The buzz around John Abraham’s new film Madras Café is audible across the world as the tense political thriller is making headlines ahead of its international release on 23rd August 2013. Some pro-Tamil organisations have even called for a worldwide ban of the film.
Reacting positively to the critics John Abraham, who stars in the lead role as the Indian RAW intelligence security officer Captain Vikram Singh and whose production banner JA Entertainment co-produced the film, spoke out this week. The actor said that he was more than happy to clear any misgivings about the film and even to hold screenings for those people who have raised objections.
‘There have been a lot of enquiries from ruling parties and the opposition parties and the interest has increased and they want to see the film. We are ready to show it to them, but only when they watch it as viewers’, said John Abraham.
Director Shoojit Sircar has also agreed with John Abraham and has stated that the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has cleared the film. He cited that he hopes that no groups would exploit the film for their political gain.
‘We have shown the film to the censor board, the biggest democratic body and they have cleared us. I think we should trust them and if someone wants to see the film, we will definitely show it to them’, Shootjit Sircar said.
Among the various factions demanding a ban of Madras Café is Naam Thamizhar (We Tamils), a Tamil activist group, which has sought a ban on the film for reportedly portraying Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) members as terrorists. Those in favour of the film include the Police Commissioner of Chennai, who has gone on record to say there is nothing wrong with the film and that the police will ensure a peaceful release of the film in Chennai.
Viacom18 Motion Pictures and JA Entertainment released a statement saying: ‘We have made a realistic film without been frivolous and over sensationalising anything as we believe that the Indian audiences are now looking for credible and realistic cinema. We have told a story, it’s our right of creative expression, we have worked hard to make this film. We only urge people to see the film without being biased and judge it on its merit and not politicize a creative product.’
Madras Café is a political action thriller set against the backdrop of the tumultuous and controversial Sri Lankan civil war of the 1980s. The film stars John Abraham as an Indian Army Intelligence Agent sent to Sri Lanka to break a resolute rebel group. Once there, he meets a charismatic female journalist, played by Nargis Fakhri who is determined to uncover the truth about the civil war. Together the pair uncovers a deeper, sinister conspiracy by a faceless enemy.
Viacom18 Motion Pictures and JA Entertainment present A JA Entertainment and Rising Sun Films Production Madras Café. Madras Café releases nationwide on 23rd August 2013.
