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{{EngvarB|date=September 2013}}
{{short description|2011 Indian film by Rajesh Pillai}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2013}}
{{Use British English|date=September 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2024}}
{{Infobox film
{{Infobox film
| name          = Traffic
| name          = Traffic
| image          = Traffic (Malayalam film).jpg
| image          = Traffic (Malayalam film).jpg
| caption        = Theatrical Official poster
| caption        = Theatrical official poster
| director      = [[Rajesh Pillai]]
| director      = [[Rajesh Pillai]]
| producer      = [[Listin Stephen]]
| producer      = [[Listin Stephen]]
| writer        = [[Bobby Sanjay]]
| writer        = [[Bobby-Sanjay]]
| narrator      = [[Sreenivasan]]
| narrator      =  
| starring      = [[Sreenivasan]]<br />[[Kunchacko Boban]]<br />[[Asif Ali (actor)|Asif Ali]]<br />[[Rahman (actor)|Rahman]]<br />[[Anoop Menon]]<br />[[Vineeth Sreenivasan]]<br />[[Sandhya (actress)|Sandhya]]<br />[[Roma (actress)|Roma]]<br />[[Remya Nambeesan]]<br />[[Lena (actress)|Lena]] <br/> [[Namitha Pramod]]
| starring      = {{Plainlist|
| music          = [[Mejo Joseph]]<br />Samson Kottoor
*[[Sreenivasan]]
*[[Kunchacko Boban]]
*[[Rahman (actor)|Rahman]]
*[[Anoop Menon]]
*[[Vineeth Sreenivasan]]
*[[Asif Ali (actor)|Asif Ali]]
*[[Sandhya (actress)|Sandhya]]
*[[Remya Nambeesan]]
}}
| music          = {{ubl||}}
'''Songs:'''<br />[[Mejo Joseph]]<br />Samson Kottoor<br />'''Background Score:'''<br />Mejo Joseph
| cinematography = [[Shyju Khalid]]
| cinematography = [[Shyju Khalid]]
| editing        = [[Mahesh Narayanan]]
| editing        = [[Mahesh Narayanan]]
| studio        = [[Magic Frames]]
| studio        = [[Magic Frames]]
| distributor    = [[Magic Frames]]
| distributor    = Magic Frames
| runtime        = 122 minutes
| runtime        = 122 minutes
| country        = [[India]]
| country        = India
| released      = {{Film date|df=yes|2011|1|7}}
| released      = {{Film date|df=yes|2011|01|07}}
| language      = [[Malayalam language|Malayalam]]
| language      = Malayalam
| budget        = {{INRConvert|2.75|C|year=2011}}<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.news18.com/news/india/2011-was-troublesome-for-malayalam-films-434144.html|title=2011 was troublesome for Malayalam films|work=[[CNN-News18]]|date=4 January 2012}}</ref>
| budget        = {{INR|2.75 crores}}<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.news18.com/news/india/2011-was-troublesome-for-malayalam-films-434144.html|title=2011 was troublesome for Malayalam films|work=[[News18]]|date=4 January 2012}}</ref>
| gross          = {{INRConvert|15|c}}<ref name="Manoj Nair">{{cite news|author=Manoj Nair|title=Malayalam movies: Non-linear narratives are making the box-office ring louder|url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/business-of-bollywood/malayalam-movies-non-linear-narratives-are-making-the-box-office-ring-louder/articleshow/8478136.cms|work=[[India Times]]|agency=[[The Economic Times|Economic Times]]|date=21 May 2011}}</ref>
| gross          = {{INR|15 crores}}<ref>{{cite news|author=Manoj Nair|title=Malayalam movies: Non-linear narratives are making the box-office ring louder|url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/business-of-bollywood/malayalam-movies-non-linear-narratives-are-making-the-box-office-ring-louder/articleshow/8478136.cms|work=[[India Times]]|agency=[[The Economic Times|Economic Times]]|date=21 May 2011}}</ref>
}}
}}
'''''Traffic''''' is a 2011 Indian [[Malayalam cinema|Malayalam]]-language [[Road movie|road thriller]] film directed by [[Rajesh Pillai]] and written by [[Bobby–Sanjay]]. It features an [[ensemble cast]] of [[Sreenivasan]], [[Kunchacko Boban]], [[Rahman (actor)|Rahman]], [[Anoop Menon]], [[Vineeth Sreenivasan]], [[Asif Ali (actor)|Asif Ali]], [[Sandhya (actress)|Sandhya]], [[Roma Asrani|Roma]], [[Remya Nambessan]], [[Lenaa|Lena]], and [[Sai Kumar (Malayalam actor)|Saikumar]].<ref>[http://movies.rediff.com/slide-show/2010/sep/29/slide-show-1-south-looking-at-malayalam-film-traffic.htm Coming up: A complex Traffic – Rediff.com Movies<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> The film tells its story in a [[Hyperlink cinema|hyperlink]] narrative format.


