Madras Cafe

2022-12-20T15:04:13Z

2405:201:5506:90CB:6CEB:4AAB:C54:D2B0:

{{short description|2013 Indian Hindi-language film by Shoojit Sircar}}
{{EngvarB|date=April 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Madras Cafe
| image = Madras Cafe Poster.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| director = [[Shoojit Sircar]]
| producer = [[John Abraham]]<ref name=JF-M-01>{{cite news|title=John Abraham's movie JAFFNA based on LTTE|url=http://www.glamsham.com/movies/scoops/12/mar/01-news-john-abraham-movie-jaffna-based-on-ltte-031202.asp|access-date=25 November 2012}}</ref> [[Ronnie Lahiri]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/photos-news/Photos-Punjab/25mar/Article4-1031408.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130715160548/http://www.hindustantimes.com/photos-news/Photos-Punjab/25mar/Article4-1031408.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-date=15 July 2013 |title=(From left) Actor John Abraham, producer Ronnie Lahiri, | Photos Punjab |work=Hindustan Times |date=23 March 2013 |access-date=14 July 2013}}</ref><ref name="telegraphindia">{{cite web|url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1140305/jsp/northeast/story_18046178.jsp|website=telegraphindia.com|title=Chance to realise a reel dream|access-date=3 May 2018}}</ref> [[Sheel Kumar]] [[Viacom 18 Motion Pictures|Sudhanshu Vats]]
| writer = '''Story and Screenplay:''' Somnath Dey Shubendu Bhattacharya '''Dialogues:''' [[Juhi Chaturvedi]] Tushar Jain
| starring = [[John Abraham]] [[Nargis Fakhri]] [[Raashi Khanna]] [[Siddharth Basu]] [[Prakash Belawadi]]
| music = [[Shantanu Moitra]]
| cinematography = [[Kamaljeet Negi]]
| editing = [[Chandrashekhar Prajapati]]
| studio = [[JA Entertainment]] [[Rising Sun Films]]
| distributor = [[Viacom 18 Motion Pictures]]
| released = {{Film date|df=yes|2013|08|23}}
| runtime = 120 minutes<ref name=Runtime>{{cite web|title=''MADRAS CAFE'' (15)|url=http://www.bbfc.co.uk/releases/madras-cafe-film|work=[[British Board of Film Classification]]|access-date=20 August 2013}}</ref>
| country = India
| language = Hindi
| budget = {{INR}}35 crore<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/Entertainment/Bollywood/Rs-400-crore-riding-on-Bollywood-box-office-this-August/Article1-1101161.aspx|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130801015829/http://www.hindustantimes.com/Entertainment/Bollywood/Rs-400-crore-riding-on-Bollywood-box-office-this-August/Article1-1101161.aspx|url-status=dead|archive-date=1 August 2013|title=Rs 200 crore riding on Bollywood box office this August|newspaper=[[Hindustan Times]]|access-date=31 July 2013|date=31 July 2013}}</ref>
| gross = {{INR}}67 crore<ref name="ibtimes.co.in">{{cite web|url=http://www.ibtimes.co.in/articles/504305/20130906/box-office-collection-chennai-express-madras-cafe.htm |title=Box Office Collection: 'Satyagraha' Affects 'Madras Cafe' and 'Chennai Express' in India – International Business Times |publisher=Ibtimes.co.in |date=6 September 2013 |access-date=27 November 2013}}</ref>
}}

'''''Madras Cafe''''' is a 2013 Indian [[Hindi]]-language [[political film|political]] [[action thriller film]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.glamsham.com/en/john-abraham-madras-cafe-is-a-magnum-opus-political-action-thriller|title=John Abraham: MADRAS CAFE is a magnum opus political action thriller|date=18 June 2013 |publisher=Glamsham}}</ref> directed by [[Shoojit Sircar]] and starring [[John Abraham (actor)|John Abraham]], [[Nargis Fakhri]] with newcomer [[Rashi Khanna|Raashi Khanna]] in lead roles.<ref name="JF-M-01" /><ref name="mint" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-11-26/news-interviews/35347161_1_nargis-fakhri-shoojit-sircar-political-thriller |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121214215907/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-11-26/news-interviews/35347161_1_nargis-fakhri-shoojit-sircar-political-thriller |url-status=dead |archive-date=14 December 2012 |work=[[The Times of India]] |title=Nargis plays foreign journalist in John Abraham's film |access-date=26 November 2012}}</ref> The film is set in the late 1980s and early 1990s, during the time of [[Indian intervention in the Sri Lankan Civil War|Indian intervention]] in the [[Sri Lankan civil war]] and [[Assassination of Rajiv Gandhi|assassination]] of Indian prime minister [[Rajiv Gandhi]]. The film deals with an [[Indian Army]] special officer who is appointed by the intelligence agency [[Research and Analysis Wing|R&AW]] to head covert operations in [[Jaffna]] shortly after [[Indian Peace Keeping Force|Indian peace-keeping force]] was forced to withdraw.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/news-interviews/Rajiv-Gandhi-lookalike-from-Madras-Cafe-creates-ripples/articleshow/21844238.cms |title=Rajiv Gandhi lookalike from 'Madras Cafe' creates ripples |work=The Times of India |date=21 May 1991 |access-date=18 August 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Udita Jhunjhunwala |url=http://www.livemint.com/Leisure/TPlscNXubIai8kTLNHz0ZN/Shoojit-Sircar--The-neutral-order.html |title=Shoojit Sircar : The neutral order |publisher=Livemint |date=27 July 2013 |access-date=18 August 2013}}</ref>

''Madras Cafe'' was released on 23 August 2013. Box Office India stated the film did above average business.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.boxofficeindia.com/boxdetail.php?page=shownews&articleid=6041&nCat= |publisher=Box Office India |date=7 September 2013 |access-date=27 November 2013}}</ref> The film won the [[National Film Award for Best Audiography]] for ''Nihar Ranjan Samal'' (location sound recording) and ''Bishwadeep Chatterjee'' (sound design) at the [[61st National Film Awards]].<ref>{{cite web|title=61st National Film Awards|url=http://www.dff.nic.in/List%20of%20Awards.pdf|publisher=[[Directorate of Film Festivals]]|date=16 April 2014|access-date=29 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140416181218/http://www.dff.nic.in/List%20of%20Awards.pdf|archive-date=16 April 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Background==
As per John Abraham, "''Madras Cafe'' brings us closer to what changed the political history of India."<ref name="articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com"/> The film, set in India and Sri Lanka, is a political spy thriller with the backdrop of the [[Sri Lankan Civil War]].<ref name=mint/> Major Vikram Singh (John Abraham) is an [[Indian Army]] Special Forces officer who is appointed by the intelligence agency [[Research and Analysis Wing]] to head covert operations in [[Jaffna]] shortly after the [[Indian Peace Keeping Force|Indian peace-keeping force]] was forced to withdraw.<ref name=mint/><ref name="livemint.com">{{cite web|author=Udita Jhunjhunwala |url=http://www.livemint.com/Politics/x25ebvF5R0lDUFKUheVmwM/Bollywood-courts-controversy-with-Sri-Lankan-war-film.html |title=Madras Cafe courts controversy with Sri Lanka war references |publisher=Livemint |date=5 August 2013 |access-date=18 August 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-07-12/news-interviews/40515365_1_john-abraham-madras-cafe-shoojit-sircar |title='Madras Cafe' defines cinema I stand for: John Abraham |date=12 July 2013 |access-date=15 July 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130717084610/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-07-12/news-interviews/40515365_1_john-abraham-madras-cafe-shoojit-sircar |work=[[The Times of India]] |archive-date=17 July 2013 }}</ref> As he journeys to Sri Lanka with the intention of disrupting the LTTE militants, he becomes entangled military & politics.<ref name="bbc">{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-23776412 |title=Madras Cafe: Bollywood film stirs up a storm in India |publisher=BBC |date=1 January 1970 |access-date=25 August 2013}}</ref> There he meets a British journalist Jaya Sahni (Nargis Fakhri)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-07-11/bollywood/40513212_1_john-abraham-viacom-indian-intelligence-agent |title=Madras CafÃ |date=11 July 2013 |access-date=15 July 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130717084627/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-07-11/bollywood/40513212_1_john-abraham-viacom-indian-intelligence-agent |work=[[The Times of India]] |archive-date=17 July 2013 }}</ref> who wants to reveal the truth about the civil war, and in the process he uncovers a conspiracy to assassinate "a former Indian prime minister", through the use of plastic explosives. Although Vikram tries, at 10:10 pm, an LTTE suicide bomber kills the ex-PM while bowing down to put a garland on his neck.<ref name="bbc"/>

