Film Industry: Nargis Fakhri, who plays a war correspondent in Madras Café, interviews John Abraham and director Shoojit Sircar

Nargis Fakhri, who plays a war correspondent in Madras Café, interviews John Abraham and director Shoojit Sircar

This film brings us closer to what changed India’s political history

Nargis Fakhri, who plays a war correspondent in Madras Café, interviews John Abraham and director Shoojit Sircar

Nargis Fakhri: What makes M a d ra s C a f é , a signature John Abraham film?
John Abraham: This is a story both of us have been wanting to tell for a long time, but Vicky Donor happened earlier. Then Shoojit and I discussed how we want to educate the young audience and also entertain them. It was this common idea that made us work on this film.
NF: What is the significance of the title? Shoojit Sircar:
Wherever you have an Indian population, there is a Madras Café. This could be in London, New York or Singapore. The main conspiracy of the film happens in the café. While we’ve not addressed where the café is located, it is an integral part of the plot, almost like a character.
NF: Why did you choose this subject? Shoojit: Since I have Tamilian friends, I have always followed the Tamil issues. My films have always touched upon issues that have bothered me — be it the Kashmir issue in Yahaan or infertility and sperm donation in Vicky Donor. John: I clearly remember a day in the early 1990s, when I woke up to see my mother crying. I learnt that Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated. That moment intrigued me. I like to know about everything around me, not just Kashmir but even Bosnia, Serbia or Africa. This film brings us closer to what changed the political history of our country.
NF: Does the film take a stand on political issues? John: There is no truth in that rumour. We even flew down to Chennai to clarify it.
NF: How difficult was it to shoot the depiction of the civil war? Shoojit: It was challenging; be it the artwork, production design or cinematography, which has been done splendidly by Kamal Negi. We were supposed to shoot in Sri Lanka, but the content of the film was such that we would never be able to do justice to it over there. That’s why we recreated it in Kerala and Tamil Nadu. For instance, we’ve depicted how a guerilla civil war takes place.
NF: What was your brief to John when approaching his role? Shoojit: I asked John to be himself and treat his role — as a special forces agent — without thinking about what he has learnt so far in the industry. In a way, he’d to unlearn whatever he learnt during films like Force and Shootout At Wadala.
NF: How was it working with me (Nargis)? John: Everyone would wait for Nargis to reach the set, especially our director.
Shoojit: My team would jibe me that Nargis will reach the set in three days. It was really great working with her. Her character Jaya is inspired by many war correspondents, including Anita Pratap.
Madras Cafe, under the banner of JA Entertainment, Viacom18 Motion Pictures and Rising Sun Films Production, releases August 23.