'''''Traffic''''' is a 2011 Indian [[Malayalam-language]] [[road film|road]] [[thriller film]] written by brothers [[Bobby Sanjay|Bobby and Sanjay]] and directed by [[Rajesh Pillai]]. The film features an [[ensemble cast]] consisting of [[Sreenivasan]], [[Kunchacko Boban]], [[Rahman (actor)|Rahman]], [[Anoop Menon]], [[Vineeth Sreenivasan]], [[Sandhya (actress)|Sandhya]], [[Roma (actress)|Roma]], [[Remya Nambeesan]], [[Asif Ali (actor)|Asif Ali]] and [[Namitha Pramod]].<ref>[http://movies.rediff.com/slide-show/2010/sep/29/slide-show-1-south-looking-at-malayalam-film-traffic.htm Coming up: A complex Traffic – Rediff.com Movies<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> The film has its narrative in a [[Hyperlink cinema|hyperlink]] format. The film opened on 7 January 2011, to a positive reception. It is widely regarded as one of the defining movies of the [[New Wave (Malayalam film movement)|Malayalam New Wave]].<ref name="Sathyendran">{{cite news| url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/shot-at-direction/article4876905.ece | location=Chennai, India | work=The Hindu | first=Nita | last=Sathyendran | title=Shot at direction | date=3 July 2013}}</ref> A [[multiperspectivity|multi-narrative]] thriller that intertwines multiple stories around one particular incident, '''''Traffic''''' is inspired from an actual event that happened in [[Chennai]].<ref name="Hithendran Incident">{{cite web|url=http://www.aphithendranmemorialtrust.org/incident.html|title=Hithendran Incident}}</ref><ref name="Traffic Movie Review">{{cite web|url=http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/malayalam/review/12067.html|title= Traffic Movie Review}}</ref> Owing to its critical and commercial success, ''Traffic'' was remade into [[Tamil cinema|Tamil]] as ''[[Chennaiyil Oru Naal]]'', in Kannada as ''[[Crazy Star (film)|Crazy Star]]'' and is also remade in [[Traffic (2016 film)|Hindi, with the same name]]. This was also the last film of the veteran actor [[Jose Prakash]].<ref name="The Times of India">{{cite news| url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-03-24/kochi/31233737_1_villain-roles-film-industry-actor | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140111181409/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-03-24/kochi/31233737_1_villain-roles-film-industry-actor | url-status=dead | archive-date=11 January 2014 | work=[[The Times of India]] | title=Veteran Malayalam actor Jose Prakash passes away | date=24 March 2012}}</ref>
''Traffic'' was released on 7 January 2011 to positive reviews from critics, and was a commercial success. It has since gained [[cult status]] and is widely recognised as being among the first [[New generation (Malayalam film movement)|Malayalam New Wave]] films. A [[multiperspectivity|multi-narrative]] thriller that intertwines multiple stories around one particular incident, ''Traffic'' is inspired from a real event that happened in [[Chennai]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aphithendranmemorialtrust.org/incident.html|title=Hithendran Incident}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/malayalam/review/12067.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100819134719/http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/malayalam/review/12067.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=19 August 2010|title= Traffic Movie Review}}</ref> It was remade into Tamil as ''[[Chennaiyil Oru Naal]]'', in Kannada as ''[[Crazy Star (film)|Crazy Star]]'' and in Hindi, [[Traffic (2016 film)|under the same name]]. The film marked the final appearance of the veteran actor [[Jose Prakash]] before his death in 2012.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kochi/Veteran-Malayalam-actor-Jose-Prakash-passes-away/articleshow/12393083.cms | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140111181409/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-03-24/kochi/31233737_1_villain-roles-film-industry-actor | url-status=live | archive-date=11 January 2014 | work=[[The Times of India]] | title=Veteran Malayalam actor Jose Prakash passes away | date=24 March 2012}}</ref>


==Plot==
==Plot==
On 16 September, superstar Sidharth Shankar ([[Rahman (actor)|Rahman]]) gets ready for the release of his new film. On the same day, Traffic Constable Sudevan ([[Sreenivasan]]) joins back on duty, after having been suspended from service for taking bribe as he wanted to pay the fees for his niece's admission. The day is special for Dr. Abel ([[Kunchako Boban]]) who is celebrating his first wedding anniversary. Raihan ([[Vineeth Sreenivasan]]), an aspiring television journalist, starts his first job with an interview with Siddharth Shankar the very same day.
On 16 September in [[Kochi]], Sidharth Shankar is preparing for the release of his new film; Traffic Constable Sudevan resumes his duty following a suspension for accepting a bribe to pay the fees for his niece's school admission, cardiologist Dr. Abel is celebrating his first wedding anniversary and Raihan, an aspiring television journalist, starts his new job with an interview with Siddharth Shankar.


On the same day, at a crowded traffic junction in [[Kochi]], Raihan and Rajeev ([[Asif Ali (actor)|Asif Ali]]), travelling in a bike are fatally hit by a speeding car at the signal. Raihan is all set to interview the superstar, Siddharth Shankar. Also at the junction, in another car, is the surgeon Dr. Abel.
At a crowded traffic jam, Raihan and his friend Rajeev, who were travelling together on a bike are hit by a speeding car at the signal. At the same junction in another car is Abel and his friend, Jikku.


Raihan goes into [[coma]] and is declared [[brain dead]] although he is kept alive using [[ventilator]] in [[Lakeshore Hospital]] Kochi. Meanwhile, Siddharth's ailing daughter Riya's ([[Namitha Pramod]]) condition becomes worse. She is admitted to Ahalya Hospital Palakkad and she urgently needs a heart transplant. At first, Raihan's parents do not agree to take their son off the ventilator and donate their son's heart but Rajeev and Raihan's girlfriend Aditi ([[Sandhya (actress)|Sandhya]]) persuade them into it. Now that the heart is available, the problem was with transporting it from Kochi to Palakkad. No helicopters or chartered flights are available due to bad weather and time concerns and so the heart will have to be taken by road. Someone will have to drive the 150 kilometres from Lakeshore Hospital in Kochi to Ahalya Hospital in Palakkad in under two hours during the rush traffic.
On the other hand, Siddharth's daughter Riya is suffering from a heart condition and her condition deteriorates, making her in need of a heart transplant. Raihan falls into a coma and is declared brain dead, although he is kept alive using a ventilator. Raihan's parents refuse to take their son of the ventilator and donate his heart but reluctantly agree on the persuasion of Rajeev, and Raihan's girlfriend Aditi. However, the heart is unable to be transported from Kochi to Palakkad, as there are no helicopters or flights available due to the weather conditions and time concerns; the only option available is via road.


City Police Commissioner Ajmal Nazar ([[Anoop Menon]]) is asked to carry out the mission. He initially refuses considering the complexity and risk involved in the mission. But finally, he heeds to the persuasion of Dr.Simon D'souza ([[Jose Prakash]]). Sudevan, being an experienced driver who has driven as an escort for ministers, volunteers to be the driver of the [[Mahindra Scorpio]] which will transport the heart because he wanted to regain the name he lost due to the bribe incident. Accompanying him on this mission is Dr Abel and Rajeev.
City Police Commissioner Ajmal Nazar is asked to take charge of the mission, but refuses due to the complexity and risk involved. However, he agrees on the insistence of Dr. Simon D' Souza. No officer is willing to drive the vehicle transporting the heart until Sudevan volunteers, hoping to regain the respect he lost. Accompanying him on the mission are Abel and Rajeev.


