Madras Cafe movie review: Best political thriller so far

Director Shoojit Sircar who was lastly hailed with Vicky Donor breaks the shells of satirical humor and comes out shrewdly for a series of serious saga. Film: Madras CafeCast: John Abraham, Nargis Fakhri, Rashi Khanna;Director: Shoojit Sircar;Music: Shantanu Moitra;Rating: *** 1/2“We lost our PM” is what Abraham complains at a Catholic church mourning the loss of the former Prime Minster of India. Though not named in the flick, our intellect is aware of the onscreen demise of late Rajiv Gandhi in 1991 when a civil war in Sri Lanka was on its verge.Director Shoojit Sircar who was lastly hailed for Vicky Donor breaks the shells of satirical humor and comes out shrewdly for a series of serious saga. What makes us feel proud of Sircar is his attempt to put his hands in untouched and heroic issues, which necessitate be branded and acknowledged. We have experienced it in Vicky Donor and now it's Madras Cafe which moves you from inside.The Sri Lankan civil war in Madras Cafe isn't exploited but is dealt with immense responsibility. Shoojit Sircar with a heavy heart goes deeper into hallows of the civil war in Jafna, Srilanka; A war which sooner takes a political turn.Brilliantly designed by cinematographer Kamaljeet Negi, the battle and the gruesome butchery in Tamil Nadu and Kerela look much closer to reality. It all begins when Major Vikram Singh (John Abraham), an encouraging Indian soldier is picked up by the intelligence agency to lead the R&AW (Research and Analysis Wing) operation in the island nation which is going through an outrageous civil war headed by Anna Bhaskaran (Ajay Rathnam), a leader of fictitious rebel group LTF (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam) fighting for Tamil rights. Vikram is supposed to trap Anna to bring peace in the neighbouring nation. But it's not a cakewalk. As numerous mysteries unfold he discovers a whole major plot for assassination of an ex-Prime Minister.An assassination, which could have been avoided, is left to take a disastrous shape and stun the globe. You wish had it been in your control the black day would have never arrived but the helplessness of the political system and Vikram leave you distressed. Madras Cafe has that poignant spontaneity, which would give you goose bumps.Narrating the disastrous day Sircar takes a keen interest into the detailing of the petty department and links, which lead to the moving finale. Neither an inch he misses nor he chews over any unimportant individual. Each character has a weighty role and the director grants them complete freedom to take as much meat as possible out of their short appearance. From the person leaking information to the group of five involved in assassination, nothing go overboard.Everything accompanies contentedly the fast paced first half, which follows the heart-thumping second half, chiefly the last 15 minutes. However, it might require for some to run their wits in grasping rebellion Tamil groups and in decoding the links and clues which are neither cracked that effortlessly onscreen. You might also be perturbed by Fakhri's reply in English to Hindi and Tamil commuters.But here it is cinematic liberty, which Sircar enjoys by delivering an intriguing saga which is brilliantly scripted by Somnath Dey and Shubendu Bhattacharya.We would like to term the duo as the real hero of the flick while the actors are quiet successful in leaving an imperishable impact. John Abrahim is impeccable as Vikram Singh. It's his third outing this year and each one of them is better than the other. He gives a plausible performance both as a producer and as an actor. He is calm and composed while he is on his operation. His tone in narration also possesses a sense of emotion.Nars Fakhri is cast with a deep intention. Sircar knows her and brings out what it required for the character like an international journalist who mostly has English dialect. Nargis fits into the role easily. It might be a new beginning of the ‘Rockstar' actress The debutant actress Rashi Khanna, has a pleasant onscreen appearance. Though, she gets limited frames but shines as Major Vikram Singh's wife.Ajay Rathnam looks commanding. Music by Shantanu Moitra is great. The background score helps largely in arousing curiosity and agonizing in the devastation and assassination scenes. Editing could have been better.I'll go with three and a half stars for Madras Café. It isn't a masala entertainer or a family drama. It's one of the finest political thrillers with no-non sense ingredient and needs your accentuation at any cost.