Traffic (2016 film)

Actor Dev Kapoor awaits the release of his upcoming film. Traffic constable Ramdas Godbole resumes his duty after having been suspended for taking a bribe in order to help his sister. Rehan Ali, a trainee journalist, gets ready for the first day of his job with an interview with Dev Kapoor.

At a crowded traffic junction in Mumbai, Rehan and his friend Rajeev collide with another vehicle, fatally injuring Rehan. In another car at the junction are cardiologist Dr. Abel Fernandes and his friend, Hemaan.

Rehan is rushed to the hospital and is declared brain dead, being kept alive on a ventilator. Meanwhile in Pune, Dev Kapoor's daughter Ria's heart condition worsens, and she is in urgent need of a heart. Rehan's heart is still functioning and is offered to Ria for transplantation. However, Rehan's parents refuse, but at the insistence of Rajeev and Rehan's girlfriend, Aditi, who tell them that it is too save a life. They reluctantly agree. Despite the heart being available, they are faced with the problem of transporting the heart from Mumbai to Pune, as no chartered flights or helicopters are available as a result of the poor weather conditions and time concerns; therefore, the heart would have to be transported by road.

City Police Commissioner Gurbir Singh is asked to carry out the mission but refuses due to the high risk and complexity involved. He eventually agrees to take responsibility for the mission on the persistence of Dr. Simon D'Souza. No officer is willing to drive the vehicle until Godbole, wanting to regain the respect he had lost because of the scandal, volunteers to carry out the mission. Accompanying him on the mission are Dr. Abel and Rajeev.

The mission goes smoothly for sometime before Abel holds Rajeev at knifepoint and threatens Godbole that he would kill Rajeev if he didn't comply, forcing Godbole to deviate from the highway into a forest. Rajeev retaliates, causing a fight. Abel phones his sister and confesses that he had run his wife over with his car after discovering that she was cheating on him with his best friend, Hemaan, and that she may have died, so he wishes to save himself from the clutches of the police. Dev Kapoor phones him and persuades him that he can save him, but Abel isn't convinced. Out of frustration, Dev's wife Maya explains the mental traumatic condition she has endured as a result of her daughter's heart condition and tells him that no problem can be bigger than this one. A convinced Abel advises Godbole and Rajeev to leave without him; however, Godbole chooses to have Abel with him despite having been urged by Gurbir to have him arrested.

They divert into a road 8 km ahead of the scheduled route, making up for the time lost in the forest. Ria's condition, however, deteriorates, causing Godbole to take an alternative route by driving into a communally sensitive area named Bilal Colony, where police are restricted from entering because of its strong minority. Dev phones corporator Aslam Bhai, who volunteers to clear the roads for the vehicle to pass through. Rajeev, who knows the area quite well, exits the car to ensure that the roads are clear. Dr. Abel also leaves the car to push two cars out of the way that are blocking the route. Godbole drives at a high speed, reaching the hospital in time and covering the mission in almost two hours.

Abel learns from his sister that his wife is alive and has no complaints against him regarding the incident, freeing him. Rehan's parents invite Aditi to their home as a symbol of acceptance. Ria opens her eyes, bringing joy to her family. Gurbir feels satisfied and phones Dr. Simon Souza to thank him. On the way back home, Godbole witnesses a group of men arguing on the side of the road and signals them to stop, ending the film on a happy note.

