Madras Cafe is a 2013 Indian political espionage thriller film directed by Shoojit Sircar and starring John Abraham, Nargis Fakhri, and Rashi Khanna. The film is set in the late 1980s and early 1990s during the Sri Lankan Civil War.
The plot of the film revolves around an Indian intelligence agent named Vikram Singh, who is sent to Jaffna, Sri Lanka, to gather intelligence on the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), a militant organization fighting for the independence of the Tamil people in Sri Lanka. He meets a passionate journalist named Jaya Sahni, who is covering the conflict in Sri Lanka.
As Vikram begins his mission, he realizes that the conflict is more complex than he thought, and the rebel group is more resolute than he expected. The film depicts the atrocities committed by both the Sri Lankan Army and the rebels and the collateral damage to innocent civilians caught in the crossfire.
Jaya helps Vikram navigate the complex political landscape and eventually develops a romantic relationship with him. However, their relationship is tested when they discover different perspectives on the conflict.
The film received critical acclaim for its performances, direction, and screenplay. It was praised for its balanced portrayal of the Sri Lankan conflict and its impact on innocent civilians. It also drew controversy and criticism from some Tamil groups who felt that it portrayed the LTTE in a negative light.
Overall, Madras Cafe is a thought-provoking film that sheds light on a lesser-known conflict and the impact of political decisions on ordinary people.