Everything goes smoothly for some time. But at a point Dr. Abel threatens Sudevan that he would kill Rajeev if he didn't comply, forcing Sudevan to deviate from the highway into a forest road (Puttukad forest area) in order to save himself from the police. However, Rajeev retaliates leading to a fight. He phones his sister Miriam ([[Roma Asrani|Roma]]) and speaks that he had hit his wife Shwetha ([[Remya Nambeesan]]) with a car as he was infuriated with the fact that she was cheating on him with his best friend Jikku ([[Krishna (Malayalam actor)|Krishna]]) and that she has possibly died, so he wishes to save himself from the clutches of the police. Here Siddharth Shankar phones him and convinces him that he can save Abel, however, Abel is shown not to be so convinced. In the nick of time,  Shruti([[Lena (actress)|Lena]]), Siddharth Shankar's wife explains her mental traumatic condition due to the heart problem of her daughter for the last 13 years. And explains that no other problem can be bigger than this one. Abel now convinced, advises Sudevan and Rajeev to leave. However, Sudevan decides to have Abel with them in the team and in spite of the repeated suggestions from the Commissioner Nazar to get him arrested.
The mission goes smoothly at first, until Abel holds Rajeev at knife-point, threatening Sudevan that if he didn't comply he would kill Rajeev, forcing Sudevan to deviate from the highway into a forest. After Rajeev retaliates, Abel calls his sister Miriam, and confesses to running over his wife Shwetha, after finding out that she was having an affair with his friend Jikku and that she may have died, therefore he wishes to save himself from the police. Siddharth then calls Abel and promises to help him, though he is not convinced. A frustrated Siddharth's wife Sruthi explains the trauma she has been through because of her daughter's heart condition, and tells him that no other problem could be bigger than this. A finally convinced Abel advises Sudevan and Rajeev to leave without him, however, he is brought along by Sudevan despite being requested by Nazar to have him arrested.


They are then shown to enter a road 8&nbsp;km ahead of the route time table, thus making up for the time they lost in the forest. However, after some time Riya's conditions worsen, forcing the team to take an alternate route through a communally sensitive place called Bilal Colony. It is shown that police cannot enter the place due to its strong minority. Rajeev seems to know the place well and advises Siddharth Shankar to get the place cleared for the vehicle to move. Siddharth Shankar personally phones Thanzeer(Baiju Ezhuppuna) the Fans Club President who goes out of his ways and means to clear roads for the vehicle. Rajeev exits the vehicle as soon as they enter the colony to ensure the roads are clear. In midway, Abel also exits the vehicle to remove two vehicles which are blocking the route. After which Abel boards the car with Thanzeer's assistance, however, Rajeev is unable to board the car. Sudevan drives at high speeds and ensures that they reach Ahalya Hospital on time. Covering the challenging 150&nbsp;km feat in a daunting 1 hour and 58 minutes.
They divert into a road 8&nbsp;km ahead of the scheduled route, making up for the time they lost. Riya's condition begins to worsen, causing Sudevan to take an alternate route through a communally sensitive are called Bilal Colony, where police are restricted from entering due to its strong minority. Rajeev, who is familiar with the area, helps make way for the vehicle to pass along with help of Thanzeer, Siddharth Shankar's Fan Club President whom Siddharth personally called. Abel also leave the vehicle to push two vehicles blocking the route. Sudevan drives at a high speed and reaches the hospital on time, covering the 150&nbsp;km feat in an hour and 58 minutes.


It is shown that Shwetha is out of danger and has no complaints regarding the accident against Abel, thus freeing him. Rajeev is offered a lift to Kochi by an unnamed man ([[Nivin Pauly]]). Raihan's parents invite Aditi home as a symbol of acceptance and prepare for the last rites of Raihan. Riya opens her eyes, bringing joy to her family, Nazar feels a sense of satisfaction and phones Dr. Simon D'Souza to thank him. Sudevan en route to his home finds a few people fighting on the road regarding a minor accident, where he signals them to stop the fight. Thus the movie ends on a happy note.
Abel is relieved after finding out that Shwetha is in stable condition and has no complaints against him. Rajeev is offered a lift back to Kochi and Raihan's parents accept Aditi and invite her to their home, before doing Raihan's final rites. Riya opens her eyes, much to the relief of her family, and a satisfied Nazar thanks Dr. Simon D'Souza. Sudevan ''en-route'' to his home finds a group of people arguing in the middle road over a minor accident, where he signals them to stop, ending the film on a happy note.


==Cast==
==Cast==
{{colbegin}}
*[[Sreenivasan]] as Head Constable Sudevan Nair, [[Kochi City Police|Kochi Traffic Police]]
*[[Kunchacko Boban]] as Dr. Abel Thariyan, a [[cardiologist]]
*[[Rahman (actor)|Rahman]] as Siddharth Shankar
*[[Anoop Menon]] as Ajmal Nazeer [[Indian Police Service|IPS]], City Police Commissioner
*[[Vineeth Sreenivasan]] as Raihan Saifudheen, a trainee journalist
*[[Asif Ali (actor)|Asif Ali]] as Rajeev, Raihan's friend
*[[Sandhya (actress)|Sandhya]] as Adithi, Raihan's girlfriend
*[[Roma Asrani|Roma]] as Mariyam, Abel's sister
*[[Remya Nambeesan]] as Shwetha, Abel's wife
*[[Lenaa|Lena]] as Shruthi, Siddharth's wife
*[[Namitha Pramod]] as Riya, Siddharth's daughter
*[[Sai Kumar (Malayalam actor)|Saikumar]] as Dr. Saifudheen, Raihan's father
*[[Fathima Babu]] as Raihan's mother
*[[Jose Prakash]] as Dr. Simon D'Souza
*[[Prem Prakash]] as Chief Surgeon
*[[Krishna (Malayalam actor)|Krishna]] as Jikku, Abel's friend
*[[Rony David Raj]] as Journalist
*[[Vijayakumar]] as Mathew, Siddharth's secretary
*[[Baiju Ezhupunna]] as Thanzeer, Siddharth Shankar Fan Club Association President
*[[Nisha Sarang]] as Sudevan's sister
*[[Gowri Krishnan]] as Sudevan's daughter
*[[Reena Basheer]] as Sudevan's wife
*[[Nivin Pauly]] as a driver (cameo appearance)


