Madras Café: Political thriller with a political purpose?

Shoojit Sarkar’s ‘Madras Café’ impresses by its no-frills-attached smartness akin to a well-researched documentary. But there’s drama, action, and suspense characteristic of an espionage thriller. Based on the assassination of ex-PM Rajiv Gandhi, the film generates nostalgia for a generation of viewers for whom the incident now appears distant; for, following Rajiv Gandhi’s death India officially entered the global market of open economy; and, history moved forward in leaps and bounds so much so that even the early nineties seem to be a distant past. Although the assassination of the PM has sent shockwaves across the nation, the political reason behind the assassination was soon forgotten. For, the aam Indian, the LTTE was responsible for Rajiv Gandhi’s murder. But, the official records were doctored, as usual, and the real story was barely revealed to the aam janata, although there are important academic articles. Sarkar’s film comes at a time when the Congress govt. is again on the brinks; and this film which sympathetically revisits one of the most mourned political murders help reinforce people’s sympathy for the Congress. And this is exactly where the film falters. The image of Rajiv Gandhi has been sanitized to such a degree that the film can be charged of false representation.

           

Sarkar has done extensive research to get to the roots of the assassination; but, the film is more about how the assassination could have been averted. The major drawback is that the film essentializes to a great extent the LTTE’s take on revolution and demand for Eelam, and doesn’t spend more than a few minutes to explain why India’s intervention to bring an end to the civil war in Sri Lanka was necessary. While the film begins on a very promising note of narrating both sides of the Tamil-Sinhalese conflict which led to one of the bloodiest civil wars in South Asia, it veers into an unexpected simplification of the implication and aftermath of the peace pact. Perhaps, Sarkar was more interested in telling a spy story, rather than delving into the complexities of the political reality. And paradoxically, this is where the film scores. By sensationalizing the story of how Rajiv was assassinated, the film would certainly see a huge footfall at the theatres. For, good suspense always wins!  

The camera and editing are near perfect; on the acting front, John Abraham’s characteristic stiffness becomes an advantage for him, for Vikram had to be pretty tough. Nargis suits the role of a UK-based journalist, although she seems a little low on confidence. The rest of the cast deserves applause, for being extremely true to life. An intelligent film, an original film, Madras Café would have a good run at the box-office; but I would recommend that the audience who praise the film, should do a little more research back home.

Image courtesy: www.bhmpics.com