'Traffic' (Malayalam, Thriller, 2011)
Director: Rajesh Pillai
Cast: Sreenivasan, Kunchakko Boban, Vineeth Sreenivasan, Sandhya, Remya Nambeesan
Are you ready for a change?
Fasten your seat belt and get ready for a new cinematic experience. Your journey starts when three individuals - a traffic constable, a doctor and a young lad- start their mission. And the mission is not at all an easy one. The trio has to travel all the way to another district via road within a stipulated time. No, no, it’s not at all a race. It is not at all a road movie. Then what else is 'Traffic'?
Director Rajesh Pillai’s new movie is definitely a realistic and different fare. Or a hard-hitting film which enlightens and reminds you of human qualities and virtues, at the same time stimulating the aesthetic sense in you.
The scriptwriter duo of Bobby and Sanjay have opted for a non-linear way of storytelling and the movie starts by slowly unfolding the lives of five individuals and their dear and near ones.
On the fateful day, these four individuals get connected at a common point, a traffic signal, where they meet.
Knowingly or unknowingly, these people, Sudevan (Sreenivasan), Rajeev (Asif Ali), Raihan (Vineeth Sreenivasan), Abel (Kunchacko Boban) and Superstar Siddharth (Rahmaan) are getting connected with each other and the movie is then geared up to the level of a thriller.
The twists and turns in the movie often shock and surprise, and moreover, entertain you. The brilliant background score by Mejjo Josseph and tidy camera work by Shyju Khalid add to the totality.
The movie has a big star cast, including some promising youngsters as well as experienced hands, all rising to the occasion. The female characters portrayed by Sandhya, Remya Nambeeshan and Roma have done their job perfectly well. While the one actress who did it extraordinarily well is Lena who portrayed the character of Superstar’s wife.
On the whole, 'Traffic' is a well-told movie which perfectly hits the bull’s eye. An amazing way of storytelling that hides the human relationships within a speedy journey and traffic snarls, the movie is a genuine attempt that needs to be encouraged.