Madras Cafe

Madras Cafe

Year: 2013

Runtime: 130 mins

Language: Hindi

Director: Shoojit Sircar

DramaThrillerAction

Intercept The Truth An Indian intelligence agent journeys to a war-torn coastal island to break a resolute rebel group and meets a passionate journalist.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen Madras Cafe yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

Timeline – Madras Cafe (2013)

Trace every key event in Madras Cafe (2013) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Jaffna bus massacre opens the film

A bus packed with passengers is halted by armed men in Jaffna, erupting into a brutal massacre. The violence establishes the film's tense, unflinching tone and shows the immediacy of the conflict. Survivors and onlookers are left grappling with the shock and the sense that nothing will be the same.

Present Jaffna, Sri Lanka
2

Vikram in Kasauli watches news of the Sri Lankan president's death

In Kasauli, Vikram Singh sits before a television and absorbs reports of the Sri Lankan president's death in a suicide bombing. The news expands the political stakes beyond the battlefield. The moment foreshadows the personal and national costs that will follow.

Present Kasauli, India
3

Church confrontation begins; Vikram's confession

Vikram goes to a nearby church where a priest probes his supposed conspiracy. The priest's lingering questions push Vikram toward recounting his own story. The scene marks a shift from present danger to a deeper, personal narrative.

Present Church, Kasauli
4

Five years earlier: LTTE rise and Indian withdrawal

Five years earlier, the island's turmoil grows into brutal fighting between the Sri Lankan military and Tamil militant groups. Tamil youths join the Liberation Tamil Front under Anna Bhaskaran, a figure drawn from LTTE leadership. An Indian peace accord is proposed, but the LTTE refuses and Indian peacekeepers withdraw.

Five years earlier Sri Lanka
5

RD briefs Vikram and sets the mission

Robin Dutt, the RAW chief, calls on his best man to intervene as the crisis deepens. After briefing RD and his deputy Swaroop, Vikram is assigned to blunt the rebels’ momentum. The briefing signals India's active, behind-the-scenes involvement.

Five years earlier Delhi, India
6

Vikram travels to Sri Lanka; meets Jaya; Narayanan leads to Shri

Vikram travels to Sri Lanka to assess options and gather allies. He meets war correspondent Jaya Sahni, whose reporting helps map the battlefield. An informant, Narayanan, directs Vikram to Shri, while Balakrishnan guides the overarching strategy from behind the scenes.

Five years earlier Sri Lanka
7

Plan to arm Shri; July 6 weapons deal

Vikram promises Shri armed support to challenge Anna, setting in motion a weapons deal scheduled for July 6. The plan relies on Shri taking a stand against the rebel leadership. Tension builds as both sides weigh the potential consequences.

July 6 Sri Lanka
8

LTF ambush sabotages the weapons deal

The LTF ambushes the weapons consignment, wiping out the intended supply and killing one of Vikram's associates. Balakrishnan urges Vikram to retreat to the Colombo Safehouse, while Vikram's paranoia grows and SP begins monitoring Balakrishnan's moves.

July 6 (aftermath) Sri Lanka
9

Vikram adopts a new approach; meeting Mallayya

Posing as a war correspondent, Vikram travels to Colombo to meet Mallayya, the LTF's effective second-in-command. RD argues for a political solution, while Vikram presses Mallayya to position himself as the rebels’ champion, fracturing the LTF from within. The gambit aims to tilt the balance of power.

After ambush Colombo, Sri Lanka
10

Major strike, leadership losses, PM resigns

A major Indian strike on the LTF base throws Anna's forces into disarray. Anna survives but Mallayya and Shri are killed, and the Indian Prime Minister resigns in the wake of the crisis. Vikram witnesses the collapse of the operation's momentum.

Weeks after July 6 Sri Lanka
11

Mole doubts and papers destroyed; SP investigates

Back in Delhi, phone intercepts hint at Anna's plans, but Balakrishnan dismisses the suspicions. SP suspects a mole, and Balakrishnan destroys the remaining papers, fueling Vikram's suspicion that Balakrishnan is leaking information. Vikram tracks Balakrishnan’s movements with the help of his allies.

Weeks later Delhi, India
12

Personal betrayals unfold; honeytraps and suicide

Vikram's personal life unravels as Ruby is murdered and Vasu is captured in Kochi. Balakrishnan is revealed to be leaking information with a man named Reed from Singapore and is honeytrapped, eventually committing suicide. Jaya's reporting helps verify the leaks from Bangkok, deepening the sense of betrayal.

Midpoint Kochi, Bangkok
13

Code Red and the ex-PM assassination plan

RAW decodes intercepts confirming fake Balakrishnan passports and hidden accounts, signaling a Code Red scenario to assassinate the ex-Prime Minister. A coastline lockdown is ordered as a massive manhunt unfolds. The mounting pressure shows how the political landscape becomes inseparable from the war's harsh realities.

Weeks later Delhi, India
14

The ex-PM rally attack; Vikram races to the venue

Vikram learns of a planned attack during the ex-Prime Minister's rally and races to the venue. As a wreath is placed on the stage, a suicide bomber detonates, killing the ex-PM and many others; Vikram arrives just as the catastrophe unfolds. The mission ends in failure, leaving him shaken.

10 PM (X PM) Rally venue (unspecified city), India
15

Verdict, retirement, and the present

Vikram files his report with the investigation committee, which accepts his account. RD resigns in the wake of the catastrophe, and Vikram retires from the service, returning to Kasauli. The present-day framing returns to the church, where Vikram reflects that the conflict has exacted a heavy toll and that no one truly wins.

Post-attack / Present Delhi, India; Kasauli, India

Last Updated: October 03, 2025 at 14:52

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Unlock the Full Story of Madras Cafe

Don't stop at just watching — explore Madras Cafe in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Madras Cafe is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Madras Cafe Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Madras Cafe, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Madras Cafe Summary

Characters, Settings & Themes in Madras Cafe

Discover the characters, locations, and core themes that shape Madras Cafe. Get insights into symbolic elements, setting significance, and deeper narrative meaning — ideal for thematic analysis and movie breakdowns.

Characters, Settings & Themes in Madras Cafe

Madras Cafe Spoiler-Free Summary

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Madras Cafe Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Madras Cafe

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