Traffic Signal (2007)

Sick Product of a Sick System

One of my all time favorites.

Expected more

A movie that not only functions as a solid scarefest but a razor-sharp satire.

"Documentary styled Bollywood Movie" Madhur Bhadarkar has created a genre in Bollywood (pity there is no one yet who contributes to it). He does slice-and-dice of an industry and shows it inside out leaving the audience "begging" for more.Traffic Signal treads the same path as Page 3. It gives an insight into the lives of beggars in India and the nexus/ cartel that we thought never exists! Just like any other corporate industry, it showcases the opportunities, threats, do-and-don't's, the hardships, the middle-men and the kingpin. It has a sugary-romance (reality check on Yash Raj movies) and an upright officer fighting for justice (typical Bollywood!).Kunal Khemu gives his best shot. The ring-leader is in gym-toned body while the beggars are malnutritioned. Explains why! Neetu Chandra does leave much impact though she had an opportunity of lifetime.Konkana Sen Sharma and Ranvir Shorey need no words for their performance. They are absolutely spot-on and probably the most convincing characters.Upendra Limaye (a Madhur's regular) was miscast this time around.Nassar Abdullah reprises his Page 3 character once again.Sudhir Mishra, sorry but you weren't the right choice. Mahesh Manjarekar probably? There are a few character artistes in Bollywood noted for their typical, distinguished, one track performance. Razak Khan, Makrand Deshpande and Bobby Darling come to Top of Mind recall.Manoj Joshi is as usual dependable.The inspector puts up a authentic performance (Mukesh Tyagi?).Next time you stop by the Traffic Signal, your eyes will not see the same.

Traffic Signal (2007) is the best movie I have seen in a very long time. Directed by Madhur Bhandarkar, who has taken a social stance on his movies, it is better than any Bollywood of Hollywood effort in the past year.Centred on those on the fringe and making money by begging at a certain traffic stop in Mumbai, it takes viewers on a journey in to what life is really like outside of the sugar coated, glossy depiction in other Bollywood movies. It strays from Bollywood convention but pays subtle homage to the song and dance routines that has made Bollywood a major economic force.The traffic stop is managed by Silsila, who feels at home among the poor on that street. Even bragging that he began working there at just 10 days old. He feels a moral responsibility for those there, seeing that despite being beggars, they are also human beings and have embraced this way of life. Protection is payed by all those working the traffic signal and the money is used to bribe government officials and then rest is given to a local mafioso, Bhaijaan. It also shows viewers how traffic signals are a major underground economy. Where traffic is forced in order to allow for begging from stopped cars.This movie is heartbreaking and enduring in many ways. Firstly, all of the actors are relative unknowns or from the indie circuit in the industry who prove that they have acting chops to outdo any seasoned actor. Secondly, the realistic approach gets through to viewers through clean and subtle directing and cinematography. Thirdly, the characters themselves are simple and in contrast with the rich that they beg from, shows that the human spirit is more alive in the ordinary. This movie takes you in to the lives of beggars, disabled, poor, prostitutes, drug addicts, newbies to the fringe, social workers and shop girls and even children as they try to make their living at the traffic signal. It also shows us the consequences of our actions and how one small action can affect many.This movie doesn't try to make you feel guilty. It doesn't try to preach nor does it try to educate. It is simply a movie about characters on the fringe. That is what makes this movie so striking. It just is. It is just a realistic portrayal that is so incredibly pure because the director doesn't try to make it be about enlightening on purpose. It's a natural and unforced portrayal.Madhur Bhandarkar has done many movies which take on a realistic approach, such as Corporate and Page 3. Perhaps that is why he has won so many awards for his work. What I do know is that Madhur Bhandarkar takes everything that should be different and interesting about Bollywood and actually makes it good.This movie should be India's entry to next year's Oscars, but sadly that probably won't happen as India has a history of choosing their regular fluffy Bollywood films as their official entries. Either way, I urge you to all see this.

After the hard hitting movies like Chandni Bar, Page 3, Corporate, now comes another realistic movie from the house of Madhur Bhandarkar. If Chandni Bar was about Bar Girls, Page 3 was about high society parties, Corporate was about Corporate Lives then Traffic Signal is about the peoples living around traffic signals.Traffic Signal is about the dark hidden truth behind the irony of peoples making their breads around traffic signals and the politics beind it. This movie shows the relation between these peoples with politicans and underworld. This shows the sufferring of these peoples in the hands of politicians for their own interests.Kunal Khemu as Silsila whose name has been derived from Silsila the movie as his father liked that movie very much. He has done justice to his role. Neetu Chandra is also impressive. Konkana has played the role of Prostitute. She needs a special mention for her passion to the role played. Their are peoples as eunuchs, prostitutes, physically handicapped, fruit vendors, newspapers & magazines etc. The relation between these peoples have been showed nicely. It is also said that most of the peoples are actually from Traffic Signals.

We know very well that there exists a racket or rather a complete mafia in those shady people you get to see a traffic signals but is that system so well defined? I doubt. Another thing, is there only angels that live at signals as depicted here or are there devils too, who sadly you don't see. But further I like to add that among new age directors Madhur Bhandarkar is one person who takes up issues and characters from daily life, and has guts to give them a voice. Sadly this time, that voice is lacking.Over dramatic, too verbose, noisy, too much structured with not much development in storyline till you reach climax are few things that has taken its toll. The result a half- baked product. When you don't have much too say and have no statement to make, this is what happened to even unconventional, offbeat cinema too. Don't just put interesting, relevant characters, but rather craft a screenplay around it, then only things make sense otherwise not. The height here is even an item song to please certain type of audience. . After few scenes, the narrative becomes repetitive. The subtle and sensitive approach towards the subject is not taken. Also film is replete with tele, close shots and in absence of establishment shots, the impact falls. Not every time a narrative that works for "Page three" works in every set up.Nonetheless, there are few plus points. The film is free from any vulgarity and can be watched with family. Few scenes viz. the ones with Ranvir sheorey are nicely done. Madhur Bhandarkar still deserves a pat on shoulder for exploring topics that are away from the vicinity of rotten, commercial cinema.