Green signal for Madhur Bhandarkar
RANA SIDDIQUI
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‘Traffic Signal’ takes Madhur Bhandarkar to a new high with the filmmaker winning the National Award for Best Director.
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Photo: Shiv Kumar Pushpakar
THE CHOSEN ONE: Madhur Bhandarkar.
“Oh! I can’t believe it. Just got the message. Such a humbling feeling. I am bombarded with phone calls…” That is Madhur Bhandarkar clearly overwhelmed at the announcement. It is yet to sink in. But the truth is, ‘Traffic Signal,’ his third film, has got him the National Award for Best Director.
Although the movie did not ring in the cash register or garner in rave reviews as ‘Page 3’ did, it did make its mark for having portrayed life at traffic signals realistically.
Says Bhandarkar: “Most of my films have got a similar response both from the critics and the audience. Some said ‘Chandni Bar’ was too depressing, and some criticised ‘Page 3’ as ‘just a party-party film.’ It depends on what kind of film one likes. Nagesh Kukunoor and Kundan Shah told me that ‘Traffic Signal’ is my best film. Others thought ‘Corporate’ was pacy unlike my other films and so was better. I take all these comments graciously. They add richness to my experience.”
Archival value
‘Traffic Signal’ stars Kunal Khemu, Neetu Chandra, Konkona and Ranvir Shorey, apart from “60 other characters.” Bhandarkar’s trilogy of ‘Chandni Bar,’ ‘Page 3’ and ‘Traffic Signal’ has already been taken up by Government’s Films Division for its archival value.
Recalls the filmmaker, “We shot on real locations, non-stop for one-and-a-half months in summer. All of us got tanned. But we used to have a gala time at night. We used to play antakshari, and have meals together. The characters appearing as beggars, transgender people and vendors were real. They even contributed to my script.
“For instance, they would often change my dialogues to the way they would speak. They even dubbed their dialogues. I didn’t hold any workshops for them, but only told them about technical details. They were very confident and easygoing.”
A people’s filmmaker, Bhandarkar is also known to be media-savvy.
“They say I am down to earth. Why wouldn’t I be? I myself come from a humble background. So, I never let the gloss of the film world affect me. I know fame is transient and money trickles in only till I am capable of making good films,” he says.
He is working on his next film on the world of fashion. The film titled ‘Fashion’ would reveal connections between the world of fashion, films and conmen.
“People are scared. They think pata nahi kya dikha dega,” laughs Bhandarkar.
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