==Plot==
{{long plot|reason=PLot should be between 300 adn 700 words per WP:FILMPLOT, it is over 1290 words as of 8 April 2021|date=April 2021}}
The plot opens in [[Jaffna]], where a bus full of passengers is stopped by armed men and all are massacred.

The film then moves to a bearded man in Kasauli, revealed to be Vikram Singh. He sees on TV that the Sri Lankan President has been killed by a suicide bomber. He purchases a bottle of liquor and goes to a nearby church. The priest of that church, who seems to have known him for the past three years, asks him about his "conspiracy" when he says, "Our Prime Minister could have been saved from the conspiracy". Vikram starts narrating his story to the priest.

The film then moves five years back, when the continuous battle between the majority Sri Lanka Sinhalese and minority Tamils had reached a dangerous level. The Tamil youth have taken weapons and joined the Liberation Tamil Front (LTF) leader Anna Bhaskaran (a character based on the real-life LTTE leader [[Velupillai Prabhakaran]]). The Indian Prime Minister (Sanjay Gurubaxani) decides to sign a peace accord with Sri Lankan Government and said that the elections should happen there peacefully before Diwali. However, Anna refuses to accept the accord, and the Indian Peace Keeping Forces are forced to withdraw from the island. A heated meeting in New Delhi between the Indian officials leads Robin Dutt, aka RD, the R&AW chief, to call upon his best man, Maj. Vikram Singh.

After meeting and discussing the strategy with RD and his deputy Swaroop (Avijit Dutt), Vikram travels to Sri Lanka and meets a war correspondent Jaya Sahni and tries to find out a way to stop the rebels. After reporting to his senior Balakrishnan (based on real-life person K V Unnikrishnan), he tries to find someone who may help to find Shri, the only man who can withstand and oppose Anna. After meeting with an informer called Narayanan, Vikram manages to visit Shri. Vikram promises Shri to help him rise against Anna by providing him with arms. The arms deal date is decided at 6 July. However, the deal goes terribly wrong, and one of Vikram's associates is killed in a surprise attack by LTF, who do away with the weapons consignment. An angry Balakrishnan tells Vikram to go to Colombo Safehouse. Vikram meets Jaya to seek her help. Jaya tells him that they know his next step even before he can implement it. However, she tells him that "a foreign agency guy met with an Indian official" before her arrival on the island. The next day, Vasu, Balakrishnan's associate, meets a man and gives him a photo of Vikram, telling him "to keep him alive".

Meanwhile, RD and his team are shocked to learn on TV that Vikram is kidnapped by LTF. The Indian government sends forces and rescues Vikram, who is badly injured. Balakrishnan tells him to leave Sri Lanka as he is on the hit-list of both camps. Vikram feels suspicious about Balakrishnan. He calls SP, one of his associates, and tells him to report all activities of Balakrishnan to him. Vikram, posing as a war correspondent, manages to reach Mallayya (based on real-life LTTE member [[Mahattaya|Gopalaswamy Mahendraraja]]), second-in-command of Anna and persuades him to meet RD in Colombo. RD tells him that the only way this war could be won is by a political solution. He instigates Mallaya to stand up as the only champion of his people, thus dividing the LTF in two. Vikram and Indian forces then launch a massive attack on the LTF base camp where Anna and his men (minus Mallayya) were discussing strategy. A devastating gun battle begins, and Vikram returns home. However, Anna survives and later kills Malaya and Shri. In the light of the resurfaced violence, the Indian Prime Minister resigns. Some months later, SP later tracks some discussion of Anna over the phone and tells Balakrishnan about this, but Bala tells him to ignore them, causing SP to believe that Balakrishnan might be a mole. He escapes with the intercepts and files of the case. Balakrishnan finds about it and burns the remaining papers, later telling someone over the phone that SP and Vikram are in Kochi and he should send some men there. Vikram later receives a call from SP, who tells him to meet him. After meeting with SP, Vikram comes home to find Ruby, his wife, murdered. Vikram's associate in [[Kochi]], Kush, tells him that Vasu has been tracked. He nabs Vasu from a theatre and asks him what he knows. Vasu tells him that indeed Balakrishnan was a leak, and he was helping him along with a person named Reed from Singapore. Vikram calls Jaya and requests her to use her sources. She agrees to help and later consoles Vikram about his wife.

As told by Jaya, Vikram reaches Bangkok, where a source of Jaya (Dibang) tells him that he has a tape. Vikram is shocked to see that Balakrishnan was honey-trapped, forcing him to divulge all the information about their movements. Balakrishnan later commits suicide by shooting himself. Back in Delhi, R&AW had decoded the intercepts and had also found out about Balakrishnan's fake passports and unknown bank accounts. RD realizes that this might be a Code Red, to assassinate the ex-Prime Minister. He asks Vikram to take care of this and tells his team to seal the coastline. A massive manhunt begins, and hundreds of LTF associates are nabbed by Indian security forces and local cops. In the Madras R&AW office, Arjun, an officer, tracks down the conversation of Vijayan Joseph, a bombmaker, and Anna and tells this to Rishi (Tarun Bali). Rishi tells this to Vikram and further says that Kannan Kanan, an associate of Anna's man Kanda, is in Madurai Jail and might be helpful. Kannan reveals that some suspicious refugees came from the island to Tamil Nadu. After a short but important meeting with Jaya, Vikram sees X on a clock at the Airport and deduces that the LTF is going to assassinate the ex-PM on the same day at X PM (10 PM). RD then calls the ex-PM to cancel his rally, but he replies that he'll be alright. Vikram then manages to catch Vijayan from his hideout, who tells that the refugees are going to assassinate the ex-PM with plastic explosives, which are untraceable to metal detectors.