* [[Sreenivasan]] as Sudevan Nair, a head constable in Kochi City Traffic Police
{{colend}}
* [[Kunchacko Boban]] as Dr. Abel Thariyan, a reputed cardiac surgeon at Lakeshore Hospital, Ernakulam.
* [[Vineeth Sreenivasan]] as Raihan Saifudeen, A journalist trainee working in [[Indiavision]]
* [[Asif Ali (actor)|Asif Ali]] as Rajeev Menon, Raihan's best friend
* [[Anoop Menon]] as [[Superintendent of Police#India|SP]] Ajmal Nazar [[Indian Police Service|IPS]], [[Commissioner of Police#India|City Police Commissioner]] of [[Kochi]]
* [[Rahman (actor)|Rahman]] as Siddharth Shankar, a Malayalam Cine Megastar
* [[Sandhya (actress)|Sandhya]] as Aditi, Raihan's girlfriend and a divorcee
* [[Roma (actress)|Roma]] as Miriam, Abel's sister working in [[Club FM 94.3|Club FM]]
* [[Lena (actress)|Lena]] as Shruthi, Sidharth Shankar's wife
* [[Sai Kumar (Malayalam actor)|Sai Kumar]] as Dr. Saifudeen, a surgeon and Raihan's Father.
* [[Fathima Babu]] as Raihan's Mother
* [[Remya Nambeesan]] as Shwetha, Abel's wife.
* [[Vijayakumar (Malayalam actor)|Vijayakumar]] as Mathew, Private Secretary to Sidharth Shankar.
* Dr. Rony David as a Journalist
* [[Namitha Pramod]] as Riya, Sidharth Shankar's daughter.
*[[Krishna (Malayalam actor)|Krishna]] as Jicku, a common friend of Abel and Shwetha who has an affair with Shwetha.
* Reena Basheer as Sudevan's wife
* Nisha Sarang as Sudevan's sister
* [[Prem Prakash]] as a doctor
* Renjith Reghu as Deepu
* Mahima as Aditi's friend
* Baiju Ezhupunna as Thanzeer,<ref>{{Citation|title=Traffic (2011) - IMDb|url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1821682/fullcredits|access-date=2019-05-12}}</ref> the Siddharth Shankar Fans Club President of Bilal Colony
*[[Akhil S Prasad]] as Ajaz, Miriam's brother.
*[[Jose Prakash]] as Dr.Simon D'souza (Guest appearance)
*[[Nivin Pauly]] as a man in a car (Special Appearance)
*Gowri Krishnan as Sudevan's Daughter (Special Appearance)


==Production==
==Production==
The film is directed by [[Rajesh Pillai]].<ref name="sreeni">{{cite web|url=http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/malayalam/article/54337.html|title=Vineeth and Sreenivasan in 'Traffic'|accessdate=10 February 2010|publisher=Indiaglitz}}</ref> Writers of the film Bobby and Sanjay, who scripted ''Ente Veedu Appoontem'' and ''[[Notebook (2006 film)|Notebook]]'' explain: "The director wanted the film to be of a different mould altogether. Here every character is of equal importance as the story moves ahead. It was quite a challenging task but an enjoyable experience as well."<ref name="Hindu">{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/arts/cinema/article804622.ece|title=It happened one day... |author=Vijay George|accessdate=30 September 2010|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|location=Chennai, India|date=30 September 2010}}</ref> They add that the film is inspired by a true incident. A similar mission was successfully carried out by the [[Tamil Nadu]] police in a more complex [[Chennai]] city.<ref name="Hindu"/>{{Failed verification|date=March 2012}} Also, in a scene, the character played by [[Anoop Menon]] talks about the incident.
[[Bobby–Sanjay|Bobby and Sanjay]], who scripted ''[[Ente Veedu Appuvinteyum]]'' and ''[[Notebook (2006 film)|Notebook]]'' explained: "The director wanted the film to be of a different mould altogether. Here every character is of equal importance as the story moves ahead. It was quite a challenging task but an enjoyable experience as well."<ref name="Hindu">{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/arts/cinema/article804622.ece|title=It happened one day... |author=Vijay George|accessdate=30 September 2010|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|location=Chennai, India|date=30 September 2010}}</ref> They add that the film is inspired by a true incident. A similar mission was successfully carried out by the [[Tamil Nadu]] police in a more complex [[Chennai]] city.<ref name="Hindu"/>{{Failed verification|date=March 2012}} Also, in a scene, the character played by [[Anoop Menon]] talks about the incident.


''Traffic'' is one of the first multi narratives made in this decade in Malayalam film. The film has Sreenivasan, Rahman, Kunchacko Boban and Asif Ali as the four lead protagonists whose stories are narrated through the sequences.<ref name="July">{{cite web|url=http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/malayalam/article/57917.html|title='Traffic' to start this July|accessdate=18 June 2010|publisher=Indiaglitz}}</ref> Vineeth Sreenivasan, who recently made his debut as a writer and director with ''[[Malarvadi Arts Club]]'', says that it was the exciting script that attracted him to the project. "It is a particularly exciting day for my character as he is all set to join a news channel but as it turns out fate had other plans in store for him," adds the actor.<ref name="Hindu"/>
''Traffic'' is one of the first multi narratives made in this decade in Malayalam film. The film has Sreenivasan, Rahman, Kunchacko Boban and Asif Ali as the four lead protagonists whose stories are narrated through the sequences.<ref name="July">{{cite web|url=http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/malayalam/article/57917.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100621080807/http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/malayalam/article/57917.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=21 June 2010|title='Traffic' to start this July|accessdate=18 June 2010|work=Indiaglitz}}</ref><ref name="Hindu"/> On the theme, Rajesh says, "I felt it was a theme that could connect with viewers regardless of their age. It's a contemporary theme that reassures us that if we approach something with honesty, even nature will come to our support."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/arts/cinema/article1089894.ece|title=Traffic gets green signal|author=Vijay George|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|date=13 January 2011|location=Chennai, India}}</ref> The film will be the second on-screen pairing of Vineeth and Sreenivasan, after their first film ''[[Makante Achan]]''.<ref name="sreeni">{{cite web |title=Vineeth and Sreenivasan in 'Traffic' |url=http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/malayalam/article/54337.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100212103653/http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/malayalam/article/54337.html |archive-date=12 February 2010 |accessdate=10 February 2010 |work=Indiaglitz}}</ref>
On the theme, Rajesh says, "I felt it was a theme that could connect with viewers regardless of their age. It's a contemporary theme that reassures us that if we approach something with honesty, even nature will come to our support."<ref name="Vijay George">{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/arts/cinema/article1089894.ece|title=Traffic gets green signal|author=Vijay George|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|date=13 January 2011|location=Chennai, India}}</ref> The film will be the second on-screen pairing of Vineeth and Sreenivasan, after their first film ''[[Makante Achan]]''.<ref name="sreeni"/> Sandhya plays Aditi, who is in love with Raihan. "Aditi is perhaps more worldly-wise than usual for someone her age. But she has her own reasons for being so", says the Malayali actor who created quite a stir with her performance in the Tamil film. This movie was said to be better than its other remakes.


