A green signal for this one? Maybe.

If you liked Page 3 or Chandni Bar, there is some chance that you will take well to Traffic Signal; it bears the typical Madhur Bhandarkar stamp. Unfortunately, this very effect has begun to weigh down upon his creativity- with the treatment of the films becoming repetitive.

We loved him when he came first, because he was different. But he is now his own self over and over again. The obsession with the alleys of Mumbai- the bar dancers, the business tycoons, the socialites and the goons - works against the storyteller despite his strokes of genius. Yes, that is another reason why you could watch Traffic Signal. If you were born in Mumbai or stayed there, relating to the movie will be much easier. (Those who are there will understand what I mean) For the rest of us, it is just the multitudes living on the Mumbai streets- fighting, begging, pleading for survival. And money. Those whom we have seen in glimpses in movies. Only in the movies.

The protagonist, Silsila (Kunal Khemu), tells us about the ‘industry’ spread around each traffic signal in the opening scene. The movie takes it much further- to the manager of one traffic signal who collects his weekly shares, or hafta- to the gangsters, policemen and the politicians - all somehow integrated into what Bhandarkar claims to be a 180-crore business. And finally, Silsila himself is used as a ploy to what results in the collapse of the business around their traffic signal- which used to be life and bread for the people living there. Though people may find the end a little abrupt, but it is open-ended in a way that allows the audience to draw their own interpretations- without any dramatics on the director's part.

Bhandarkar deserves due credit for handling such a vast theme effortlessly. Within a scene or two, one gets to know about the lives of the characters- portrayed in a realistic way that disgusts at times, adding positive points to the director’s score sheet. The first half of the movie introduces too many characters too quick. And there is a melange of scenes building up the general feel of the movie. But before the viewer went further into their stories, the movie reaches its climax. But the characters as a mass entity come together to scintillatingly portray the life that Bhandarkar wishes to show - one that is overlooked by passers-by everyday.

Bhandarkar also brings in Konkana Sen- his Page 3 star in a 'special appearance' as the prostitute who lurks about the same traffic signal where his story is based. We end up looking for more of the fine actress. Ranvir Shorey is impressive in his acting as the drug-addict too, and the touching Ranvir-Konkana story breathes life into the movie.

Atul Kularni finds mention in the credits, but is conspicuous by his absence on screen. In less than two hours, Bhandarkar tells a lot and also touches on issues related to the characters.