Audience Member
Not that good a plot outline. The writing was pretty poor, with characters totally stereotypical and banal. There was major depth lacking and the movie was flat. Couldn't go past 20 mins.
Rated 1.5/5 Stars •
Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars
02/04/23
Full Review
Audience Member
Excellent movie. A good storyline based on real and tragic events in India and Sri Lanka. Intense thriller though the end is kind of known. Edited well especially to reduce the usual Hindu movie drama. Well acted by the leads and directed well
Rated 4/5 Stars •
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
02/27/23
Full Review
Hasan M
Madras Café review
Subject & Main asset:
Indian Film industry has not had a shortage of films about intense subjects pertaining to national, international and internal security matters. In past we have seen Indian films related to encounters, national and international controversies/scams, military operations, police and corporate syndicates, political establishments. So what is different about madras Café?
Madras Café truly cuts the crap and delivers an honest point of view upon a very sensitive and deeply important issue in Indian history. It does not seem to 'Advocate' to the viewer about what is right or wrong at all. Nonetheless the film treats its subject more seriously than many of us would in our daily lives would. This sincerity makes the film indulging and throws the viewer at the edge of seat with excellent direction from Shoojit Sircar who chisels the subject with timely twists truly cloaking the film with art of direction in a way that the viewer can focus on the subject. The film's beauty lies in only the matter that it treats everyone in the film, less important than the subject itself. And it makes sure the viewer's get the point that patriotism, struggle for freedom, war and politics crisis are above any particular side. Like the invisible art behind the great thriller, Madras Café's main asset is the invisible director - Shoojit Sircar (and the story for sure). After excellent films like Aparajita Tumi, Yahaan, Vicky Donor and now Madras Café, Shoojit has certainly proved to be a matured Bengali gem of our modern film industry.
The good:
There are several winning aspects of the film. Surprisingly this time, it is not some big actor nor one element that is the highlight of the film. It is the integration of several subtle elements that make the film great to watch.
- Fast Paced
The movie begins with its main story up and running right from start credits without wasting a single dialogue. Exposing viewers to this fast pacing poses a challenge to the film to keep up with this pacing and even deliver a better punch at the end of the film. The film does all of that with a mix of subtle surprises in the plot, and taking time to constantly deliver a lot of details to the viewer. Shoojit Sircar brilliantly chooses which sub-plots and details to focus on, making it fast paced, but to-the-point movie.
- The subject is greater than any individual
Main leads, Abraham and Fakhri (Who resembles an actual journalist at that time who interviewed LTTE) as well as the supporting cast are very well cast and do what is enough to convey the plot. They do not try to grow more than required. The relationships, sub-plots, consequences of events to follow are all tied to one plot making the viewer ever more interested in anticipation of how things will affect the final outcome. The viewer is made aware that every small detail revealed can and probably will affect the climax. It is surprising that for the first time, the viewers are made to feel deeply sorry, angry, agitated and sad for a cause and events rather than for particular character. This rare quality of the film makes it special in the genre of Indian war films. It clearly instates how its philosophy and subject is greater than any individuals, may it be one civilian, RAW agent, soldier, militant, freedom fighter or politicians.
- Details everywhere yet new factors emerge:
The film is fun to watch because there are clear details about everything going on in the film. The viewer is made to see the detailed facts upon which some action is being done. The film does not act as an advocate for certain point of view. It is merely an observer and hence it does best at pointing out details and new factors.
The film exposes the viewer fearlessly to layers of complications, some of which require the viewer to look at everything from a high-level situation perspective, yet in another consecutive moment deluging themselves in pool of organized details. Moreover, the film puts together a picture of co-existing and competing stakeholders including international interests and alliances to the on-going conflict which suddenly expands the intensity of possible outcome and makes it interestingly tense for the viewer more than ever to see the end.
- No Songs. No unnecessary humor.
The film does not take a break.
- Supporting Cast
The supporting actors seem authentic, from LTF leaders, politicians to raw agents, the supporting cast does great job.
The not so good:
- Clichés :
Yes, the film is unlike most other military action thrillers made in Indian cinema till now. However it does suffer from Clichés. The whole premise of why the RAW agent wants to reveal his story to the viewers is trite and certainly could have done something more interesting than what this film has done. It does what every other film does, confess/cry/moan/sob about past in front of a strange priest/psychologist/confidant and writing a book about it or an accord of the experience. Given the creativity used in the rest of the film, this was disappointing.
However, there are some other Clichéd moments used in the film to let the viewer connect to the film 'emotionally' and it can be argued if they were necessary. Hence it's not bad, but not so good either.
Conclusion:
Sharp as a piercing emotion, the light-speed plot which shortly takes pauses to let viewers absorb details and feel the intense risks and depth of the subject, Shoojit Sircar's brilliant direction is a must watch. Although, it does come with minor Cliché moments throughout the film, it is certainly one of the few films which truly respect the art of film making and use it to convey a deeply felt situation without being pompous about production quality or individuals, creating a vortex which transports the viewer into a situation which does not preach, is not overly arty, just an honest and bold expression of a sensitive situation which is suspense and action laden from start till the end.
Rated 4.5/5 Stars •
Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars
12/26/15
Full Review
Audience Member
95%
Viewed this on 25/9/15
One of the most realistic no nonsense films ever made in India with an absence of comedy, silly romance, unnecessary romance, songs and all forms of shit you find in Indian cinema. Madras Cafe is extremely well directed and the cinematography is top notch with visuals being similar to that of Apocalypse now and Thirteen days. It has the feel of similar films like JFK but not the kind of conspiracy thriller like the former. Madras Cafe also lacks the notions of commercial Indian cinema and it must probably be a treat for all those who wish to see serious Indian films.
Rated 4.5/5 Stars •
Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars
02/09/23
Full Review
Audience Member
A brilliant idea that works as a great story unfolds Itself. Great cinematography and outstanding music work wonders for this action packed spy espionage thriller
Rated 5/5 Stars •
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
02/06/23
Full Review
Audience Member
A dramatization of the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi and the first time a suicide bomber used plastic explosives. Decent direction. Like with many Indian movies the colors and locations are highlights. Too long, and slow in parts.
"We tried, but we lost?" No, you warned him, and he didn't listen.
Rated 3.5/5 Stars •
Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars
01/21/23
Full Review
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