Traffic Signal (film)

Infobox Film
name = Traffic Signal


director = Madhur Bhandarkar
writer = Sachin Yardi
starring = Konkona Sen Sharma
Kunal Khemu
Neetu Chandra
Ranvir Shorey
producer = Baldev Pushkarna
Kavita Pushkarna
distributor = Bhandarkar Entertainment
cinematography = Mahesh Limaye
editing = |
released = February 2,2007
runtime =
language = Hindi
music = Raju Singh
Shamir Tandon
preceded_by = "Page 3" (2005)
"Corporate" (2006)
imdb_id = 0819810

"Traffic Signal" is a Bollywood film directed by Madhur Bhandarkar.It stars Kunal Khemu, Konkona Sen Sharma and Neetu Chandra .Bhandarkar won National Film Awards in 2007 as Best Director for this film, also won, Anil Moti Ram Palande, the first National Film Award for Best Make-up Artist [http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/thscrip/print.pl?file=2008061159891100.htm&date=2008/06/11/&prd=th& 54th National Film Awards] The Hindu, June 11, 2008.] .

Synopsis

This film is about the lives and travails of people living around a fictitious traffic signal in Mumbai.

Anybody who drives in Mumbai has experienced the 2-odd minute wait at a traffic signal. But do you know that you contribute to the economy at that signal?

The traffic signal includes a microcosm of people who derive their daily livelihoods from it. There are beggars (kids and adults), prostitutes, tricksters, eunuchs and others who sell clothes, flowers and trinkets. They speak quickly, act fast and operate somewhat honorably (with each other) to eke a meager living out of the harsh Bombay street life. They owe allegiance and "hafta" (weekly "protection" fee) to the Signal Manager, Silsila (Kunal Khemu).

Silsila grew up at the signal. He ran various trades at the signal before he became the Manager. He is an ideal manager: sensitive and caring of his workers yet ruthless when it comes to delivery. Silsila reports into a mid-level don, Jaffar, who in turn reports to the big boss Haji bhaijaan.

Life is well at the signal. A gentle young girl, Rani (Neetu Chandra), arrives at the signal to sell ethnic clothes. The initial fireworks blossom into deeper companionship with Silsila. Everything proceeds normally.

Unbeknownst to Silsila, Haji bhaijaan is part of a larger nexus of evil that comprises politicians and the larger Mafia. Haji is forced to play a dangerous game where he is forced to invoke the unwitting pawn, Silsila, to start a series of events that could ultimately destroy the traffic signal. Silsila is blissfully unaware of the larger consequences as he carries out his orders without question. But reality dawns on him when he is apprehended in a case of murder, extortion and bribery where he was hardly aware of things.

The signal faces destruction. Silsila's world, and all the people who grew up with it, face extinction. Silsila is forced to make a choice between his life and his world. As his life moves from Green to Red, he may only hope that the signal moves from Red to Green.

Notes

The street lingo, Bambaiya, is captured in the movie. It provides a real, grounded and straight-to-the-bone thematic element that projects the lives of the denizens and the circumstances that affect them.

Cast

[ [http://www.indiafm.com/movies/cast/12861/index.html Traffic Signal : Complete Cast and Crew details ] ]
*Kunal Khemu as...... Silsila
*Konkona Sen Sharma as...... Noorie
*Neetu Chandra as...... Rani
*Ranvir Shorey as...... Dominic D'Souza

Awards

* 2007 : National Film Award for Best Directing for , "Madhur Bhandarkar"
* 2007 : Best Make-up Artist for , "Anil Moti Ram Palande"

Trivia

*This movie is the last part of Madhur Bhandarkar's trilogy after "Page 3" (2005)and "Corporate" (2006) [ [http://imsports.rediff.com/movies/2007/jan/31madhur.htm Madhur Bhandarkar on Traffic ] ]
*Konkona Sen Sharma acting is critically acclaimed and she got very good reviews for her role. Reviews state that Konkona Sen Sharma is able to bring a shred of credibility to her part in this movie. [ [http://www.ibnlive.com/news/masands-verdict-traffic-signal/32637-8-1.html Masand's Verdict: Traffic Signal ] ]

References

External links

* [http://www.trafficsignalthefilm.com Official website]
*imdb title|id=0819810|title=Traffic Signal
* [http://www.indiafm.com/movies/cast/12861/index.html "Traffic Signal" at Indiafm.com]