn't circumlocutory and the Director isn't shy of laying down facts and opinions in an unequivocal and objective manner. The absence of songs , does wonders for the health of the audience and the movie too. Needless to say there is no parallel romantic plot disturbing the flow of the narrative. In fact the movie checks itself every time there a temptation beckoning it over do things. The Director is honest and doesn't mince his words when describing the situation as as he sees it. If you have stepped out for a movie and are thinking about catching the last express to chennai , believe me , you ought to change your itinerary and catch a cup of coffee in the café.