==Reception==
==Reception==
===Critical response===
===Critical response===
The film opened on 7 January 2011 to positive reviews. Veeyen of ''Nowrunning.com'' gave the film 3 out of 5 stars, writing, "Rajesh Pillai's ''Traffic'' is a brutally brilliant film in which he lends color to coincidence and unveils before us cogitation on the dynamics of chance. A strikingly crafted film that is raw and genuine, it crawls right under your skin and stays there."<ref name="Nowrunning">{{cite web|url=http://www.nowrunning.com/movie/7383/malayalam/traffic/2895/review.htm|title=Rajesh Pillai's Traffic is a brutally brilliant film! |accessdate=8 January 2011|publisher=Nowrunning}}</ref> ''IndiaGlitz'' enthusiastically praised the film's "riveting plot, great performances, soulful music... and skillful direction".<ref name="indiaglitz.com">[http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/malayalam/review/12067.html "Traffic – This is a 'Traffic' of change".] ''IndiaGlitz''. 8 January 2011.</ref> A review at Cinefundas also praised the acting, adding that "the real hero of the film is the script".<ref name="Traffic – Malayalam Movie Review">[http://www.cinefundas.com/2011/01/07/traffic-malayalam-movie-review "Traffic – Malayalam Movie Review".] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110111011234/http://www.cinefundas.com/2011/01/07/traffic-malayalam-movie-review |date=11 January 2011 }} CineFundas.com. 7 January 2011.</ref> ''Sify.com'' called it "an overwhelming experience" and rated it as "very good."<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20130314013953/http://www.sify.com/movies/traffic-review-review-malayalam-14959872.html Movie Review:''Traffic'' review<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> The Malayalam website ''Movieraga'' called it an "excellent movie" and went on to state that the new blood of Malayalam cinema cannot be seen as second-grade any more.<ref>[http://movieraga.indulekha.com/2011/01/08/review-traffic/ Review: Traffic | MOVIERAGA<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> The movie was part of the series of movies that began the [[New generation (Malayalam film movement)|New Generation Movement.]]<ref name="thenewsminute.com">{{Cite web|date=2019-12-31|title=When script trumps superstars: How Malayalam cinema has changed in the last decade|url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/when-script-trumps-superstars-how-malayalam-cinema-has-changed-last-decade-115089|access-date=2021-05-04|website=The News Minute|language=en}}</ref>
The film opened on 7 January 2011 to positive reviews. Veeyen of ''Nowrunning.com'' gave the film 3 out of 5 stars, writing, "Rajesh Pillai's ''Traffic'' is a brutally brilliant film in which he lends color to coincidence and unveils before us cogitation on the dynamics of chance. A strikingly crafted film that is raw and genuine, it crawls right under your skin and stays there."<ref name="Nowrunning">{{cite web|url=http://www.nowrunning.com/movie/7383/malayalam/traffic/2895/review.htm|title=Rajesh Pillai's Traffic is a brutally brilliant film! |accessdate=8 January 2011|publisher=Nowrunning}}</ref> ''IndiaGlitz'' enthusiastically praised the film's "riveting plot, great performances, soulful music... and skillful direction".<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20100819134719/http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/malayalam/review/12067.html "Traffic – This is a 'Traffic' of change".] ''IndiaGlitz''. 8 January 2011.</ref> A review at Cinefundas also praised the acting, adding that "the real hero of the film is the script".<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20110111011234/http://www.cinefundas.com/2011/01/07/traffic-malayalam-movie-review "Traffic – Malayalam Movie Review".]}} CineFundas.com. 7 January 2011.</ref> ''Sify.com'' called it "an overwhelming experience" and rated it as "very good."<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20130314013953/http://www.sify.com/movies/traffic-review-review-malayalam-14959872.html Movie Review:''Traffic'' review<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> The Malayalam website ''Movieraga'' called it an "excellent movie" and went on to state that the new blood of Malayalam cinema cannot be seen as second-grade any more.<ref>[http://movieraga.indulekha.com/2011/01/08/review-traffic/ Review: Traffic | MOVIERAGA<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> The movie was part of the series of movies that began the [[New generation (Malayalam film movement)|New Generation Movement.]]<ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-12-31|title=When script trumps superstars: How Malayalam cinema has changed in the last decade|url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/when-script-trumps-superstars-how-malayalam-cinema-has-changed-last-decade-115089|access-date=2021-05-04|website=The News Minute|language=en}}</ref>


Traffic was screened in the ''Malayalam Cinema Today'' section at the 16th [[International Film Festival of Kerala]] (IFFK), in [[Thiruvananthapuram]], Kerala in 2011.<ref name="A slice of Kerala">{{cite news|title=A slice of Kerala|url=http://newindianexpress.com/cities/thiruvananthapuram/article231030.ece|newspaper=The New Indian Express}}</ref>
Traffic was screened in the ''Malayalam Cinema Today'' section at the 16th [[International Film Festival of Kerala]] (IFFK), in [[Thiruvananthapuram]], Kerala in 2011.<ref name="A slice of Kerala">{{cite news|title=A slice of Kerala|url=http://newindianexpress.com/cities/thiruvananthapuram/article231030.ece|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304083628/http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/thiruvananthapuram/article231030.ece|url-status=dead|archive-date=4 March 2016|newspaper=The New Indian Express}}</ref>


