We can't challenge the intelligence of audiences: Shoojit Sircar

Director Shoojit Sircar is confident that the audiences will accept his forthcoming film "Madras Cafe" as there is an intellectual section which wants to watch such films.

Set against the backdrop of the Sri Lankan civil war, the film features John Abraham and Nargis Fakhri. It is set to release Aug 23 in Hindi and Tamil.

"We can't challenge the intelligence of our audiences. They want to see such films. They also want to see the 100 crore films, we want our film also to do that kind of business, but there is a section which we can't ignore who want to see good films," Sircar said here in an interview.

The director gives the example of his super hit film "Vicky Donor", based on a taboo subject like sperm donation. He feels that if the audience can accept such films, then they are definitely ready for a political thriller like "Madras Cafe".

"I never thought 'Vicky Donor' will become such a cult. It is a very serious film for me. You laughed but I didn't try to make anyone laugh. I dealt with a subject I thought no one would want to watch. We talk about infertility or sperm donor in our bedrooms," said Sircar.

"Then things like falling in love with a divorcee, Punjabis abusing Bengalis and vice versa, I thought people will get angry with me for making such a film. But the audience accepted such a taboo topic.

"No one could have also thought that mother-in-law and daughter-in-law will drink alcohol together, but they were and people enjoyed and many old ladies called me up and were happy. It was a sensitive subject and if the audience can accept that, then they are ready to see this film also."