TRAFFIC - Movie Review

TRAFFIC directed by Rajesh Pillai, starring Manoj Bajpayee and Jimmy Sheirgill in the lead roles. This is an intense thrilling drama based on true events. A police operation to try and save a life. A daughter of a well-known actor is sick and requires a heart transplant in Pune, whilst a budding journalist had met in a traffic accident in Mumbai where he is declared dead. The efforts to do a heart transplant is facing heavy rush hour traffic and only little time remains for the heart to be taken to Pune from Mumbai. Constable Godbole (played by Manoj Bajpayee) volunteers and takes up the responsibility of ensuring the heart reaches in time through these obstacles and he is supported by Joint commissioner Mumbai Police, Gurbir Singh (played by Jimmy Sheirgill). Do they succeed in their mission? The title suggests it all, watch Traffic to find out.

POSITIVES

• This movie was emotional and upsetting. There are glimpses from the beginning of emotions and for the film to climax to such lengths really did deliver a solid film. Not always do you feel a part of the situation, as if you were really there. The way this film has been written and directed and acted out, every solid impact makes you feel as if it is happening in front of you.
• Acting performance was the standout, each character portrayed a powerful emphasises on this heart melting story. Manoj Bajpayee allows his eyes do the talking before his actions that saved a life. Manoj is burdened in his own problems, but he takes a challenge to erase and write an achievement for his own sake to impress his daughter. Jimmy Sheirgill, excels playing a police officer in many movies but this one he shows a solid punch in leading an operation of such caliber.
• I felt the story was narrated well, interlinking several character perspectives to initiate more to the affected story. There are points in the film where it needed an explanation and the writing department manage to ensure that happened to help narrate the story much more clearly. Director has done a fantastic job in making sure he uses up less screen space to present the different perspectives, the use of split screen on both mothers and both fathers were a prime example of showcasing what the characters are going through. A very good effort with this movie, something that needs to be applauded.

NEGATIVE

• Firstly, the realistic question, would the same have happened if it was not a celebrity? Would the same consequences occurred to halt such huge city? Would an actor really involve a gangster don and would the don oblige straight away without asking for something in return? Maybe this is true but is it really? Nobody would know the depths of truth in the film as it is a depiction of real situation. But in society today would we have such procedures carried out by police if it was for an ordinary citizen and not a film actor?
• The script towards the end had a chance to allow more development in the climax, e.g. Letting the audience know how the daughter coped after a few weeks? Maybe give an insight in the relationship with the mother and father now and his acting career? What happened to the doctor Abel who did a criminal offence of trying to kill his partner Shweta? Surely something the police would have done? Despite the film being exceptionally interesting, it does have a few flaws that would have initiated more within the movie towards the wrap up.
• Final negative were the visual graphics of time being moved on, was it really necessary to include that and waste several seconds of screen space? We already are getting the time watch on the bottom corner of the screen when it hits an important time of the hour. I felt this could have been left out. It became sidetracking and repetitive in a highly concentrated movie that just needed to be played out continuously.

RATING

I would rate Traffic movie 4/5 as this story makes you feel proud of such efforts in the storyline as well as the strengths of the filmmakers for putting a low budget film together and keeping it tight and attention-grabbing at all times. A strong script, which has areas for improvement, but that has been backed by fine performances by the lead stars Manoj Bajpayee and Jimmy Sheirgill who pair up and deliver a committing and powerful acting credentials on screen. The film keeps you involved throughout and each scene makes you want to continue viewing further! It leaves you connected and as mentioned earlier, it makes you feel as if you were witnessing something dramatic unfolding in front of your own eyes.