==Box office==
==Box office==
The film became both critical and commercial success.<ref name="India Today">{{cite web|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/kaavalan-bangalore-days-traffic-22-female-kottayam-thattathin-marayathu/1/750713.html|title=Kaavalan to Meendum Oru Kadhal Kadhai: 5 Malayalam remakes that shouldn't have been made|work=[[India Today]]|date=28 August 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.news18.com/news/india/2011-malayalam-filmdom-failed-to-script-success-430328.html|title=2011: Malayalam filmdom failed to script success|publisher=[[CNN-News18]]|date=21 December 2011}}</ref>
The film received highly positive reviews and was declared a blockbuster at box office.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/regional-cinema/story/kaavalan-bangalore-days-traffic-22-female-kottayam-thattathin-marayathu-337655-2016-08-28|title=Kaavalan to Meendum Oru Kadhal Kadhai: 5 Malayalam remakes that shouldn't have been made|work=[[India Today]]|date=28 August 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.news18.com/news/india/2011-malayalam-filmdom-failed-to-script-success-430328.html|title=2011: Malayalam filmdom failed to script success|publisher=[[News18]]|date=21 December 2011}}</ref>


==Soundtrack==
==Soundtrack==
Line 100: Line 109:
| language  = [[Malayalam]]
| language  = [[Malayalam]]
| label      = Satyam Audios
| label      = Satyam Audios
| producer  = [[Listin Stephen]]
| producer  = [[Mejo Joseph]]
| prev_title = Kanmazha Peyyum Munpe
| prev_title = Kanmazha Peyyum Munpe
| prev_year  = 2010
| prev_year  = 2010
Line 108: Line 117:


{{Track listing
{{Track listing
 
| extra_column = Artists
| extra_column = Artist(s)


| all_lyrics = [[S. Ramesan Nair]] except where noted
| all_lyrics = [[S. Ramesan Nair]] except where noted
Line 124: Line 132:


| title3 = Unaroo Mizhiyazhake
| title3 = Unaroo Mizhiyazhake
| extra3 = [[Chinmayi]]
| extra3 = [[Chinmayi Sripada|Chinmayi]]


| title4 = Unaroo Mizhiyazhake
| title4 = Unaroo Mizhiyazhake
Line 136: Line 144:
| note6  = Instrumental
| note6  = Instrumental
| music6 = Samson Kottoor
| music6 = Samson Kottoor
}}
}}