{{colbegin}}

• Manoj Bajpayee as Ramdas Godbole, a head constable in the Mumbai Traffic Police
• Jimmy Sheirgill as Gurbir Singh IPS, Joint Commissioner (Traffic), Mumbai Police
• Prosenjit Chatterjee as Dev Kapoor, Maya's husband and Ria's father
• Parambrata Chatterjee as Dr. Abel Fernandes, a reputed cardiac surgeon
• Jishnu Raghavan as Hemaan, Abel's friend who has an affair with his wife Shwetha
• Vishal Singh as Rehan Ali, a trainee journalist and Aditi's boyfriend
• Sachin Khedekar as Ahmed Ali, Rehan's father
• Kitu Gidwani as Rehan's mother
• Amol Parashar as Rajeev, Rehan's friend
• Sija Rose as Rehan's friend and Rajeev's girlfriend
• Kaveri Kalyani as Maria Fernandes, Abel's sister
• Divya Dutta as Maya Kapoor, Dev Kapoor's wife
• Ulka Gupta as Ria Kapoor, Dev Kapoor's daughter
• Nikita Thukral as Aditi, Rehan's girlfriend
• Richa Panai as Shwetha Fernandes, Abel's wife
• Baby Annie as Godbole's Daughter
• Janeshwar Shukla as Dr. A. Dastur
• Rajesh Khattar as Dr. Jagdish Khattar
• Raj Arjun as Aslam Bhai
• Vikram Gokhale as Dr. Simon D'Souza

{{colend}}

Endemol India that has produced several local television shows ventured into feature films,{{cite news |url=https://variety.com/2011/biz/news/endemol-india-enters-film-production-1118037184/ |title=Endemol India enters film production |publisher=Variety |date=17 May 2011 |accessdate=19 September 2013}} after they acquired the remake rights for the Malayalam film Traffic.{{cite web |last=Kirpalani |first=Neha |url=http://businessofcinema.com/bollywood-news/endemol-acquires-hindi-remake-rights-to-malayalam-film-traffic/33309 |title=Endemol acquires Hindi remake rights to Malayalam film Traffic |publisher=Businessofcinema.com |date=17 May 2011 |accessdate=19 September 2013}} Rajesh Pillai who directed the film in Malayalam was retained as director too.{{cite web |url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/Entertainment/Bollywood/Traffic-set-for-Hindi-remake/Article1-744291.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203190216/http://www.hindustantimes.com/Entertainment/Bollywood/Traffic-set-for-Hindi-remake/Article1-744291.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-date=3 December 2013 |title=Traffic set for Hindi remake |publisher=Hindustan Times |date=11 September 2011 |accessdate=19 September 2013}} Suresh Nair did the Hindi adaptation of the script of Traffic, stating "slight enhancements have been made in the feel and action content, to ensure commercial viability. But the script still remains the brilliant script that the original is".{{cite web |url=http://www.deccanchronicle.com/130823/entertainment-mollywood/article/suresh-writing-traffic-rules |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130826222326/http://www.deccanchronicle.com/130823/entertainment-mollywood/article/suresh-writing-traffic-rules |url-status=dead |archive-date=26 August 2013 |title=Suresh is writing 'Traffic' rules |publisher=Deccan Chronicle |date=23 August 2013 |accessdate=19 September 2013}}

Manoj Bajpai was signed to play the male lead in April 2013.

Two Bengali actors, Parambrata Chatterjee and Prosenjit Chatterjee were also signed in. The director confirmed that Manoj Bajpai would play the role of a constable, Parambrata Chatterjee would play a doctor and Prosenjit Chatterjee would play a superstar.{{cite web |url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/parambrata-plays-a-doctor-in-traffic/1110600/ |title=Parambrata plays a doctor in 'Traffic' |publisher=Indian Express |date=3 May 2013 |accessdate=19 September 2013}}

Divya Dutta signed the film in August,{{cite news |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-08-06/news-interviews/41130348_1_divya-dutta-item-song-item-number |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004215148/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-08-06/news-interviews/41130348_1_divya-dutta-item-song-item-number |url-status=dead |archive-date=4 October 2013 |title=Divya bags a role in the Hindi remake of 'Traffic' |date=6 August 2013 |work=The Times of India |accessdate=19 September 2013}} playing Lena's part from the original.{{cite news |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/regional/malayalam/news-and-interviews/Kaveri-to-make-a-comeback-in-a-Bollywood-film/articleshow/25706495.cms |work=The Times of India |title=Kaveri to make a comeback in a Bollywood film!}}

Amol Parashar, a popular face through ad films, is said to play Asif Ali's character and Malayali actor, Jishnu is said to be playing the role played by Krishna in the original version.

