Cast: | Konkona Sen Sharma, Ranvir Shorey, Nitu Chandra, Kunal Khemu, Raja Pandit & Others |
Director: | Madhur Bhandarkar |
Producer: | Percept Picture Co |
Presented by: | Shree International |
Distributed by: | |
Release Date: | 2nd February 2007 |
Synopsis: | 'This film is about the lives and travails of people living around a fictitious traffic signal in Mumbai.
"Anybody who drives in Mumbai has experienced the 2-odd
minute wait at a traffic signal. But do you know that you contribute to
the economy at that signal? The traffic signal includes a microcosm of
people who derive their daily livelihoods from it. There are beggars
(kids and adults), prostitutes, tricksters, eunuchs and others who sell
clothes, flowers and trinkets. They speak quickly, act fast and operate
somewhat honorably (with each other) to eke a meager living out of the
harsh Mumbai street life. They owe allegiance and hafta (weekly
"protection" fee) to the Signal Manager, Silsila (Kunal Khemu).
Silsila grew up at the signal. He ran various trades at the signal
before he became the Manager. He is an ideal manager: sensitive and
caring of his workers yet ruthless when it comes to delivery. Silsila
reports into a mid-level don, Jaffar, who in turn reports to the big
boss Haji bhaijaan.
Life is well at the signal. A gentle young girl, Rani (Neetu
Chandra), arrives at the signal to sell ethnic clothes. The initial
fireworks blossom into deeper companionship with Silsila. Everything
proceeds normally.
Unbeknownst to Silsila, Haji bhaijaan is part of a larger nexus of
evil that comprises politicians and the larger Mafia. Haji is forced to
play a dangerous game where he is forced to invoke the unwitting pawn,
Silsila, to start a series of events that could ultimately destroy the
traffic signal. Silsila is blissfully unaware of the larger consequences
as he carries out his orders without question. But reality dawns on him
when he is apprehended in a case of murder, extortion and bribery where
he was hardly aware of things.
The signal faces destruction. Silsila's world, and all the people who
grew up with it, face extinction. Silsila is forced to make a choice
between his life and his world. As his life moves from Green to Red, he
may only hope that the signal moves from Red to Green. |