==Remakes==
==Remakes==
Owing to its critical and commercial success, ''Traffic'' was remade in Tamil as ''[[Chennaiyil Oru Naal]]'' (2013). In Tamil version, This movie had made Blockbuster in Box Office. Its Hindi remake, ''[[Traffic (2016 film)|Traffic]]'' has been released in May,2016.<ref name="Top 10 Cinema">{{cite web|url=http://www.top10cinema.com/news/9000/malayalam-traffic-to-be-remade-in-tamil|title=Malayalam 'Traffic' to Be Remade in Tamil?|publisher=Top 10 Cinema|date=1 February 2011|accessdate=2 February 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110204170141/http://www.top10cinema.com/news/9000/malayalam-traffic-to-be-remade-in-tamil|archive-date=4 February 2011|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref name="ട്രാഫിക് ഹിന്ദിയിലും">[http://www.kaumudiplus.com/news.php?nid=b37e3729ccb3a1b55f8b9ad638b4c28c&mcid=3&msid=3 "ട്രാഫിക് ഹിന്ദിയിലും"]. (in Malayalam) ''Kerala Kaumudi''. 11 April 2011. Retrieved 16 April 2011.</ref>
==Awards==
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
! Year !! Film !! Language
|-
|-
! Award
|| 2013 || ''[[Chennaiyil Oru Naal]]'' || Tamil
! Category
! Result
! Recipient
! Ref.
|-
| rowspan=1| <div style="text-align: center;"> [[Kerala State Film Awards|Kerala State Film Awards 2011]]</div>
| [[Kerala State Film Award for Best Screenplay|Best Screenplay]]
| {{won}}
| [[Bobby–Sanjay|Bobby-Sanjay]]
|<ref name="Kerala State Film Awards 2012">{{cite web|title=Kerala State Film Awards|url=http://www.nowrunning.com/news/malayalam/dileep-sweta-menon-triumphs-at-state-awards/54304/story.htm|publisher=Nowrunning.com}}</ref>
|-
| rowspan=2| <div style="text-align: center;">[[1st South Indian International Movie Awards]]</div>
| Best Director
| {{won}}
| [[Rajesh Pillai]]
| rowspan=2|
|-
| Best Actress in a Supporting Role
| {{won}}
| [[Lena (actress)|Lena]]
|-
| rowspan=2| <div style="text-align: center;"> [[Filmfare Awards South|Filmfare Awards South 2012]] </div>
| [[Filmfare Award for Best Film – Malayalam|Best Film]]
| {{won}}
| [[Listin Stephen]]
| rowspan=2|<ref name="Filmfare Awards South 2012">{{cite web|title=Filmfare Awards South 2012|url= http://www.kollyinsider.com/2012/07/59th-filmfare-awards-2012-south.html|publisher=Kollyinsider.com }}</ref>
|-
| [[Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress – Malayalam|Best Supporting Actress]]
| {{won}}
| Lena Abhilash
|-
|-
| rowspan=3|<div style="text-align: center;">[[Kerala Film Critics Awards]]</div>
| 2014 || ''[[Crazy Star (film)|Crazy Star]]'' || Kannada
| Best Script
| {{won}}
| Bobby-Sanjay
| rowspan=3|<ref>{{cite news|title=Kerala Film Critics Awards 2012 |url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/article3431213.ece?textsize=small&test=2|newspaper=The Hindu | location=Chennai, India|date=18 May 2012}}</ref>
|-
| Second Best Actor – Male
| {{won}}
| [[Anoop Menon]]
|-
| Second Best Actor – Female
| {{won}}
| Lena Abhilash
|-
| rowspan=1| <div style="text-align: center;">Lohithadas Award</div>
| Best Script
| {{won}}
| Bobby-Sanjay
|<ref name="mathrubhumi.com">{{cite news|title=ലോഹിതദാസ് പുരസ്‌കാരം ബോബിക്കും സഞ്ജയിനും|url=http://www.mathrubhumi.com/movies/malayalam/282848/|newspaper=Mathrubhumi|access-date=29 June 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120628210409/http://www.mathrubhumi.com/movies/malayalam/282848/|archive-date=28 June 2012|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
|-
| rowspan=6| <div style="text-align: center;"> [[Asianet Film Awards|Asianet Film Awards 2012]] </div>
| Best Film
| {{nom}}
| Listin Stephen
| rowspan=6|<ref name="Asianet Film Awards 2012">{{cite web|title=Asianet Film Awards 2011|url= http://www.trivandrum.co.in/2011/12/asianet-film-awards-2012-list-of.html|publisher=Trivandrum.co.in}}</ref>
|-
| Best Director
| {{nom}}
| Rajesh Pillai
|-
| Best Screenplay
| {{won}}
| Bobby-Sanjay
|-
| Best Supporting Actor
| {{nom}}
| Anoop Menon
|-
| Best Supporting Actress
| {{nom}}
| [[Remya Nambeesan]]
|-
| Best Character Actor
| {{nom}}
| [[Sreenivasan]]
|-
| rowspan=5| <div style="text-align: center;">Asiavision Movie Awards </div>
| Best Popular Movie
| {{won}}
| Listin Stephen
| rowspan =5|<ref name="Asiavision Movie Awards 2011">{{cite web|title=Asiavision Movie Awards|url=http://www.asiavisionawards.com/ma2011-winners/|publisher=Asiavisionawards.com|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120125011756/http://www.asiavisionawards.com/ma2011-winners/|archivedate=25 January 2012|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
|-
| Second Best Actor
| {{won}}
| Anoop Menon
|-
| Best Screenplay
| {{won}}
| Bobby-Sanjay
|-
| Special Performance Award
| {{won}}
| [[Rahman (actor)|Rahman]]
|-
| Trendsetter Award
| {{won}}
| Listin Stephen
|-
| rowspan=3|<div style="text-align: center;"> Nana Film Awards </div>
| Best Film
| {{won}}
| Listin Stephen
| rowspan=3|<ref name="Nana Film Awards 2011">{{cite web|title=Nana Film Awards 2011|url=http://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/384380_165044300264538_100002769065902_193665_2060132686_n.jpg|publisher=Nana.com |archive-url=https://archive.today/2012.07.10-205829/http://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/384380_165044300264538_100002769065902_193665_2060132686_n.jpg |archive-date=10 July 2012 |url-status=dead}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
|-
| Best Director
| {{won}}
| Rajesh Pillai
|-
| Best Editor
| {{won}}
| Mahesh Narayanan
|-
| rowspan=2| <div style="text-align: center;">Mathrubhumi Kalyan Silks Film Awards </div>
| Best Screenplay
| {{won}}
| Bobby-Sanjay
| rowspan=2|<ref name="Mathrubumi Kalyan Silks FIlm Awards 2011">{{cite web|title=Mathrubhumi Film Awards 2011|url=http://www.sanscinema.com/2012/02/mathrubhumi-kalyan-silks-film-awards-2012-announced.html|publisher=Sanscinema.com|access-date=19 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120314015043/http://www.sanscinema.com/2012/02/mathrubhumi-kalyan-silks-film-awards-2012-announced.html|archive-date=14 March 2012|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
|-
| Best Path Breaking Film of the Year
| {{nom}}
| Listin Stephen
|-
| rowspan=2| <div style="text-align: center;">Surya Film Awards </div>
| Most Popular Director
| {{nom}}
| Rajesh Pillai
| rowspan=2|
|-
| Best Editor
| {{won}}
| Mahesh Narayanan
|-
| rowspan=1| <div style="text-align: center;"> Kochi Times Awards </div>
| Best Script
| {{won}}
| Bobby – Sanjay
|<ref>{{cite news|title=Kochi Times Film Awards 2011 |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-06-23/news-and-interviews/32369964_1_video-mohanlal-kavya-madhavan|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004233019/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-06-23/news-and-interviews/32369964_1_video-mohanlal-kavya-madhavan|url-status=dead|newspaper=[[The Times of India]] |archive-date=2013-10-04}}</ref>
|-
| rowspan=3| <div style="text-align: center;"> Amrita Film Awards 2012 </div>
| Best Supporting Actor (Female)
| {{won}}
| Lena Abhilash
| rowspan=3|<ref>{{cite web|title=Amrita Film Awards 2012|url=http://www.amritatv.com/afa/winners.html|publisher=Amritatv.com|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131014060735/http://www.amritatv.com/afa/winners.html|archivedate=14 October 2013|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
|-
| Best Script
| {{won}}
| Bobby-Sanjay
|-
| Trendsetting Film Director
| {{won}}
| Rajesh Pillai
|-
| <div style="text-align: center;"> Jaihind Film Awards 2012 </div>
| Best Director
| {{won}}
| Rajesh Pillai
|{{citation needed|date=February 2016}}
|-
| <div style="text-align: center;"> Film Guidance Chalachitra Awards 2011 </div>
| Best Supporting Actress
| {{won}}
| Remya Nambeesan
|<ref>{{cite web|title=Film Guidance Chalachitra Award 2011|url= http://entertainment.oneindia.in/malayalam/news/2012/beautiful-film-guidance-chalathchitra-award-150212.html|publisher=Oneindia.in}}</ref>
|-
| rowspan=5| <div style="text-align: center;"> Reporter TV Film Awards 2012 </div>
| Best Film
| {{won}}
| Listin Stephen
| rowspan=5|<ref>{{cite web|title=Reporter TV Film Awards 2012|url=http://www.metromatinee.com/News/Traffic%20bags%205%20awards%20in%20Reporter%20TV%20Awards.-4051-1 |publisher=Metromatinee.com}}</ref>
|-
| Best Director
| {{won}}
| Rajesh Pillai
|-
| Best Script
| {{won}}
| Bobby-Sanjay
|-
| Best Editor
| {{won}}
| Mahesh Narayanan
|-
| Best Supporting Actress
| {{won}}
| Lena Abhilash
|-
| rowspan=6| <div style="text-align: center;"> Thikkurissy Awards 2011 </div>
| Best Second Actress
| {{won}}
| Sandhya
|
|-
|-
| 2016 || ''[[Traffic (2016 film)|Traffic]]'' || Hindi
|}
|}


