Madras Cafe (2013)

Fantastic!

I really wanted to like this movie. I feel terribly cynical trashing it, and that's why I'm giving it a middling 5. Actually, I'm giving it a 5 because there were some superb performances.

The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.

This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.

Madras Cafe is one of the very few Bollywood movies that is based on a true historical event. The producers must be applauded for taking the chance and Madras Cafe is a tight movie with some good editing. However, the main problem is the performance of John Abraham, who is playing an Army Soldier. The acting leaves a lot to be desired and it is one of the disappointing aspects of this movie. It is nice to see movies that are not mindless and require the viewer to be attentive. There are no songs that break out of nowhere which is a relief. The action sequences could have been better considering the number of killings that occurred in Sri Lanka during the period. My overall rating of this movie is 7/10 and I recommend this to those who like movies having a storyline instead of the usual Masala Movies that are dominant in Bollywood.

Could never understand why the name was selected a Madras Cafe. The end of the movie could have been anticipated well in advance. Expressionless acting from John & Rashi. John has no emotions, not sure why he was selected for the role. Story line for the movie is weak , no wonder why the film was a flop in the box office. Nargis Fakhri had no major role in the movie. Cinematography is quite strong. I expected a lot from Shoojit Sarkar but in the end it was a serious let down. I feel I just wasted 2 hrs of my time which could be have utilized to watch something else. Also wonder why the movie have 7.9 ratings on IMDb.

Wanted so much to like it. Definitely appreciate the effort that has gone into it, from the perspectives of the screenplay, direction, performances, cinematography, soundtrack and choice-of-subject, not necessarily in that order. Sircar has made a movie in a similar genre, the under-seen 'Yahaan', and IMO, makes as many mis-steps in this one as he did in that, as well as in his sophomore effort, 'Vicky Donor'. IMO, one of the main problems here is casting, and I'm sure he had a big hand in that as well. I am not a fan of biopics in general, that it has nothing to do with the dramatic effect of real-life lives - it has more to do with the fact that I always know what's coming next, and how it all ends. And I don't enjoy that. I'd rather stay home and read a book, a good one even! And that's why I loved the hell out of 'Inglourious basterds', cuz I was sucker-punched by the 1-2 ending.Back to Madras Cafe, which was originally called 'Jaffna', but had it's title changed later - Certain sequences seemed too abrupt, as if Sircar couldn't wait to get to the next sequence, and the next, and the next. He just couldn't let the movie, and his audience, breathe. Ordinarily, I would not have a problem if it served the plot. However....Except for a couple (Belawadi's a scream, eating up the scenery in every scene he's in; and Abraham himself, who plays to his few strengths, except in the raconteur sequences - we were all laughing out loud at the pathetic lines being spoken, the scenario itself, and how it finally played out; and that is NOT a compliment), all performances are stilted, inconsistent and bereft of confidence, as in, on the brink of earnest amateurishness. A couple of takes more might have helped. Strangely enough, I can't place much blame on producer-star John Abraham, though one would expect that. Sircar could watch how Dibakar Bannerjee managed to keep the audience on tenterhooks in the heavily underrated 'Shanghai', and a few notes from 'Kahaani' wouldn't hurt either.However, give all those masala movies a miss, and give Madras Café it's due on the big screen fo sho; then start with your nit-picking (like I did).Heavily overrated, in spite of being a cut above other potboilers. Wish it were done better.

This is one of the few documentaries movies made India. All the credit goes to the director and producer (john himself) for bringing out wonderful movie, we are not sure about the facts as many have criticized saying that all the views were not expressed..But lets leave those apart and try to see how the things have happened during those crunch times. John has to be credited more for choosing such a subject to produce and act in it. His career took another turn after this movie. Truly now everyone takes him seriously rather than earlier times. soorjit right from his first movie..than came Vicky donor(unconventional subject for Indian market but it worked wonders) This is the first documentary which reminded me of Green zone, hurt locker experience while watching..Nargis (super accent to start with)if she had debuted with this movie in Bollywood it would have been the best decision nevertheless awesome movie, superb performance and shot extremely well.