Vikram rushes to the place where the ex-PM is taking part in the rally. He reaches there nearly on time, but the suicide bomber manages to put the wreath on the neck of the ex-PM, and while bowing down, she pulls the trigger and kills him along with herself and many others. Vikram manages to recover but sits there dejected and defeated. Later, Vikram submits his report on the assassination to the investigation committee, who considers his report. A few days later, RD too resigns, and Vikram, after taking voluntary retirement, comes to Kasauli.

The film comes back to the present, where the priest asks Vikram who won the battle. Vikram says he doesn't know, but in this battle, the Indians lost their Prime Minister, and the Sri Lankans lost their future. He later walks away, reciting the lines of "[[Chitto Jetha Bhayshunyo|Where the mind is without fear]]". He completes another report and sends it to Jaya in London, who starts her work on that report; in Kasauli, Vikram moves out of the house he was living in.

An epilogue tells that the civil war continued for 27 years, killing more than 40 thousand Sri Lankan subjects, 30 thousand Tamil militants, 21 thousand Sri Lankan forces and 1200 Indian forces, and still thousands of Lankan Tamils are homeless. In 2009, Sri Lankan forces launched a brutal aerial and land attack, finishing the rebels along with their leader.

==Cast==

[[File:Shoojit Sircar an Indian film director and producer of Bengali origin,India.jpg|thumb|Director Shoojit Sircar]]
*[[John Abraham (actor)|John Abraham]] as Lieutenant Major Vikram Singh (Indian army officer appointed by the Research and Analysis Wing to carry out covert operations in Jaffna). Singh is fictitious, Sircar said he had "used real references, portrayed militant groups, revolutionary freedom fighters, [[Indian Peace Keeping Force]]s and shown how India got involved and the chaos".<ref name="livemint.com"/> "I didn't want to make glitzy thriller like ''[[Ek Tha Tiger]]'' or ''[[Agent Vinod (2012 film)|Agent Vinod]]'', which seem inspired by the [[James Bond films|James Bond]] template. I want to show that intelligence officers are ordinary people who live amongst us. It is only that they have to solve issues where national security is at stake," says Sircar. Sircar says he needed an actor who can easily get lost in the crowd, but with John Abraham, it seems next to impossible. "The role also requires a certain level of physicality and John Abraham has worked for the role. I agree this is a new territory for him but I think he has pitched it right. Let's see how the audiences take him."<ref name="thehindu.com">{{cite web|author=Anuj Kumar |url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/raw-appeal/article4959946.ece |title=Raw appeal |work=The Hindu |date=28 July 2013 |access-date=18 August 2013}}</ref>
* [[Nargis Fakhri]] as Jaya Sahni (a British war correspondent in Sri Lanka, inspired by many war correspondents, including [[Anita Pratap]]<ref name="articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com"/>) As for Fakhri, Sircar says her voice has not been dubbed. "Nargis Fakhri is playing a foreign war correspondent. I needed a girl who looks like an Indian journalist but has an accent so there is no chance that the audience will remember her ''[[Rockstar (2011 film)|Rockstar]]'' performance while watching ''Madras Café''. She will converse in English and she is familiar with the language," says Sircar.<ref name="thehindu.com"/>
* [[Rashi Khanna|Raashi Khanna]] as Ruby Singh,<ref name="indianexpress1">{{cite web|url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/newbie-rashi-khanna-in-madras-cafe/1057433/ |title=Newbie Rashi Khanna in Madras Cafe |work=The Indian Express |date=11 January 2013 |access-date=14 July 2013}}</ref> wife of Major Vikram Singh<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ibnlive.in.com/photogallery/14150.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130812004810/http://ibnlive.in.com/photogallery/14150.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=12 August 2013 |title='Madras Cafe' new stills: Meet Rashi Khanna, the new woman in John Abraham's life |publisher=CNN-IBN |date=9 August 2013 |access-date=18 August 2013}}</ref>
* [[Siddhartha Basu]] as Robin Dutt (RD), chief of [[Research and Analysis Wing]].<ref>{{cite news|author=harshikaa udasi |url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/look-whos-in-the-caf/article5009767.ece |title=Look who's in the Café? |newspaper=The Hindu |date=10 August 2013 |access-date=18 August 2013}}</ref> He is Major Singh's mentor and appoints him to take sole responsibility of executing the covert operations in Sri Lanka
* [[Ajay Rathnam]] as Anna Bhaskaran, the leader of the fictional LTF militant group. The character closely resembles the [[Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam]] leader [[Velupillai Prabhakaran]].<ref name="ajayrathnam">{{cite web|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/Entertainment/Bollywood/Does-Madras-Cafe-show-LTTE-leader-Prabhakaran/Article1-1107010.aspx |title=Does Madras Cafe show LTTE leader Prabhakaran? |work=Hindustan Times |date=12 August 2013 |access-date=18 August 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130815210226/http://www.hindustantimes.com/Entertainment/Bollywood/Does-Madras-Cafe-show-LTTE-leader-Prabhakaran/Article1-1107010.aspx |archive-date=15 August 2013 }}</ref><ref name="indiatimes1">{{cite web|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/movie-reviews/hindi/Madras-Cafe/movie-review/21975443.cms |title=Madras Cafe movie review|work=The Times of India|date=22 August 2013 |access-date=25 August 2013}}</ref> Bhaskaran is the given name of the character. 'Anna' meaning elder brother in Tamil language, is a honorific prefixed to the name of the character Bhaskaran.
* [[Prakash Belawadi]]<ref name="hindustantimes1">{{cite web|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/Entertainment/Reviews/Anupama-Chopra-s-review-Madras-Cafe/Article1-1112074.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130824183321/http://www.hindustantimes.com/Entertainment/Reviews/Anupama-Chopra-s-review-Madras-Cafe/Article1-1112074.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-date=24 August 2013 |title=Anupama Chopra's review: Madras Cafe |work=Hindustan Times |date=24 August 2013 |access-date=25 August 2013}}</ref> as Bala, Major Vikram Singh's superior in Jaffna. Due to his long stint in Sri Lanka, Bala is the only one who has first-hand information on the reality of the situation. As Major Singh arrives to execute his covert operation, Bala and his team help him to get access to locations and people who are crucial to making the operation successful. Bala was inspired by a real-life R&AW mole known as KV Unnikrishnan. KV Unnikrishnan, the agency's station chief in Chennai in 1987, was honey-trapped by the CIA. The US spy service threatened to reveal Unnikrishnan's compromising photographs with an air hostess to force him to co-operate.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/madras-cafe-madras-honey-trap-john-abraham-cia-ltte-raw/1/304302.html |title=Madras Cafe brings back uncomfortable memories of the CIA's honey trap|work=India Today|date=29 August 2013 |access-date=27 November 2013}}</ref>
* [[Avijit Dutt]] as Swaroop, RD's deputy in R&AW.
* Tinu Menachery<ref>{{cite web|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-05-22/news-and-interviews/39444540_1_madras-cafe-ltte-kaash |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130629133650/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-05-22/news-and-interviews/39444540_1_madras-cafe-ltte-kaash |url-status=dead |archive-date=29 June 2013 |title=Tinu Menachery in Madras Cafe|date=22 May 2013 |work=[[The Times of India]] |access-date=14 July 2013}}</ref> as a Tamil rebel
* Agnello Dias<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indiantelevision.com/aac/y2k13/aac370.php|title=India's ad gurus in Shoojit Sircar's 'Madras Cafe'|publisher=Indian Television}}</ref> as a Sri Lankan minister
*[[Dinesh Prabhakar]] as Rajasekharan, LTF member
*Sanjay Gurbaxani as Former Prime Minister of India
* [[Piyush Pandey]] as the [[Cabinet Secretary (India)|Cabinet Secretary]] of India<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indiantelevision.com/aac/y2k13/aac370.php |title=> All About Cinema... > India's ad gurus in Shoojit Sircar's 'Madras Cafe' |publisher=Indiantelevision.com |date=15 July 2013 |access-date=18 August 2013}}</ref>
* [[Dibang]]<ref>{{cite news|author=Anuj Kumar|url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/raw-appeal/article4959946.ece|title=Raw appeal |location=NEW DELHI|work=The Hindu|date=28 July 2013|access-date=20 August 2013}}</ref> as a former intelligence officer
* Leena Maria Paul as a RAW Decoder<ref name="leena-ltte">{{cite web|author=Shiba Kurian |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-09-28/news-interviews/34128984_1_leena-maria-political-thriller-ltte |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121027105150/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-09-28/news-interviews/34128984_1_leena-maria-political-thriller-ltte |url-status=dead |archive-date=27 October 2012 |title=Leena in Shoojit's next film in Bollywood|date=28 September 2012 |work=[[The Times of India]] |access-date=14 July 2013}}</ref><ref name="leena-confirm">{{cite web|url=http://www.boxofficecapsule.com/news-specific.aspx?news_id=3546 |title=Controversial Actress Leena Maria Paul Is Part of MADRAS CAFE |date=6 June 2013 |access-date=19 August 2013 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130819131216/http://www.boxofficecapsule.com/news-specific.aspx?news_id=3546 |archive-date=19 August 2013 |publisher=Boxofficecapsule.com |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Production and development==

