It’s supposed to be the completion of a trilogy. It also happens to be the weakest link in the cog of wheels comprising realistic cinema(Page 3, Corporate) that dares to entertain by letting you delve into the harsh stream of ever moving consciousness. Madhur Bhandarkar’s ‘Traffic Signal’ stands out for some fine slices-of-life-performances. But as a film it fails to leave lasting imprints. And that’s a disappointment for both ‘Page 3’ and ‘Corporate’ were far better films in its entirety as they never took a simplistic turnaround. Especially the ending!
Begging is big business. There’s a well oiled network that works in tandem at traffic signals. Unkempt thin toddlers are in demand. For they fetch pity-n-mercy. A street further, perky sex worker Noorie(Konkona Sen Sharma) is facing competition from gigolos who are eating into her business. She can’t stand anyone showing sympathy. Not even friendly drug addict Dominic(Ranveer Sheorey) who is a beggar of a different class. For, he is an English speaking ‘Software Engineer’ who has lost his wallet‘.
Traffic Signal’ moves forward on the steam of the ‘Nukkad’ like episodes of these nondescript characters. How the builder lobby affects the plight of these dwellers forms the rest of the film. At the end of it all, you are left with little rag picker Chinnaswami who keeps calling the Tsunami relief camp in Chennai hoping to get some news about his family swept away in the disastrous calamity. He spends everything he earns on such phone calls, determined to hear a ‘good news’. Maybe some day. Another kid spends a fortune of his earnings on buying creams that promise to make you fair and lovely. Alas he ends up throwing mud at the false promises of the cream manufactures.
Shamir Tandon’s music is notable for the thoughtful ‘Yeh Zindagi Hai to Kya Zindagi Hai’ beautifully sung by Hariharan and Bhupendra’s ‘Na Jis Din Teri Meri Baat Hoti Hai’. Lavni song ‘Aai Ga’ disappoints. Madhur Bhandarkar’s direction looks too impressed with his own style of film making. It was apparent a lot of research had gone into ‘Page 3’ and ‘Corporate’ while ‘Traffic Signal’ loses the touch in the filmy camaraderie between the Signal family. A story that promised to be hard hitting turns out to be sugar coated for most part.
The main culprit is the weak script and screenplay. After a point of time the slow proceedings start boring. Everything becomes predictable. The do-gooder ‘Khaadi’ reminds you of Atul Kulkarni’s journalist in ‘Page 3’. But here he looks superficial as he picks up the national flag on the Independence Day. Too stereotypical. I wouldn’t want to give away the ending, but it’s too sudden and unconvincing.
‘Traffic Signal’ makes an impression due to a few good performances and some neat sequences. But as a whole, it’s not a film that makes you go wow! And it is definitely a step backwards for an extremely talented director like Madhur Bhandarkar. Time to do some soul searching Mr Bhandarkar. Don’t let the creative story teller get lost in all these ‘corporate’ deals that you’ve been signing off late.