Dec 19 2011
Traffic (Malayalam)
Traffic is an ensemble film with multiple storylines that come together in unexpected ways. We’ve had films like Sarvam and more recently, Vaanam, that did the same thing but with strong characters given equal importance, unexpected interactions between them and good surprises and suspense, Traffic is a much more accomplished entry in the genre.
The main players in the story are a leading actor(Rahman), a doctor(Kunchako Boban) who has purchased a car to surprise his wife on their first wedding anniversary, a young man(Vineeth Srinivasan) who has just landed his dream job of a reporter for a cable channel and a police constable(Srinivasan) who has just rejoined the force after a suspension. As a woman driver is harassed by some guys on bikes, she causes an accident whose repercussions are felt by all of them.
Films with multiple story lines usually follow different individuals going about their lives before their lives intersect at some point. Traffic, on the other hand, starts off with the incident that brings its characters together. Though we know a few things about the key individuals and learn a few more things via flashbacks, the film is about how they impact one another’s lives after fate brings them together in unanticipated ways.
Having the accident happen in the beginning allows the film to have a main hook that is suspense-laden because it is both emotional and time-bound. Apparently derived from a real-life happening in Chennai, a car journey is the heart of the film(no pun intended!). So we see the people as they affect this journey. Sometimes they threaten to derail it and sometimes they help push it forward and these happen via some nice – even if not always pleasant – surprises and clever plot points.
All the characters play important parts in the journey even if the reasons they become involved in it are very different. And as they play their part, they take small but important journeys of their own to learn something about themselves and the others around them. In one case its a father’s redemption in the eyes of his daughter. In another, its a man recognizing just what is important in life. And in yet another case, its a man coming to terms with a betrayal. All these are brought in subtly but cleverly as their fates become inextricably linked.
17 responses so far
I heard that our Ulaga Nayagan Dr. Kamal was planning to remake the movie in Tamil, but later the news just evaporated.
Nice write up, Balaji. Need to review more mallu films, as it looks like the worst period in malayalam films is comming to an end.
Venoth – you missed out the ‘Padmashree’
I hope Kamal brings this to Tamil…his remakes have always been interesting and off the beaten path…Kadamai Ganniyam Kattupaadu, Sathya, Kuruthi Punal and Unnaipol Oruvan (the official remakes that I remember!) have all had very interesting scripts…
I want to watch these movie, cannot find the dvd in my country, is there anywhere online with english subtitlles?
Isn’t this a remake of “Crash”?
A good, racy, unconventional movie.
i didn’t realize kkk was a kamal production, even though sathyaraj did the lead. i was just readign yesterday that kamal was involved in mullum malarum as well.
@skanda, you can get this movie from asiatorrents.com
Venoth/avanthika/ram, I remember reading that when he attended the 100th day function of the film. I also faintly remember reading that Viswaroopam took priority and so Sarathkumar was gonnna act in the remake. But haven’t heard anything on the topic since. Also heard that a Hindi remake is in the works with some top actors though I have no idea who they are.
PT, thanks! The golden period was the late 80s/90s and Mallu films may never scale those heights but the recent films have been pretty bad, esp. from M & M.
skanda, sorry I watched it without subtitles also.
yaadayaada, its in the same genre as ‘Crash’ with the multiple storylines and their intersection but the stories have no similarity and its central track is very different.
bart, didn’t know you watched Malayalam movies. Any other recommendations?
killer, I did know that KKK was a Kamal production but have never heard about Kamal being involved in MM. How? And where did u read that?
If you want to check out recent malayalam movies that were unconventional and good, I’d recommend, Kerala Cafe, Pranchiyettan and the Saint, T D Dasan Std IV B, Beautiful, Adaminte Makan Abu, Salt N Pepper, Chappa Kurishu, City Of God, Nayakan, Rithu, Electra.