“If I would have gone with this script to anyone else, they would have rejected it because of the kind of sensitivity the subject has. I don't want to name them, but three of them have already done it. Nobody was ready to produce the film... it's very daring of John Abraham and Viacom 18 Motion Pictures to back up this project," director Sircar told the press after the release of the film.<ref name="hindustantimes.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/Entertainment/Bollywood/Nobody-was-ready-to-produce-Madras-Cafe-Shoojit-Sircar/Article1-1118380.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130906235804/http://www.hindustantimes.com/Entertainment/Bollywood/Nobody-was-ready-to-produce-Madras-Cafe-Shoojit-Sircar/Article1-1118380.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-date=6 September 2013 |title=Nobody was ready to produce Madras Cafe: Shoojit Sircar |work=Hindustan Times |date=6 September 2013 |access-date=27 November 2013}}</ref> John Abraham said that director Shoojit Sircar narrated the script of ''Madras Cafe'' to him in 2006 but could not get around to begin it. "After our last film together, we decided to get back to doing where we started off from. That's the story behind ''Madras Cafe''," he said.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/Entertainment/Bollywood/Shoojit-narrated-Madras-Cafe-to-me-seven-years-back-John-Abraham/Article1-1104073.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130809203207/http://www.hindustantimes.com/Entertainment/Bollywood/Shoojit-narrated-Madras-Cafe-to-me-seven-years-back-John-Abraham/Article1-1104073.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-date=9 August 2013 |title=Shoojit narrated Madras Cafe to me seven years back: John Abraham |work=Hindustan Times |date=6 August 2013 |access-date=18 August 2013}}</ref>

Sircar stated, "The film is a work of fiction, but it is based on research into real events, it has a resemblance to actual political events, dealing with civil war and the ideology of a militant group."<ref name="bbc"/>

===Title===
The film was initially titled ''[[Jaffna]]'' after the northern Sri Lankan city.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/madras-cafe-is-not-a-take-on-indiasri-lankan-relations-vicky-donor-director/311903-8-66.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121231173516/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/madras-cafe-is-not-a-take-on-indiasri-lankan-relations-vicky-donor-director/311903-8-66.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=31 December 2012 |title='Madras Cafe' is not a take on India-Sri Lankan relations: 'Vicky Donor' director |publisher=CNN-IBN |date=23 December 2012 |access-date=14 July 2013}}</ref> It was renamed ''Madras Cafe'', as the plot to kill Gandhi was hatched at the café.<ref>{{cite web|author=Priya Gupta |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-11-26/news-interviews/35347161_1_nargis-fakhri-shoojit-sircar-political-thriller |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121214215907/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-11-26/news-interviews/35347161_1_nargis-fakhri-shoojit-sircar-political-thriller |url-status=dead |archive-date=14 December 2012 |title=Nargis plays foreign journalist in John Abraham's film |date=26 November 2012 |work=[[The Times of India]] |access-date=18 August 2013}}</ref> The original location of the café is not specified in the film.<ref name="articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com">{{cite web|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-08-13/news-interviews/41333609_1_madras-cafe-ja-entertainment-john-abraham |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130816025248/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-08-13/news-interviews/41333609_1_madras-cafe-ja-entertainment-john-abraham |url-status=dead |archive-date=16 August 2013 |title='Madras Cafe' brings us closer to what changed India's political history |date=13 August 2013 |work=[[The Times of India]] |access-date=18 August 2013}}</ref>

===Casting===
John Abraham, the lead actor and one of the producers of the film, plays the main lead, Vikram Singh, a military officer who is sent to Jaffna to head RAW's covert operations. "I had to lose a lot of muscle because these officers look like regular people. When they are in a crowd, they are completely inconspicuous," says Abraham.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/news-interviews/Deconstructed-myself-completely-for-my-film-John-Abraham/articleshow/21858713.cms |title=Deconstructed myself completely for my film: John Abraham |work=The Times of India |date=17 August 2013 |access-date=18 August 2013}}</ref> Commenting on remarks comparing his look to [[Tom Hanks]] in ''[[Cast Away]]'', he said: "Deciding on my look for the movie was quite challenging. It took a lot of brain storming and we finalized this messy look, which apparently you think is inspired by Tom Hanks, but actually, it's not."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.arabnews.com/news/461908 |title=John Abraham: 'Madras Café' is not controversial |publisher=[[Arab News]] |date=21 August 2013 |access-date=25 August 2013}}</ref>

American model-turned-actress [[Nargis Fakhri]] was cast to play Jaya Sahni, a British journalist in Jaffna.<ref>{{cite web|author=Madhur Tankha |url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-newdelhi/the-armyman-in-madras-caf/article4723077.ece |title=The Armyman in Madras Café |work=The Hindu |date=17 May 2013 |access-date=18 August 2013}}</ref> For the role of the foreign war correspondent, Fakhri was chosen because the director required "a girl who looked Indian but had an [English] accent". Thus this was the first film where her voice was not dubbed.<ref name=mint/><ref>{{cite web | title = Finally, Nargis Fakhri speaks in her own voice in Madras Cafe | url = http://movies.ndtv.com/bollywood/finally-nargis-fakhri-speaks-in-her-own-voice-in-madras-cafe-397427 | publisher = NDTV | date = 26 July 2013 | access-date = 27 July 2013 }}</ref> Initially, American-based actress [[Freida Pinto]] was chosen to portray Jaya Sahni, but due to prior commitments she withdrew from the project.<ref>[http://www.indicine.com/movies/bollywood/freida-pinto-was-the-first-choice-for-madras-cafe-john-abraham/ Freida Pinto was the first choice for Madras Cafe: John Abraham] http://www.indicine.com/ Posted in: Bollywood, News | 5 August 2013.</ref>