Vishal Singh signed in August and{{cite web |url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/traffic-remake-takes-off/1152854/ |title=Traffic remake takes off |publisher=Indian Express |date=9 August 2013 |accessdate=19 September 2013}} Kitu Gidwani has been given the role of Vishal Singh's mother.

Rajesh Pillai confirmed that Nikita Thukral was {{clarify |date=November 2017 |reason=The phrase 'roped in' is a colloquialism, specific to particular dialects of English. Its use here is not clarified as to meaning, in a manner which makes the term accessible to all users of English. |text=roped in }} for a role,{{cite news |author= |url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/nikita-thukral-in-hindi-remake-of-traffic-113082800187_1.html |title=Nikita Thukral in Hindi remake of 'Traffic' |newspaper=Business Standard India |publisher=Business Standard |date=28 August 2013 |accessdate=19 September 2013}} the role played by Sandhya in Malayalam and which was offered to Vishakha first. Richa Panai was {{clarify |date=November 2017 |reason=The use of 'roped in' is a colloquialism specific to particular dialects of English, and its use here is not clarified as to meaning in a manner which makes the term accessible to all users of English. |text=roped in }} in September 2013 and she will be paired with Parambrata in the film.{{cite web |url=http://entertainment.oneindia.in/telugu/news/2013/mms-girl-richa-panai-heading-bollywood-120238.html |title=MMS Girl Richa Panai Heading To Bollywood – Oneindia Entertainment |publisher=Entertainment.oneindia.in |date= |accessdate=19 September 2013}} In November 2013, it was reported that Malayali actress Kaveri would reprise the role portrayed by Roma Asrani but that she will portray a mature and introvert personality as opposed to a bubbly Miriam from the original.

Mithoon was signed as the music composer and had already recorded three songs for the film by May 2013.

Pillai stated that the film would be entirely shot on the Mumbai Pune Expressway and Hyderabad. In late August, the first schedule had been completed at Hyderabad. The final schedule started on 2 September at Mumbai.

The movie was released, 2 months after the death of its director Rajesh Pillai

Meena Iyer of The Times of India gave it 4 stars out of 5, describing film as a well-intentioned movie with fine performances from its ensemble cast.{{cite web |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/movie-reviews/Traffic/movie-review/52146592.cms |title=Traffic, Story, Trailers – Times of India |website=The Times of India |accessdate=29 August 2017}} Anna MM Vetticad of Firstpost quoted that it is Needless messaging which spoils this Manoj Bajpayee-starrer.{{cite web |url=http://www.firstpost.com/bollywood/benedict-cumberbatchs-best-roles-pre-doctor-strange-sherlock-throwback-thursday-3085902.html |title=Benedict Cumberbatch's best roles pre-Doctor Strange, Sherlock: Throwback Thursday |date=3 November 2016 |website=Firstpost.com |accessdate=29 August 2017}} Shubhra Gupta of The Indian Express gave it 2 stars out of 5, and quoted that Crispness and the sense of urgency is missing in movie.{{cite news |url=http://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/movie-review/traffic-movie-review-star-rating-manoj-bajpayee-2787744/ |title=Traffic movie review: Crispness and the sense of urgency is missing in this Manoj Bajpayee starrer |date=6 May 2016 |newspaper=Indian Express |accessdate=29 August 2017}} Saibal Chatterjee of NDTV gave it 4 stars out of 5, describing the film as a fitting swan song: an unmissable film.{{cite web |url=http://movies.ndtv.com/movie-reviews/traffic-movie-review-1262 |title=Traffic Movie Review |website=Movies.ndtv.com |accessdate=29 August 2017}}

