Less than a Decade ago I saw a movie “Sehar” it was one of the rare geniuses of Cinema which spoke about Emergency and Post Emergency India. The Times when India had started waking up to the Troubles of Being a Democracy. Suddenly all States wanted a ”Pakistan” to themselves- there was an Underworld which was rising rapidly- Sikh Issues, Civil War, Naxalites and Tamil Tigers besides ever hovering Kashmir unrest was looming large. Times when many formation of Special Task Force(STF) and RAW was commencing. I still remember the night when my nearly-hysterical mother woke me up with the news “Rajiv Gandhi ko bhi hata diya”. It was a shock beyond recognition- the gentle misplaced politician, never meant to be even one, how could it be? With such brutality? Nevertheless years down the lane, when we have no more sympathy/tears left for that brutality and our hearts have hardened up like Sonia’s expression/mannerisms- “Madras Café” definitely stirs all those memories again. If I look at the Cinema, its par excellence, if I look at the Timing of its release(just before the elections)- I reserve my doubts.
On and on the movie is brilliant Screenplay and Direction- with absolute no-nonsense stuff , it comes right to the matter. Emotions are well-wrapped under the sleeves and Priorities are set right. There is no space for music, romance or for that matter condolences. Few days back I heard a discussion on Radio where the anchor affirmed a fact which I have also believed since ages. Once in a while comes movies where Character One is displaying on-screen is bigger than the Actor himself. Such is the case with “Madras Café”- where the protégé precedes the actor-right from John Abraham to Avijit Dutt . The fact that one knows that such events occurred in real or the pace which Sircar’s direction maintains , it’s a seat-gripping thriller. There is no concentration on John’s brawn and Nargis’ face features, no ridiculous mushy stuff, and no super-human stunts by body doubles.
Watch Madras Café for just One Reason- To Realise Why We Fail Everytime..For the Unsung Hero/es Getting it Right but Being Failed by Red-Tapism..As Papon croons-
Mera kaun hai, tere siva
Maula tu hi toh, hai bas mera
Nikla hoon, sach ki talaash mein
Yeh jag toh hai, maaya tera
Maula sun le re…
Khudaya o mere…
Maula sun le re…
Mera mann jo kahe…
Sun jab se, dil ki pukaar hai
Utha kaisa yeh, sawaal hai
Nahi ab khabar, na khayal hai
Hua Kya yeh, mera haal hai
Maula sun le re…
Khudaya o mere…
Maula sun le re…
Mera man jo kahe…
Mera kaun hai, tere siva
Maula tu hi toh, hai bas mera
Nahi ab Khabar, Na khayal hai…
Chadha kaisa yeh, khumaar hai…
Lagta nahi, hogi sehar…
Na jhuke agar, toh katenge sar…
Yeh jo jhut pe, hai hai bandhe hue
Yeh jo doodh ke, hain dhule hue
Inhe kya khabar, nahi jaanate
Ke lab mere, hain nahi sile
Mera kaun hai, tere siva
Maula tu hi toh, hai bas mera
Nikla hoon, sach ki talaash mein
Yeh jag toh hai, maaya tera
Maula sun le re…
Khudaya o mere…
Maula sun le re…
Mera man jo kahe…