Shoojit Sircar contacted model [[Sheetal Mallar]] for the film,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/Entertainment/Bollywood/Sheetal-Mallar-in-Shoojit-Sircar-s-Jaffna/Article1-882202.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131010185338/http://www.hindustantimes.com/Entertainment/Bollywood/Sheetal-Mallar-in-Shoojit-Sircar-s-Jaffna/Article1-882202.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-date=10 October 2013 |title=Sheetal Mallar in Shoojit Sircar's Jaffna |work=Hindustan Times |date=2 July 2012 |access-date=14 July 2013}}</ref> but as things did not work out, newcomer Rashi Khanna was signed for the role, marking her debut.<ref name="indianexpress1"/> The cast also included a number of non-professional actors, such as quiz master [[Siddharth Basu]], filmmaker [[Prakash Belawadi]] and journalist [[Dibang]].<ref name="thehindu1">{{cite web|author=Anuj Kumar |url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-newdelhi/madras-caf-does-not-serve-the-usual-bollywood-brew/article5057311.ece |title=Madras Café does not serve the usual Bollywood brew |work=The Hindu |date=25 August 2013 |access-date=25 August 2013}}</ref>

===Location and sets===
''Madras Cafe'' was shot in [[Malaysia]], [[Thailand]], London and India.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/watch-first-trailer-of-john-abrahams-madras-cafe/1140974/ |title=Watch: First trailer of John Abraham's Madras Cafe |work=The Indian Express |date=12 July 2013 |access-date=18 August 2013}}</ref> The Sri Lankan scenes of the film were shot in India, where the city of [[Jaffna]] and large parts of inner Sri Lanka were recreated. "We knew we couldn't shoot this in Sri Lanka, so we shot most of it in [[Tamil Nadu]] and [[Kerala]] and converted it into a war zone. The second part of the film is based in India, which is the politics part," said Sircar.<ref name=mint>{{Cite news | title = Shoojit Sircar : The neutral order | url = http://www.livemint.com/Leisure/TPlscNXubIai8kTLNHz0ZN/Shoojit-Sircar--The-neutral-order.html | publisher =Livemint|date =27 July 2013 | access-date = 27 July 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|agency=Reuters |url=http://dawn.com/news/1035644/shoojit-sircars-madras-cafe-recreates-sri-lanka-war |title=Shoojit Sircar's "Madras Cafe" recreates Sri Lanka war |work=Dawn|location=Pakistan |date=13 August 2013 |access-date=18 August 2013}}</ref> The first schedule of the film was shot extensively in southern India. The second schedule was shot in [[Mumbai]], outside India and in and around south India.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://movies.ndtv.com/bollywood/first-schedule-of-madras-cafe-completed-in-south-india-311554 |title=First schedule of Madras Cafe completed in south India |publisher=NDTV |date=31 December 2012 |access-date=18 August 2013}}</ref> Several civil war scenes were shot in [[Bangkok]] as [[light machine gun]] fire was not permitted in India. Real [[AK-47]]s, [[9mm Beretta]]s and [[M60 machine gun|M60s]] were used, for which special permission was obtained from the local authorities.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-08-16/news-interviews/41417185_1_madras-cafe-ja-entertainment-civil-war-scenes |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140109062858/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-08-16/news-interviews/41417185_1_madras-cafe-ja-entertainment-civil-war-scenes |url-status=dead |archive-date=9 January 2014 |title=Madras Cafe: John, Shoojit shot civil war scenes in Thailand |date=16 August 2013 |work=[[The Times of India]] |access-date=18 August 2013}}</ref>

The trailer was released on 12 July 2013.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://zeenews.india.com/entertainment/bollywood/madras-cafe-trailer-comes-with-bhaag-milkha-bhaag_138736.htm |title='Madras Cafe' trailer comes with 'Bhaag Milkha Bhaag' |publisher=Zee News |date=10 July 2013 |access-date=14 July 2013}}</ref> The film was also dubbed in [[Tamil-language|Tamil]].<ref name="Tamil-Censor"/>

==Release==
The film was released on 23 August in India, the United States and [[United Arab Emirates]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.arabnews.com/news/462372|publisher=Arab News|date=25 August 2013|access-date=23 August 2013|title='Madras Cafe' suffers blow in UK, Tamil Nadu}}</ref> However, it was not released in the United Kingdom and Canada as planned owing to the protests by [[Tamil diaspora]] in regards to its depiction of the Tamil militants,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.vancouverdesi.com/news/madras-cafe-no-show-in-tamil-nadu-2/612920/|date=23 August 2013|access-date=25 August 2013|work=[[The Province]]|title=Theatres in Southern India, U.K., Canada, withdraw screenings of Madras Cafe due to protests (w/ gallery)}}</ref> nor in Tamil Nadu where exhibitors feared its release was not worth the risk in regards to the controversy.<ref name="Tamil-Censor">{{cite news|author=Special Correspondent|url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/madras-cafe-in-tamil-gets-censors-nod-thumbs-down-from-exhibitors/article5049546.ece|title='Madras Cafe' in Tamil gets censors' nod, thumbs down from exhibitors |location=CHENNAI|work=The Hindu|date=22 August 2013|access-date=23 August 2013}}</ref>

===Critical reception===
The film was critically acclaimed.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/Entertainment/Bollywood/Critics-review-Madras-Cafe-is-a-must-watch/Article1-1111809.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130823141848/http://www.hindustantimes.com/Entertainment/Bollywood/Critics-review-Madras-Cafe-is-a-must-watch/Article1-1111809.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-date=23 August 2013 |title=Critics review: Madras Cafe is a must watch |work=Hindustan Times |date=23 August 2013 |access-date=25 August 2013}}</ref> ''[[The Times of India]]'' called the film political, tense and explosive. The daily praised the film's research, story and "remarkable" cinematography, remarking "''Madras Cafe'' dives boldly into terrain Bollywood hasn't touched before. It highlights India's ambiguous role, moving sensitively, taking no sides, except those of relationships involving respect – but no romance – between Vikram Singh and Jaya Sahni, duty, victory and loss."<ref name="indiatimes1"/> Reviewing for the ''[[Hindustan Times]]'', [[Anupama Chopra]] wrote "''Madras Café'' works as an effective portrait of the futility of war. Shoojit Sircar and his writers, Shubhendu Bhattacharya and Somnath Dey, ably illustrate why there are no winners here. Ideologies are marred by corruption and brutality. Death is inevitable and victories, pyrrhic."<ref name="hindustantimes1"/> ''[[The Hindu]]'' praised director Sircar, saying, "For long, Hindi films made us believe that it is only Pakistan that we have to deal with. Shoojit Sircar touches base with Sri Lanka and unravels the complex 'Tamil problem' as many living North of the Vindhyas call it. Keeping the jingoistic flavour aside, he plays the game of shadows as it is played with all its muck and grime. His hint at a larger conspiracy of a syndicate with business interests in the region echoes what ''[[Agent Vinod (2012 film)|Agent Vinod]]'' also hinted at, but [[Sriram Raghavan]] got carried away with the demands of the box office. Sircar chooses to keep it closer to reality."<ref name="thehindu1"/> Baradwaj Rangan later wrote in ''The Hindu'', "''Madras Café'' is not a comforting fantasy. It is the journey of any Indian operative who got wind of the fact that Rajiv Gandhi was going to be assassinated and did his damnedest to prevent it. The journalist in this film, for instance, is not the kind of cardboard cut-out we find in [[Madhur Bhandarkar]] and [[Prakash Jha]] films, but someone who has to decide between naming a source (and going against the ethics of her profession) and aiding an investigation."<ref name="thehindu">{{cite web|author=Baradwaj Rangan |url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/cinema-columns/a-truce-between-fiction-and-fact/article5200657.ece |title=A truce between fiction and fact |work=The Hindu |date=4 October 2013 |access-date=27 November 2013}}</ref>