Sweta Kaushal of Hindustan Times gave it 4 stars out of 5, titled that A Tight script, stellar performances make it a must-watch.{{cite news |url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/movie-reviews/traffic-review-tight-screenplay-stellar-performance-make-this-a-must-watch/story-MgoVinQ7aH079d4yOARlUJ.html |title=Traffic review: Tight script, stellar performances make it a must-watch |date=6 May 2016 |newspaper=Hindustan Times |accessdate=29 August 2017}} Prarthna Sarkar of International Business Times gave it 3 stars out of 5, describing it as a must watch.{{cite web |url=http://www.ibtimes.co.in/traffic-movie-review-this-manoj-bajpayee-starrer-makes-your-heart-beat-faster-677725 |title='Traffic' movie review: This Manoj Bajpayee-starrer makes your heart beat faster |first=Prarthna |last=Sarkar |website=Ibtimes.co.in |date=6 May 2016 |accessdate=29 August 2017}} Namarta Joshi of The Hindu quoted "'Traffic' wears thin, feels rushed. There is neither much of an emotional tug nor an edge-of-the-seat urgency that the film promised to deliver."{{cite web |url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/cinema-reviews/traffic-characters-in-search-of-redemption/article8566069.ece |title=Traffic: Characters in search of redemption |website=The Hindu |publisher= |accessdate=29 August 2017}} Sukanya Verma from Rediff.com gave it 2 stars out of 5, said movie is muddled and lacklustre in its set-up.{{cite web |url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/report/traffic-review-bumpy-ride-to-half-hearted-glory/20160506.htm |title=Traffic Review: Bumpy ride to half-hearted glory |publisher= |accessdate=29 August 2017}} Bollywood Hungama gave it 2 stars out of 5.{{cite web |url=https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movie/traffic/critic-review/traffic-movie-review/ |title=Traffic Review – Bollywood Hungama |first=Bollywood |last=Hungama |website=Bollywood Hungama |accessdate=29 August 2017}} Nandini Ramnath of Scroll.in said that the remake of the Malayalam hit loses the essence of the original and movie titled Traffic goes nowhere.

According to Box Office India, the movie collected {{INRConvert|110|m}} against a budget of {{INRConvert|90|m}}. As the movie did not cross the breakeven point, it is considered as a box-office failure.

Music for Traffic was composed by Mithoon and Shailendra Barve, while the lyrics were written by Turaz, Mithoon, Jitendra Joshi & Sayeed Quadri.{{cite web |title=Traffic – Jukebox {{!}} Full Album {{!}} Manoj Bajpayee, Kitu Gidwani & Jimmy Shergill|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T1Q0j-GFc5k|website=Youtube|accessdate=3 July 2016|date=2 May 2016}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Traffic

| extra_column = Singers

| total_length = 27:54

| all_writing =

| all_lyrics =

| all_music =

| title1 = Keh Bhi De

| note1 =

| writer1 =

| lyrics1 = Turaz

| music1 = Mithoon

| extra1 = Benny Dayal & Palak Muchhal

| length1 = 6:10

| title2 = Neki Ki Raahon Mein

| note2 =

| writer2 =

| lyrics2 = Mithoon

| music2 = Mithoon

| extra2 = Mithoon & Arijit Singh

| length2 = 4:59

| title3 = Kuch Der Sahi

| note3 =

| writer3 =

| lyrics3 = Mithoon

| music3 = Mithoon

| extra3 = Palak Muchhal

| length3 = 6:39

| title4 = Vitthala Naam

| note4 =

| writer4 =

| lyrics4 = Jitendra Joshi

| music4 = Shailendra Barve

| extra4 = Prasenjit Kosambi

| length4 = 4:56

| title5 = Tu Alvida

| note5 =

| writer5 =

| lyrics5 = Sayeed Quadri

| music5 = Mithoon

| extra5 = Mithoon & Aakanksha Sharma

| length5 = 5:10

}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{IMDb title|id=2939912}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Traffic}}

Category:Indian road movies

Category:2010s road movies

Category:2016 thriller films

Category:Indian films based on actual events

Category:Hindi remakes of Malayalam films

Category:Fox Star Studios films

Category:Films directed by Rajesh Pillai