The film opens in the 1990s. LTF (Liberation Tamil Front) is battling the Sri Lankan government to get a separate state for the Tamil minority of the nation. The conflict has reached to a critical point with increasing number of casualties. This issue has gained international attention and as an influential neighbor, India comes in as a mediator to talk both parties to amend peace. But when the LTF rejects all kind of peace proposals from India, the only option for the Indian government is to operate covert missions and take down the leader of LTF. [break]
In comes Major Vikram (John Abraham), the right man for the right job. He’s recruited by RAW and is assigned the responsibility to head all undercover missions and bring an end to the guerrilla movement. As the story unfolds, Vikram delves deeper into conspiracies and double-crossings that test him both physically and psychologically.
From the beginning, the film carries a tensed tone. The opening minutes of the film presents brutal images of war and the outcry of the innocents are hauntingly filmed. It is perhaps the strength of the screenplay that keeps the story unpredictable, even though we are aware about the assassination plot upfront. Each sequence throws Major Vikram into uncharted territories as we witness him whirling into uncertainty and suspicions.
As a political thriller, Madras Café is fast paced and demands sincere attention from its audience. The only glitch is that it tries to incorporate too much material at once and races its way till the end. Also, few scenes, the ones with the officers talking in their own lingos, are completely exposition heavy and confusing. However, even with a politically incorrect plot, Madras Café is believable and it leaves behind a social commentary on the devastating consequences of war.
Screening at QFX Cinemas
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