[[Rajeev Masand]] of [[CNN-IBN]] also praised Sircar, opining, "Unlike, in the West, it's hard to make films on real-life historical events in India. Political pressures and sensitive groups invariably throw a spanner in the works. Which is why it's commendable what director Shoojit Sircar has undertaken with ''Madras Café''."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/madras-cafe-review-the-film-meshes-fact-and-fiction-competently/416677-47-84.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130823183304/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/madras-cafe-review-the-film-meshes-fact-and-fiction-competently/416677-47-84.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=23 August 2013 |title='Madras Cafe' review: The film meshes fact and fiction competently |publisher=CNN-IBN |date= 24 August 2013|access-date=25 August 2013}}</ref>

The Pakistani newspaper ''[[Dawn (newspaper)|Dawn]]'' gave the film a positive review by saying, "Shoojit Sircar's human-drama of politics, rebellion, genocide and spy-games adapts Indian prime minister Rajiv Gandhi's assassination plot, and the Sri Lankan civil war with sweaty palms and a gawky breakneck pace. And yet, for all its clumsy footing, at times, half-intelligent writing, it is engaging". The daily concludes that "For all its speed and embedded seriousness about global conflict, the nature of war, consequences and international trade, ''Madras Café's'' lack of braves turns it into mellow spy-thriller. And trust me, the words "mellow" and "spy-thriller" do not gel."<ref>[http://dawn.com/news/1039409/movie-review-madras-cafe Movie Review: Madras Café] Dawn.com 24 August 2013. Retrieved 31 August 2013.</ref>

Sircar garnered rave reviews for his story and direction.<ref name="hindustantimes.com"/> "Watching Nargis Fakhri embodying the cliché of a writer hammering away at a typewriter with a cigarette stuck between her lips is a visual joke for the ages." ''The Hindu'' wrote in a later analysis, "The Tamil spoken in the film isn't [[Sri Lankan Tamil dialects|Sri Lankan Tamil]] but the language you hear on the streets of Chennai – an odd gaffe for a film filled with so much research."<ref name="thehindu"/>

===Box office===
''Madras Cafe'' finished its theatrical run at the box office with average numbers. The film, which ruled the box office in its first week, saw a fall in business in its second week due to the release of ''[[Satyagraha (film)|Satyagraha]]''. However, the film still fetched {{INRConvert|86.3|m}} in its second week, taking the grand total to {{INRConvert|427|m}}.<ref name="ibtimes.co.in" />

''Madras Cafe'' has not fared well in terms of overseas box office collections. In the US and Australia, it has grossed around 56 million INR.<ref name="boxofficeindia1">[http://www.boxofficeindia.com/overdetail.php?page=shownews&articleid=6009&nCat= Boxofficeindia.com]. Box Office India. Retrieved 29 August 2013.</ref><ref>[http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/box-office/overseas/id/487 'Madras Cafe' fares very well, 'Chennai Express' dominates!Box Office Overseas Report]. Bollywood Hungama. Retrieved 29 August 2013.</ref>

