Traffic Signal (film)
Encyclopedia
Traffic Signal is a Bollywood
film directed by Madhur Bhandarkar
, starring Kunal Khemu, Neetu Chandra
, Ranvir Shorey
and Konkona Sen Sharma
in the lead. Produced by Baldev and Kavita Pushkarna, and written by Sachin Yardi
, the film released on February 2, 2007. Bhandarkar won National Film Awards
in 2007 as Best Director
for this film, and Anil Moti Ram Palande, the first National Film Award for Best Make-up Artist
.
.
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 Mumbai
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.
's trilogy
after Page 3
(2005) and Corporate
(2006) 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.
Bollywood
Bollywood is the informal term popularly used for the Hindi-language film industry based in Mumbai , Maharashtra, India. The term is often incorrectly used to refer to the whole of Indian cinema; it is only a part of the total Indian film industry, which includes other production centers producing...
film directed by Madhur Bhandarkar
Madhur Bhandarkar
Madhur Bhandarkar is a National Award-winning Indian film director, script writer, and producer. He is best known for his films such as Chandni Bar , Page 3 , Traffic Signal , and Fashion...
, starring Kunal Khemu, Neetu Chandra
Neetu Chandra
Neetu Chandra is an Indian theatre and film actress and model.-Early life and education:Neetu Chandra was born in Patna, Bihar, India. A resident of Patliputra Colony, she did her schooling from the Notre Dame Academy, Patna, and dreamt of entering the modelling world...
, Ranvir Shorey
Ranvir Shorey
Ranvir Shorey is an Indian actor and former VJ. Since making his debut in Ek Chotisi Love Story , he has starred in a number of high profile films such as Jism and Lakshya...
and Konkona Sen Sharma
Konkona Sen Sharma
Konkona Sen Sharma is an Indian actress. She is the daughter of actress and filmmaker Aparna Sen. Sharma appears primarily in Indian arthouse and independent films, and her achievements in the genre have established her as one of the leading actresses of contemporary parallel cinema.Making her...
in the lead. Produced by Baldev and Kavita Pushkarna, and written by Sachin Yardi
Sachin Yardi
Sachin Yardi is a Hindi film director and screenwriter from India. His directorial debut C Kkompany was after writing scripts for Kyaa Kool Hai Hum and Madhur Bhandarkar's award-winning Traffic Signal .- Screenwriter :...
, the film released on February 2, 2007. Bhandarkar won National Film Awards
National Film Awards
The National Film Awards is the most prominent film award ceremony in India. Established in 1954, it is administered, along with the International Film Festival of India and the Indian Panorama, by the Indian government's Directorate of Film Festivals since 1973.Every year, a national panel...
in 2007 as Best Director
National Film Award for Best Directing
The National Film Award for Best Direction winners are given below. Satyajit Ray has been awarded the maximum number of times in this category....
for this film, and Anil Moti Ram Palande, the first National Film Award for Best Make-up Artist
National Film Award for Best Make-up Artist
The National Film Award - Best Make-up Artist given for the first time in the year 2008, at 54th National Film Awards .Winners:-References:...
.
Synopsis
This film is about the lives and travails of people living around a fictitious traffic signal in MumbaiMumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
.
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
Hijra
Hijra as an Arabic word meaning migration or flight may refer to:* The Hijra is the emigration of Muhammad and his followers to the city of Medina in 622 CE, marking the first year of the Islamic calendar, 1 AH * Hijri year, marks the start of the Hijri year of the Islamic calendar*...
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 Mumbai
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
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
Neetu Chandra
Neetu Chandra is an Indian theatre and film actress and model.-Early life and education:Neetu Chandra was born in Patna, Bihar, India. A resident of Patliputra Colony, she did her schooling from the Notre Dame Academy, Patna, and dreamt of entering the modelling world...
), 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.
Cast
- Kunal Khemu as Silsila
- Neetu ChandraNeetu ChandraNeetu Chandra is an Indian theatre and film actress and model.-Early life and education:Neetu Chandra was born in Patna, Bihar, India. A resident of Patliputra Colony, she did her schooling from the Notre Dame Academy, Patna, and dreamt of entering the modelling world...
as Rani - Ranvir ShoreyRanvir ShoreyRanvir Shorey is an Indian actor and former VJ. Since making his debut in Ek Chotisi Love Story , he has starred in a number of high profile films such as Jism and Lakshya...
as Dominic - Konkona Sen SharmaKonkona Sen SharmaKonkona Sen Sharma is an Indian actress. She is the daughter of actress and filmmaker Aparna Sen. Sharma appears primarily in Indian arthouse and independent films, and her achievements in the genre have established her as one of the leading actresses of contemporary parallel cinema.Making her...
as Noorie - Upendra LimayeUpendra LimayeUpendra Limaye is a versatile Indian actor who has performed a wide variety of roles on stage, screen and television. He has earned several prestigious awards for acting. He has acted in numerous experimental plays, Marathi parallel films, television serials, Hindi mainstream movies and a few South...
as Mangaya - Gopal K. Singh as Samari
- Madhu Sharma as Business man's wife
Awards
- 2007 : National Film Award for Best DirectingNational Film Award for Best DirectingThe National Film Award for Best Direction winners are given below. Satyajit Ray has been awarded the maximum number of times in this category....
for , Madhur BhandarkarMadhur BhandarkarMadhur Bhandarkar is a National Award-winning Indian film director, script writer, and producer. He is best known for his films such as Chandni Bar , Page 3 , Traffic Signal , and Fashion... - 2007 : Best Make-up ArtistNational Film Award for Best Make-up ArtistThe National Film Award - Best Make-up Artist given for the first time in the year 2008, at 54th National Film Awards .Winners:-References:...
for , Anil Moti Ram Palande
Reception
This movie is the last part of Madhur BhandarkarMadhur Bhandarkar
Madhur Bhandarkar is a National Award-winning Indian film director, script writer, and producer. He is best known for his films such as Chandni Bar , Page 3 , Traffic Signal , and Fashion...
's trilogy
Trilogy
A trilogy is a set of three works of art that are connected, and that can be seen either as a single work or as three individual works. They are commonly found in literature, film, or video games...
after Page 3
Page 3 (film)
Page 3 is a 2005 Indian film directed by Madhur Bhandarkar about the Page 3 Culture and media in the city of Mumbai. It stars Konkona Sen Sharma, Atul Kulkarni, Sandhya Mridul, Tara Sharma, Anju Mahendru, and Boman Irani...
(2005) and Corporate
Corporate (film)
Corporate is a Bollywood film released in July 2006. The film directed by Madhur Bhandarkar stars Bipasha Basu, Kay Kay Menon, Payal Rohatgi, Minissha Lamba and Raj Babbar.-Plot:...
(2006) Konkona Sen Sharma
Konkona Sen Sharma
Konkona Sen Sharma is an Indian actress. She is the daughter of actress and filmmaker Aparna Sen. Sharma appears primarily in Indian arthouse and independent films, and her achievements in the genre have established her as one of the leading actresses of contemporary parallel cinema.Making her...
acting is critically acclaimed and she got very good reviews for her role. Reviews state that Konkona Sen Sharma
Konkona Sen Sharma
Konkona Sen Sharma is an Indian actress. She is the daughter of actress and filmmaker Aparna Sen. Sharma appears primarily in Indian arthouse and independent films, and her achievements in the genre have established her as one of the leading actresses of contemporary parallel cinema.Making her...
is able to bring a shred of credibility to her part in this movie.