From the recent set of movies (could be dated over the past 2 years), I liked the following (many of them are what Srijith has mentioned):
- Adaminte Makan Abu (heartwarming n pleasant; simple n straight narration)
- Kerala Cafe (10 stories, 15 to 25 mins each; couple of stories stand out; One or two are stale; rest ok)
- Salt n Pepper (feel good romance, timepass)
- Pranchiyettan and the Saint (comedy, timepass)
- Ritu (coming of age movie in an IT setup; good in most parts)
- Indian Rupee (learning thru experience, morals etc + a mini thriller; fine)
- Bhramaram (thriller, ok to fine)
- Paleri Manickam (thriller with an intense background; slightly weak ending)
- Kutty Sranku (a character studied through different views across phases. fine watch with some cliches)
Have heard good views about T D dasan std 4b, City of God but yet to watch them.
I normally watch out for movies from Ranjith, Lal Jose and Blessy. Offlate, there are good movies from new comers. Once in a while you get good movies from old directors Satyan Anthikad, Kamal and Sibi Malayil. You always have offbeat directors coming with some good movies – Shaji N Karun and Shyama Prasad (I haven’t watched Adoor Gopalakrishnan’s and TV Chandran for quite sometime) though with time gaps. Most of remaining are masala movie makers in malayalam, whose movies you watch if you are in a mood for it… I might’ve missed a few.
Agree with Bart’s list.. I missed Kutty Sranku, Indian Rupee and Palery manickyam. Bhramaram had a very weak flashback, which spolit it for me. I must also add ‘Passenger’. Much like Traffic, this was also edge of the seat stuff and a well knit tight script.
You could watch Salt ‘n pepper for the food angle. When they fry the bananas I almost wanted to lick my screen… reminded me so much of Anthony Bourdain’s Kerala episode.
Here are my malayalam movie recommendations (from the past few years):
Apoorva Raagam (a first-rate thriller with a TON of twists and mostly new actors..I’m surprised its not being remade in other languages)
Kerala Cafe (10 short stories…at least 3 of them are amazing..2-3 are solid..1 sucks and the rest are ok)
Bhagyadevatha & Sneehaveedu (these are typical Sathyan Anthikad family movies…if you like his style you can’t go wrong with these…Snehaveedu has Mohanlal in it)
Christian Brothers (what 20/20 SHOULD have been…Mohanlal, Dileep, and Suresh Gopi…just a very exciting commercial thriller..not weighed down with a lengthy unrelated comedy track like 20/20…good production values when compared w/ other malayalam movies)
Arjunan Sakshi (criminally underrated thriller….i like how low-key/no-frills it is…again, production values are pretty good for a Malayalam movie)
Salt n Pepper (more of a character based movie than one would usually find in indian cinema (which is usually either narrative or formula based) nothing outstanding, but definitely feel-good with an incredible soundtrack)
Mummy and Me (sort of ridiculous but very emotional movie about the mother-daugther bond)
if you had to see just one of these..i’d go w/ Apoorva Raagam
Srijith/bart, thanx for the lists! I’ve seen ‘Bhramaram’, ‘Palery Manickam’ and ‘Passenger’ and share your opinions on them. Found ‘Bhramaram’ a bit slow and the end was not worthy of the build-up. Loved Mammootty’s performance in PM but the ending was disappointing. ‘Passenger’ was very good. Btw, I remember wasn’t there a ‘Passenger’ remake started with Satyaraj and Ganesh Venkatraman? Haven’t heard anything about that for a while now either. I’ve heard some good things about ‘Indian Rupee’.
Meera, not much of an incentive for me
But will try to watch it since I’ve heard so much about it.
Vimal, thanx! Have heard of the other movies but this is the first I’m hearing of ‘Apoorva Raagam’. I love thrillers and so will keep my eyes open for it.
Loved most movies in Srijith’s list..didn’t like City of God much..found its style some what forced and artificial..Salt and Pepper some what overrated..Little difficult to sit through Lal’s over acting..
As far as pure entertainment is concerned I found Marykkundoru Kunjadu,Makeup man,Sakudumbam Shayamala,Mummy and me decent movies..
Best Actor had good premise but lost it in the treatment..Again here Lal’s over acting played spoilsport..
If you love mystery movies Sahasram is a decent effort..The thriller had an interesting twist towards the end,but unfortunately the film suffered because instead of concentrating on the story aspect,it was trying to showcase Prithvi as a superstar( a la SureshGopi which backfired)…
re: Kamal and Mullum Malarum, I read it here:
I remember watching the Mahendran interview in kumudam.com where he narrated about how Kamal helped him complete muLLum malarum