==Awards and nominations==
In September 2013, Abraham's role as a RAW agent won him the "Pride of the Nation" award, given by the Anti-Terrorist Front, for "his attempt to raise the sensitive issue of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi's assassination".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.financialexpress.com/news/john-abraham-receives-pride-of-the-nation-award-for-his-role-in-madras-cafe/1170314 |title=John Abraham receives 'Pride of the Nation' Award for his role in 'Madras Cafe' |work=The Financial Express |date=17 September 2013 |access-date=27 November 2013}}</ref> The film was given Ramnath Goenka Memorial Award at 20th [[Screen Awards]] in January 2014. At the [[6th Mirchi Music Awards]], [[Shantanu Moitra]] won Background Score of the Year award.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.india.com/showbiz/mirchi-music-awards-2014-winners-shahrukh-khan-farhan-akhtar-honoured-aashiqui-2-wins-7-trophies-17842/|title=Mirchi Music Awards 2014 winners: Shahrukh Khan, Farhan Akhtar honoured; Aashiqui 2 wins 7 trophies|last=Parande|first=Shweta|date=28 February 2014|work=India.com|access-date=24 April 2018|language=en}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable sortable"
!Date of Ceremony
!Awards
!Category
!Recipient(s) and nominee(s)
!Result
!Ref.
|-
| rowspan="5" |18 December 2013
| rowspan="5" |[[BIG Star Entertainment Awards]]
|Most Entertaining Social Drama Film
| rowspan="2" |[[John Abraham (actor)|John Abraham]], [[Shoojit Sircar]]
|{{Nom}}
| rowspan="5" |<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/features/nominations-for-4th-big-star-entertainment-awards/|title=Nominations for 4th Big Star Entertainment Awards - Bollywood Hungama|last=Hungama|first=Bollywood|date=12 December 2013|work=Bollywood Hungama|access-date=19 July 2018|language=en-US}}</ref>
|-
|Most Entertaining Thriller Film
|{{Nom}}
|-
|Most Entertaining Actor in a Social Drama Film – Male
| rowspan="2" |[[John Abraham (actor)|John Abraham]]
|{{Nom}}
|-
|Most Entertaining Actor in a Thriller Film – Male
|{{Nom}}
|-
|Most Entertaining Actor in a Social Drama Film – Female
|[[Nargis Fakhri]]
|{{Nom}}
|-
| rowspan="10" |14 January 2014
| rowspan="10" |[[Star Screen Awards]]
|Ramnath Goenka Memorial Award
|''Madras Cafe''
|{{Won}}
| rowspan="10" |<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/20th-annual-screen-awards-2014-the-complete-list-of-nominees/444093-8-66.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140301031113/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/20th-annual-screen-awards-2014-the-complete-list-of-nominees/444093-8-66.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=1 March 2014|title=20th Annual Screen Awards 2014: The complete list of nominees|date=1 March 2014|access-date=19 July 2018}}</ref>
<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.indicine.com/movies/bollywood/screen-awards-2014-winners-full-list/|title=Screen Awards 2014 Winners - Full List|website=indicine.com|language=en-US|access-date=19 July 2018}}</ref>
|-
|Best Film
|[[John Abraham (actor)|John Abraham]], [[Shoojit Sircar]]
|{{Nom}}
|-
|Best Director
|[[Shoojit Sircar]]
|{{Won}}
|-
|Best Actor (Popular Choice)
|[[John Abraham (actor)|John Abraham]]
|{{Nom}}
|-
|Best Actor in a Negative Role
|[[Prakash Belawadi]]
|{{Nom}}
|-
|Best Cinematography
|Kamaljeet Negi
|{{Nom}}
|-
|Best Action
|Manohar Verma
|{{Won}}
|-
|Best Editing
|Chandrashekar Prajapati
|{{Nom}}
|-
|Best Production Design
|Vinod Kumar
|{{Nom}}
|-
|Best Sound Design
|Bishwadeep Chatterjee
|{{Nom}}
|-
| rowspan="4" |16 January 2014
| rowspan="4" |[[Producers Guild Film Awards]]
|Best Supporting Actress
| rowspan="2" |[[Raashi Khanna]]
|{{Nom}}
| rowspan="4" |<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/bollywood/story/9th-edition-renault-star-guild-awards-deepika-padukone-amitabh-bachchan-shah-rukh-khan-bollywood-177126-2014-01-16|title=9th Renault Star Guild Awards releases list of nominees|website=India Today|language=en|access-date=19 July 2018}}</ref>
<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.filmibeat.com/bollywood/news/2014/renault-star-guild-awards-2014-winners-list-129864.html|title=Star Guild Awards 2014 Winners List: Deepika, Farhan Wins Best Actress, Actor Award|date=17 January 2014|work=filmibeat.com|access-date=19 July 2018|language=en}}</ref>
|-
|Best Female Debut
|{{Nom}}
|-
|Best Sound Mixing
|Bishwadeep Chatterjee
|{{Won}}
|-
|Best Editing
|Chandrashekar Prajapati
|{{Won}}
|-
| rowspan="2" |[[59th Filmfare Awards|24 January 2014]]
| rowspan="2" |[[Filmfare Awards]]
|[[Filmfare Award for Best Cinematographer|Best Cinematography]]
|Kamaljit Negi
|{{Won}}
| rowspan="2" |<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.filmfare.com/news/winners-of-59th-idea-filmfare-awards-5220.html|title=Winners of 59th Idea Filmfare Awards|work=filmfare.com|access-date=19 July 2018|language=en}}</ref>
|-
|[[Filmfare Award for Best Sound Design|Best Sound Design]]
|Bishwadeep Chatterjee, Nihar Ranjan Samal
|{{Won}}
|-
| rowspan="4" |8 February 2014
| rowspan="4" |[[Zee Cine Awards]]
|Best Screenplay
|[[Shoojit Sircar]]
|{{Nom}}
| rowspan="4" |<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://zeenews.india.com/entertainment/zee-cine-awards-2014/zee-cine-awards-2014-complete-list-of-nominations_150384.html|title=Zee Cine Awards 2014: Complete list of nominations|date=6 February 2014|work=Zee News|access-date=19 July 2018|language=en}}</ref>
<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://zeenews.india.com/entertainment/zee-cine-awards-2014/zee-cine-awards-2014-winner-s-list_151176.html|title=Zee Cine Awards 2014: Winner's List|date=24 February 2014|work=Zee News|access-date=19 July 2018|language=en}}</ref>
|-
|Best Visual Effects
|''Madras Cafe''
|{{Nom}}
|-
|Best Sound Design
|Bishwadeep Chatterjee
|{{Won}}
|-
|Best Editing
|Chandrashekar Prajapati
|{{Nom}}
|-
|[[6th Mirchi Music Awards|27 February 2014]]
|[[Mirchi Music Awards]]
|Background Score of the Year
|[[Shantanu Moitra]]
|{{Won}}
|<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.india.com/showbiz/mirchi-music-awards-2014-winners-shahrukh-khan-farhan-akhtar-honoured-aashiqui-2-wins-7-trophies-17842/|title=Mirchi Music Awards 2014 winners: Shahrukh Khan, Farhan Akhtar honoured; Aashiqui 2 wins 7 trophies|last=Parande|first=Shweta|date=28 February 2014|work=India.com|access-date=19 July 2018|language=en}}</ref>
|-
| rowspan="2" |[[61st National Film Awards|3 May 2014]]
| rowspan="2" |[[National Film Awards]]
|[[National Film Award for Best Audiography|Best Audiography]] ([[Production sound mixer|Location Sound Recordist]])
|Nihar Ranjan Samal
|{{Won}}
| rowspan="2" |<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.indiatimes.com/entertainment/61st-national-film-awards-2014s-winners-full-list-141957.html|title=61st National Film Awards: 2014's Winners (Full List)|work=indiatimes.com|access-date=19 July 2018|language=en}}</ref>
|-
|[[National Film Award for Best Audiography|Best Audiography]] ([[Sound design|Sound Designer]])
|Bishwadeep Chatterjee
|{{Won}}
|}

==Soundtrack==
{{Infobox album
| name = Madras Cafe
| type = Soundtrack
| artist = [[Shantanu Moitra]]
| cover =
| border = yes
| alt =
| released = 6 August 2013
| recorded = 2013 Media Minds India. Pvt. Ltd Mumbai.
| venue =
| studio =
| genre = [[Film soundtrack|Feature film soundtrack]]
| length =
| language = [[Hindi language|Hindi]]
| label = [[T-Series (company)|T-Series]]
| producer = [[Shantanu Moitra]]
| prev_title = [[Inkaar (2013 film)|Inkaar]]
| prev_year = 2013
| next_title = [[Ente (film)|Ente]]
| next_year = 2013
}}
The film's soundtrack is composed by [[Shantanu Moitra]], and lyrics are written by Ali hayat, Zebunissa Bangash and Manoj Tapadia

{{Track listing
| headline = Madras Cafe
|extra_column = Singer(s)
|total_length = 30:46

| title1 = Sun Le Re
| extra1 = [[Papon (singer)|Papon]]
| lyrics1 = Ali Hayat
| length1 = 5:11

| title2 = Ajnabi
| extra2 = [[Zeb & Haniya|Zebunissa Bangash]]
| lyrics2 = Bilal Sami
| length2 = 5:17

| title3 = Khud Se
| extra3 = Papon
| lyrics3 = Manoj Tapadia
| length3 = 4:49

| title4 = Sun Le Re (Reprise)
| extra4 = Papon
| lyrics4 = Ali Hayat
| length4 = 3:58

| title5 = Madras Cafe Theme
| extra5 = Instrumental
| lyrics5 =
| length5 = 4:04

