One must applaud the vision of Shoojit Sircar. This man started with an emotional drama based in Kashmir Yahaan. Quite tragically, very few of the audiences viewed it across cinemas.Then he went ahead with a bigger and possibly better drama/tragedy with Amitabh Bachchan titled Johnny Mastana. Quite assumably his pet project and the one which he holds extremely close to his heart, is as of now, in tatters.
As anyone in his position would be, he tries to go mainstream and comes up with an innovative yet entertaining Vicky Donor.Mainstream commercial success and acclaim followed.
Followup to his Vicky Donor is possibly his most ambitious and as you would see, Sircar is a risk taker.Without taking any major sides(though film tends to move pro-congress), he creates an intense and well-shot 1st half with helicopter scenes, jungle shots and a back story that involves john abraham’s role in Lanka, motives of his superior (well enacted By theater actor/writer Prakash) and engages the audience enough to look forward to the other half.
The beginning and the end itself is puzzling.The awkward looking Wig of abraham and the Father in the church deserve the manage to evoke some unintentional laughter.Little is revealed or justified why abraham goes for that recession-hit look or why he intends to narrate his story to the Father who remains as expressionless and raw as the wooden tables besides him.
Scene where the arms deal goes wrong, Vikrams interaction with Bala, scenes involving Anna (Prabhakaran) and his aides are particularly notable in increasing the intrigue quotient and paving the way for a predictable but satisfying climax.
Without divulging any further, the performances remain average.Actor Prakash enacting the role of Vikram singh’s superior is first-rate.Sircar has managed to filter the Lankan rebels and their part looks convincing.Nargis Fakhri gets good enough screen time but not much meat in her lines.TV anchor Dibang messes up yelling lines as if just sleepwalking through the headlines at his show.
John Abraham gives it a decent effort but you cant hide the fact that this role was made for someone who could’ve given it a good character study.Particularly convincing are portions when John(Vikram)comes of his own in the battle sequences with the rebels. Raashi kapoor has a role that is ill-fetched but she somehow manages to enact with glee.
Madras cafe maynot be path breaking cinema, but an earnest, commendable political thriller/drama it sure is.For its honesty, it deserves an audience.