"Whatever I've achieved has been on my own. I had no godfathers or patron-saints in the film industry. I know there's hostility towards me" – Madhur Bhandarkar 
By Subhash K. Jha, February 8, 2007 - 10:15 IST
Apparently Traffic Signal (TS) has opened poorly overseas.
Yes, it's a little weak. But TS isn't targeted at the overseas market. There're no stars in the film. Rest everywhere it's doing very well.
It takes audacity to make a de-glam product in this day and age.
Yes and I shot in real sunlight. Bahut himmat ki zaroorat hai. TS came in face of films with a heavy gloss. I'm proud to do a slice-of-life work.
But if you see my career from Chandni Bar to TS, I've always explored various less glamorous aspects of life. I'm not a commercial filmmaker
at all. My films don't make 100 crores at the box office. I keep experimenting with various aspects of life. And I deserve credit at least for moving
away from the clichés of our cinema.
| If you see my career from Chandni Bar to Traffic Signal, I've always
explored various less glamorous aspects of life |
Your films also require financial audacity.
I never had a problem getting producers once Chandni Bar was released. Whether it's Satta or Corporate, I never had to struggle for a
producer. None of my films ever lost money. Everyone earns money.
You're accused of selling grass roots to the audience.
But Page 3 and Corporate were about the elite class. That was a deliberate attempt to move away from the grass-root image.
But there's a fixed formula to your cinema—clutching at a large gathering of characters, capturing them with their pants down within their given
socio-political sphere.
Agreed. But at least grant me the credit for exploring different themes and characters. At least I'm original. I've received at least 400 SMS since TS
released. People are praising me for having the guts to make a film without stars, rustic and very real. I don't even have a hit song in the film. Still I'm
happy by the response.
| People are praising me for having the guts to make a film without
stars, rustic and very real. |
The reviews have been pretty mixed.
But that's the story of my career! The reviewers didn't even spare my Chandni Bar. They said it was bleak and pessimistic. Page 3, they
said was like an ongoing party. For Corporate they said it was filled with trade jargon.
Strange considering how far you've taken mainstream cinema.
Whatever I've achieved has been on my own. I had no godfathers or patron-saints in the film industry. I know there's hostility towards me.
| Whatever I've achieved has been on my own. I had no godfathers or
patron-saints in the film industry. I know there's hostility towards me. |
There're many other directors from the outside for whom there's no hostility.
I don't know why it's there. But I know there's hostility towards me. I'm treated like an orphan in the film industry. But at the end of the day I'm happy
because my producers are making money and I get to make the films I want.
You're also victimized at the awards.
Initially I used to get upset about it. Now it's okay. I agree Chandni Bar and Page 3 got a raw deal at the popular awards. But both films
got the National award. To me that's more precious.
| I agree Chandni Bar and Page 3 got a raw deal at the popular
awards. But both films got the National award |
You've got money and popularity…
Money, I haven't got. But I'm definitely happy by the recognition and the success of my films. When I look back I see this filmmaker who made a film
called Trishakti. When I see my movies I feel I've really achieved a lot. One flop and I'd be back in the doldrums. I'm very happy doing what I'm
doing. People say Madhur is an offbeat filmmaker. I don't mind that. I know how people respond to me at a shopping mall or on the streets. That's
my biggest reward and award. Beyond that I'm not a filmy person. I'm into my own world and my own cinema. I've very few friends in the industry. I
haven't worked with big stars.
| When I see my movies I feel I've really achieved a lot.
|
But you've worked with Tabu and Raveena Tandon.
Yeah, but I was accused of making woman-oriented films. There's always a sense of discrimination against me. If I've a subject for Hrithik or
Abhishek I'd definitely work with male stars. In fact TS is my first film with a male protagonist. I'm happy Kunal Khemu has been appreciated. People
now know that Madhur can make a male-oriented films.
Your casting is impeccable.
See, once I read the script I cast according to characters. In TS I've cast real eunuchs and beggars. I've even cast people from my unit. And the two
insurance agents who get beaten up by Sudhir Mishra are played by Joe Rajan who's a travel agency owner and G.K Desai, a producer of English
movies. They also acted as party crashers in Page 3. Hence the dialogue for them in TS, "Arrey yaar, we earlier used to splurge on free drinks at
Page 3 parties. Now we're insurance agents.'
| In Traffic Signal I've cast real eunuchs and beggars. I've even cast
people from my unit |
People missed that in- house joke.
Yeah Page 3 came two years ago.
I found Sudhir Mishra wooden.
I wanted him to deadpan throughout the film. I wanted him to be himself on screen. I think he's commendable.
| Reality, they say, bites. People can't take the harsh
reality |
Some portions in TS have been found to be vulgar.
You mean the pervert who touches up the beggar? I've done research and know such things happen. Reality, they say, bites. People can't take the
harsh reality. We had to tone down the sexual content for the censors and audience. Well-to do perverts on cars do happen at traffic signals.
|
Konkana plays a prostitute in Bhandarkar’s Traffic Signal