| title6 = Conspiracy
| extra6 = Instrumental
| lyrics6 =
| length6 = 3:07

| title7 = Entry to Jaffna
| extra7 = Instrumental
| lyrics7 =
| length7 = 1:06

| title8 = Title Theme
| extra8 = Instrumental
| lyrics8 =
| length8 = 3:16

}}

==Controversy==
{{criticism section|date=January 2014}}
The film's alleged negative depiction of rebels in the Sri Lankan civil war raised concerns.<ref name="livemint.com"/> After the release of the trailer, Tamil political parties [[Naam Tamilar Katchi|Naam Tamilar]]<ref>{{cite web|url = http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/naam-thamizhar-group-seeks-ban-on-madras-cafe/1/291925.html|title = 'Naam Thamizhar' group seeks ban on 'Madras Cafe'|date = 18 July 2013|access-date = 19 July 2013|work = [[India Today]]}}</ref> besides [[Pattali Makkal Katchi]]<ref>{{cite news|url=http://newindianexpress.com/states/tamil_nadu/Ban-Madras-Cafe-says-Ramadoss/2013/08/09/article1725522.ece|title=Ban Madras Cafe, says Ramadoss|work=The New Indian Express|date=9 August 2013|access-date=19 August 2013}}</ref> called for a ban on the film, citing that it depicts the members of [[Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam]] as terrorists. [[Sebastian Seeman|Seeman]] stated the heart of the movie is anti-Tamil and Prabhakaran is portrayed as villainous, also remarking that they would stop screenings of the film after a special preview was arranged for pro-Tamil outfits.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/will-not-allow-screening-of-john-abraham-madras-cafe-pro-tamil-groups/1/300132.html|title=John Abraham-starrer Madras Cafe in trouble as pro-Tamil outfits refuse to allow screening|date=18 August 2013|access-date=19 August 2013|agency=Press Trust of India|work=India Today}}</ref> [[Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam|MDMK]] party chief [[Vaiko]] sought a ban on the movie from the centre.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.firstpost.com/bollywood/vaikos-mdmk-seek-ban-on-screening-of-madras-cafe-1044079.html|title=Vaiko's MDMK seeks ban on screening of Madras Cafe|date=19 August 2013|access-date=19 August 2013|publisher=Firstpost}}</ref> [[Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam|DMK]] party chief [[Karunanidhi|M Karunanidhi]] asked the Tamil Nadu government to enquire if the film portrayed Sri Lankan Tamils in a poor light and if so, to take proper action.<ref>{{cite news|author=Special Correspondent|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/karunanidhi-on-madras-cafe/article5042549.ece|title=Karunanidhi on 'Madras Cafe'|location=CHENNAI|work=The Hindu|date=21 August 2013|access-date=21 August 2013}}</ref> Replying to the ban demands, John Abraham said while he respects the opinions of everyone, no one is above the Censor board and creativity should not be held at gun point.<ref>{{cite news|agency=Press Trust of India|url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/john-abraham-on-madras-cafe-ban-demands-no-one-above-censor-board/1157588/|title=John Abraham on |location=New Delhi |work=The Indian Express|date=20 August 2013|access-date=21 August 2013}}</ref> [[Mumbai]] [[Bharatiya Janata Party|BJP]] president Ashish Shelar said "the film is an effort to glorify a particular political party and its leaders by demeaning [an]other sect of people. This cannot be permitted", and threatened to stall the release of the film in Mumbai.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/bjp-opposes-release-of-madras-cafe-in-mumbai/article5045243.ece|title=BJP opposes release of Madras Cafe in Mumbai|location=Mumbai|work=The Hindu|date=21 August 2013|access-date=22 August 2013}}</ref>

The [[Madurai]] bench of [[Madras High Court]] dismissed a petition to ban the film,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/plea-for-ban-on-madras-caf-dismissed/article5030990.ece|title=Plea for ban on Madras Café dismissed|location=MADURAI|work=The Hindu|date=17 August 2013|access-date=19 August 2013}}</ref> although it accepted a similar petition to ban the film in Tamil Nadu—to cancel the clearance certificate by the [[Central Board of Film Certification]] (CBFC) and send notices to the director and producers of the film, Tamil Nadu [[Director General of Police]], the chairman of the CBFC. The hearing was posted on 21 August.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/ban-sought-on-madras-cafe-bench-orders-notice-to-cbfc-and-dgp/article5039156.ece|title=Ban sought on Madras Cafe, Bench orders notice to CBFC and DGP|location=MADURAI|work=The Hindu|date=20 August 2013|access-date=20 August 2013}}</ref> The petition also claimed that Sri Lankan president [[Mahinda Rajapaksa]] secretly financed the film to justify the [[Alleged war crimes during the final stages of the Sri Lankan Civil War|human rights violations]] during the final stages of the war. Upon hearing the arguments, the court refused to grant an interim injunction to prevent the release of the Hindi version, while noting the Tamil version should not be released without the CBFC's clearance, which was later obtained.<ref name="Tamil-Censor"/> It also issued notices to DGP, producer to give a detailed reply on charges by 3 September.<ref>{{cite news|agency=Press Trust of India|url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/madras-cafes-tamil-version-awaits-censor-board-clearance-release-may-be-delayed/1158253/0|title=Madras Cafe's Tamil version awaits Censor Board clearance, release may be delayed|location=Madurai|work=The Indian Express|date=21 August 2013|access-date=22 August 2013}}</ref> John Abraham has already refuted claims about Rajapaksa financing the film earlier during a promotional event.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/Entertainment/Bollywood/Sri-Lankan-president-Rajapaksa-didn-t-secretly-finance-Madras-Cafe-John-Abraham/Article1-1103992.aspx|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130807105306/http://www.hindustantimes.com/Entertainment/Bollywood/Sri-Lankan-president-Rajapaksa-didn-t-secretly-finance-Madras-Cafe-John-Abraham/Article1-1103992.aspx|url-status=dead|archive-date=7 August 2013|date=6 August 2013|access-date=22 August 2013|work=Hindustan Times|title=Sri Lankan president Rajapaksa didn't secretly finance Madras Cafe: John Abraham}}</ref>

Following protests by the [[Tamil diaspora]] in the United Kingdom and negative feedback alleging that the film promoted anti-[[Tamil people|Tamil]] [[prejudice]]s, several theatres in the state chose not to screen the film.<ref>{{cite news|author=Nyay Bhushan |url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/madras-cafe-screenings-withdrawn-some-613719|title='Madras Cafe' Screenings Withdrawn in Some U.K., Indian Cities|work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|date=26 August 2013|access-date=29 August 2013}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Assassination of Rajiv Gandhi]]
* [[2009 Tamil diaspora protests]]
* ''[[Kuttrapathirikai]]''
* ''[[The Terrorist (1997 film)|The Terrorist]]''
* ''[[Kannathil Muthamittal]]''

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20190120054412/http://www.decodemadrascafe.com/ Official website]
* {{IMDb title|2855648}}

{{Shoojit Sircar}}

[[Category:2013 action drama films]]
[[Category:2010s action war films]]
[[Category:2013 action thriller films]]
[[Category:2010s political thriller films]]
[[Category:2010s spy thriller films]]
[[Category:Films about journalists]]
[[Category:Films about security and surveillance]]
[[Category:Films about terrorism in India]]
[[Category:Films shot in Malaysia]]
[[Category:Films set in the 1990s]]
[[Category:Films shot in Delhi]]
[[Category:2010s Hindi-language films]]
[[Category:Films scored by Shantanu Moitra]]
[[Category:Indian political thriller films]]
[[Category:Indian spy thriller films]]
[[Category:Indian action war films]]
[[Category:Indian action thriller films]]
[[Category:Indian action drama films]]
[[Category:Indian war drama films]]
[[Category:2013 war drama films]]
[[Category:2013 films]]
[[Category:Films set in Sri Lanka]]
[[Category:Works about the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi]]
[[Category:Films directed by Shoojit Sircar]]
[[Category:Films about the Research and Analysis Wing]]
[[Category:Films that won the Best Audiography National Film Award]]
[[Category:Viacom18 Studios films]]
[[Category:Cultural depictions of Rajiv Gandhi]]
[[Category:Indian Peace Keeping Force]]

IndianPedia - User contributions [en]

Madras Cafe