4 out of 5
What could have been a perfect documentary or short film, Shoojit Sircar challenges himself to make it into a realistic yet an entertaining film. Full credit to John Abraham to support this movie.
Sometimes Bollywood movies fall to the most common cliche - Songs , and that is where Madras Cafe does not fall prey to. This subject did not require any songs, and the makers ensure they just serve constant developments in this political thriller.
Based on the LTF Tamil and Sinhalese civil war of Sri Lanka, Madras Cafe explains the war, India's involvement and the use of first ever human bomb to assassinate an Indian prime minister.
The movie is not for those looking for cheap laughs or thrills, it is for those who want to learn something new and use their brains to comprehend the movie.
The first half of the movie , is totally based in Sri Lanka, where the war is explained & later John Abraham's involvement to eliminate the leader of LTF.
Unfortunately, this part though well filmed and explained, gets a little slow and boring. But its essential to understand the power of the politics to enjoy the 2nd half.
After John Abraham gets back to India, and new information in hand, the movie shifts into a fast gear, with scenes shifting from one city to another and intelligence working in full swing to understand the terrorist attack.
All the functioning of the department, the bureaucracy in cabinet is all portrayed sensitively and realistically. In fact, the realism by which the whole movie is made, is worth applauding just because of the research the writers must have gone through.
The setting of the 1990's , authenticity of the war scenes, militants, show the makers have done their homework well.
John Abraham delivers a power punched performance, playing the RAW agent to the T. He is more of an intelligence officer than an actual field officer. Dont expect him to fight single handed with goons. In fact there are only 2 scenes where he actually uses a gun and fires at militants. He plays a real officer whose prime agenda is information.
Nargis Fakhri suits the role, but only one drawback is her usage of English with John and John answering back in Hindi.
Siddharth Basu as the RAW chief is the surprise package, and Shoojit Sircar extracts an amazing act out of the quiz master.
Most of the actors are new, and that lends an added authenticity to the characters.
And finally Shoojit Sircar is the actual hero of the movie, narrating an extremely complicated tale and not going over board in his treatment. He could have used Vicky Donor's success to churn out an entertaining film but he chooses its popularity so that many people can witness a never seen before tale in Indian cinema.
It might not be entertaining for all but its technically a very sound and accomplished movie.
Will not be surprised to see its name for Critic Awards next year.
What could have been a perfect documentary or short film, Shoojit Sircar challenges himself to make it into a realistic yet an entertaining film. Full credit to John Abraham to support this movie.
Sometimes Bollywood movies fall to the most common cliche - Songs , and that is where Madras Cafe does not fall prey to. This subject did not require any songs, and the makers ensure they just serve constant developments in this political thriller.
Based on the LTF Tamil and Sinhalese civil war of Sri Lanka, Madras Cafe explains the war, India's involvement and the use of first ever human bomb to assassinate an Indian prime minister.
The movie is not for those looking for cheap laughs or thrills, it is for those who want to learn something new and use their brains to comprehend the movie.
The first half of the movie , is totally based in Sri Lanka, where the war is explained & later John Abraham's involvement to eliminate the leader of LTF.
Unfortunately, this part though well filmed and explained, gets a little slow and boring. But its essential to understand the power of the politics to enjoy the 2nd half.
After John Abraham gets back to India, and new information in hand, the movie shifts into a fast gear, with scenes shifting from one city to another and intelligence working in full swing to understand the terrorist attack.
All the functioning of the department, the bureaucracy in cabinet is all portrayed sensitively and realistically. In fact, the realism by which the whole movie is made, is worth applauding just because of the research the writers must have gone through.
The setting of the 1990's , authenticity of the war scenes, militants, show the makers have done their homework well.
John Abraham delivers a power punched performance, playing the RAW agent to the T. He is more of an intelligence officer than an actual field officer. Dont expect him to fight single handed with goons. In fact there are only 2 scenes where he actually uses a gun and fires at militants. He plays a real officer whose prime agenda is information.
Nargis Fakhri suits the role, but only one drawback is her usage of English with John and John answering back in Hindi.
Siddharth Basu as the RAW chief is the surprise package, and Shoojit Sircar extracts an amazing act out of the quiz master.
Most of the actors are new, and that lends an added authenticity to the characters.
And finally Shoojit Sircar is the actual hero of the movie, narrating an extremely complicated tale and not going over board in his treatment. He could have used Vicky Donor's success to churn out an entertaining film but he chooses its popularity so that many people can witness a never seen before tale in Indian cinema.
It might not be entertaining for all but its technically a very sound and accomplished movie.
Will not be surprised to see its name for Critic Awards next year.