Aug 29, 2013 01:52 PM
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I saw Madras Cafe yesterday. One of my friends, Tushar Jain worked on it as an assistant director. I had no knowledge about a conspiracy that led to the assassination of late Rajiv Gandhi.
One would never expect mediocre or irrelevant, mindless cinema from Shoojit Sircar, who has already cemented his position as an intelligent film-maker with films such as Yahaan and Vicky Donor earlier. After watching the movie, I have even greater respect for him, for not bowing down to the star-trap that big filmmakers are clearly encouraging, dishing out inane movies in the name of entertainment.
The movie has its CORE in its place, not worrying about where will its Crore come from. The makers have not wavered from the central plot at any point in the movie. The story of a conspiracy told through a fast-paced and gripping movie, worked for me.
The Tamil natives appeared to be that and the makers have not stereotyped anyone either through loud, unrealistic accents or mannerisms, typically seen in masala movies. The plot is tight. There are so many elements to the story- a foreign journalist, first-rate at her job, two warring Tamil leaders, a quasi-hero spreading unjustified violence and terror, a noble prime-minister, other foreign countries, spies that make the story so engrossing.
Considering the fact that our late prime minister had been assassinated several years back, the movie is definitely one that should have been made. The director has been able to retract fine performances from talent that had done its magic behind the screens till now - veteran ad guru Piyush Pandey, Siddartha Basu, who started KBC, Mr. Dibang, well-known journalist.
There has been criticism on how easily a journalist reveals her sources and about the much used-and-abused flashback style of narrative. However, both, the journalist and the RAW agent had fine intentions and considering this, the act does not seem so professionally unreasonable.
Casting has been very good and the resemblance of the LTF leader with Prabhakaran is impressive. John, as a RAW agent also fits the role very well. Nargis Fakhri as a foreign journalist seems confident and leaves a mark. The film has definitely made me interested in knowing more about this very important episode for India and the hostile relations it shares with one of its neighbouring countries.
At no moment has the director or writer resorted to melodramatic scenes or jingoism in the name of patriotism. Patriotism here is expressed through silence, anguish, agony and meaningful strategies. The sub-plots did affect the narrative and could have been handled better. Though John's on-screen wife acted well and emoted the worries and conerns of an officer's wife brilliantly, this sub-plot weakened the otherwise-tight plot.
With just one song towards the end, no time has been wasted and the audience has not been taken for a ride. It is intelligent cinema, that should be welcomed. My friend Tushar Jain also had a small yet pivotal role as an interpreter. I wish him all the very best and here's wishing Shoojit Sircar greater success in the future.
Time has come to welcome such movies. Also the reigning superstars need to get inspired from such movies, rise above self-obsessive tendencies and do true justice to cinema.
