"I can say that this is a work of fiction, but the backdrop is definitely about the Tamil conflict and about what happened in Sri Lanka," the 40-year-old said here Tuesday at a football event.
Directed by Shoojit Sircar, "Madras Cafe" also stars Nargis Fakhri and hits theatres Aug 23.
John states that everyone must watch "Madras Cafe".
"There are a lot of events that will come to life and we have presented it in a commercial way. Our youngsters don't know about what happened in the late 1980s and the early 1990s," added the actor, who is not only playing the lead role in the political thriller, but has also produced it.
"I don't know whether it's a good film or a bad film, but it's a film that everyone must see because it will give you an insight into what India is about," he added.
