Nonureva Really Surprised!

MamaGravity good back-story, and good acting

Console best movie i've ever seen.

Lollivan It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

debojyoti-sarker 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.

sesht 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.

pruthvishrathod First of all, I'm glad that someone cared to make a film on such subject. Premise is really interesting and promises something different. This espionage drama/political thriller has decent story but screenplay is not up to the mark. Somewhere between historical timeline and a political conspiracy, it fails to maintain its coherence. It is somehow misses the elements which hold it together. That is the reason why it tastes your patience but fails to reward it. After the end, I felt it would have worked better as a documentary since characters fail to create an emotional bond. Even with such a realistic scenario and forcing elements, it does not create any tensed atmosphere or thrill.But still it is at least an appreciative effort because of its subject and sincerity towards it. John Abraham tries his best. He and director Shoojit Sircar should be acknowledged. However, film does not stand tall on the basis of film-making.

Claus Bang I'm a stranger to Indian cinema, other than being familiar with the usual clichés of Bollywood-style song, dance and drama.I read some reviews here, recommending this movie, and calling it a genuine political thriller. Well, it is. Sort of.It's hard to describe what I feel is wrong with the movie. The plot is believable, and you want to see more. Not being intimately familiar with the horrible history of the Tamils, and having read only scattered articles here and there, I did not have any way to determine whether the movie was true to facts or not, and for this I apologize.So, what's wrong? Well, it feels like there is an entire plot here. There is. But it feels like someone sat down, wrote a list of "what makes western political thrillers good", came up with 10-12 key scenes, and made those. Without really bothering too much with tying them together. It feels not so much rushed as uncohesive. And that's a shame, because ..The visuals are nothing short of stunning. Excellent camera-work, glorious colors, scenery, and almost worth watching for this alone.But ultimately, for me, the story is where the substance is. And in this one - perhaps this is due to me being unfamiliar with Indian cinema - it just feels cut to pieces and abrupt. Key events just "happen" from one scene to the next, and if you want to keep up with who's who, and who's pulling what strings, don't blink for a second.Given that I don't know the material intimately, like I would with say a WWII movie, or a typical cold-war spy movie, and the actors were all unfamiliar to me, this movie was hard to follow. Perhaps for a more local audience, it would be infinitely more enjoyable. I do hope so, because it is a gorgeous movie, and I desperately wanted to like it.