==References==
Owing to its critical and commercial success, ''Traffic'' was remade in Tamil as ''[[Chennaiyil Oru Naal]]'' (2013), which was a huge success at box office like ''Traffic''. [[Kannada]] remake ''[[Crazy Star (film)|Crazy Star]]'' (2014) received negative reception from both critics and box-office. Traffic's [[Traffic (2016 film)|Hindi remake]] was released in May 2016.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.top10cinema.com/news/9000/malayalam-traffic-to-be-remade-in-tamil|title=Malayalam 'Traffic' to Be Remade in Tamil?|publisher=Top 10 Cinema|date=1 February 2011|accessdate=2 February 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110204170141/http://www.top10cinema.com/news/9000/malayalam-traffic-to-be-remade-in-tamil|archive-date=4 February 2011|url-status=usurped|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>[http://www.kaumudiplus.com/news.php?nid=b37e3729ccb3a1b55f8b9ad638b4c28c&mcid=3&msid=3 "ട്രാഫിക് ഹിന്ദിയിലും"]. (in Malayalam) ''Kerala Kaumudi''. 11 April 2011. Retrieved 16 April 2011.</ref>
{{Reflist|30em}}
 
== External links ==
<!--LINKS TO PUBLIC DISCUSSION FORUMS SHOULD NOT BE ADDED-->
* {{IMDb title|id=1821682|title=Traffic}}
* [http://www.nowrunning.com/movie/7383/malayalam/traffic/index.htm ''Traffic''] at Nowrunning.com
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20101204124724/http://popcorn.oneindia.in/title/8644/traffic.html ''Traffic''] at [[Oneindia.in]]
* [http://www.rediff.com/movies/report/south-review-traffic/20110110.htm ''Traffic'' review] at [[Rediff.com]]
 
==Further reading==
* [http://www.aphithendranmemorialtrust.org/incident.html "A true heart touching story (The incident on which the film is based on)"].
 
{{DEFAULTSORT:Traffic}}
[[Category:2011 films]]
[[Category:Indian films]]
[[Category:Indian road movies]]
[[Category:Malayalam-language films]]
[[Category:2010s Malayalam-language films]]
[[Category:2010s road movies]]
[[Category:2010s thriller films]]
[[Category:Indian films based on actual events]]
[[Category:Malayalam films remade in other languages]]
[[Category:Films with screenplays by Bobby-Sanjay]]
[[Category:Indian nonlinear narrative films]]
[[Category:Hyperlink films]]
[[Category:Films directed by Rajesh Pillai]]
{{EngvarB|date=September 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2013}}
{{Infobox film
| name          = Traffic
| image          = Traffic (Malayalam film).jpg
| caption        = Theatrical Official poster
| director      = [[Rajesh Pillai]]
| producer      = [[Listin Stephen]]
| writer        = [[Bobby Sanjay]]
| narrator      = [[Sreenivasan]]
| starring      = [[Sreenivasan]]<br />[[Kunchacko Boban]]<br />[[Asif Ali (actor)|Asif Ali]]<br />[[Rahman (actor)|Rahman]]<br />[[Anoop Menon]]<br />[[Vineeth Sreenivasan]]<br />[[Sandhya (actress)|Sandhya]]<br />[[Roma (actress)|Roma]]<br />[[Remya Nambeesan]]<br />[[Lena (actress)|Lena]] <br/> [[Namitha Pramod]]
| music          = [[Mejo Joseph]]<br />Samson Kottoor
| cinematography = [[Shyju Khalid]]
| editing        = [[Mahesh Narayanan]]
| studio        = [[Magic Frames]]
| distributor    = [[Magic Frames]]
| runtime        = 122 minutes
| country        = [[India]]
| released      = {{Film date|df=yes|2011|1|7}}
| language      = [[Malayalam language|Malayalam]]
| budget        = {{INRConvert|2.75|C|year=2011}}<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.news18.com/news/india/2011-was-troublesome-for-malayalam-films-434144.html|title=2011 was troublesome for Malayalam films|work=[[CNN-News18]]|date=4 January 2012}}</ref>
| gross          = {{INRConvert|15|c}}<ref name="Manoj Nair">{{cite news|author=Manoj Nair|title=Malayalam movies: Non-linear narratives are making the box-office ring louder|url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/business-of-bollywood/malayalam-movies-non-linear-narratives-are-making-the-box-office-ring-louder/articleshow/8478136.cms|work=[[India Times]]|agency=[[The Economic Times|Economic Times]]|date=21 May 2011}}</ref>
}}
 
'''''Traffic''''' is a 2011 Indian [[Malayalam-language]] [[road film|road]] [[thriller film]] written by brothers [[Bobby Sanjay|Bobby and Sanjay]] and directed by [[Rajesh Pillai]]. The film features an [[ensemble cast]] consisting of [[Sreenivasan]], [[Kunchacko Boban]], [[Rahman (actor)|Rahman]], [[Anoop Menon]], [[Vineeth Sreenivasan]], [[Sandhya (actress)|Sandhya]], [[Roma (actress)|Roma]], [[Remya Nambeesan]], [[Asif Ali (actor)|Asif Ali]] and [[Namitha Pramod]].<ref>[http://movies.rediff.com/slide-show/2010/sep/29/slide-show-1-south-looking-at-malayalam-film-traffic.htm Coming up: A complex Traffic – Rediff.com Movies<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> The film has its narrative in a [[Hyperlink cinema|hyperlink]] format. The film opened on 7 January 2011, to a positive reception. It is widely regarded as one of the defining movies of the [[New Wave (Malayalam film movement)|Malayalam New Wave]].<ref name="Sathyendran"/> A [[multiperspectivity|multi-narrative]] thriller that intertwines multiple stories around one particular incident, '''''Traffic''''' is inspired from an actual event that happened in [[Chennai]].<ref name="Hithendran Incident"/><ref name="Traffic Movie Review"/> Owing to its critical and commercial success, ''Traffic'' was remade into [[Tamil cinema|Tamil]] as ''[[Chennaiyil Oru Naal]]'', in Kannada as ''[[Crazy Star (film)|Crazy Star]]'' and is also remade in [[Traffic (2016 film)|Hindi, with the same name]]. This was also the last film of the veteran actor [[Jose Prakash]].<ref name="The Times of India"/>
 
==Plot==
On 16 September, superstar Sidharth Shankar ([[Rahman (actor)|Rahman]]) gets ready for the release of his new film. On the same day, Traffic Constable Sudevan ([[Sreenivasan]]) joins back on duty, after having been suspended from service for taking bribe as he wanted to pay the fees for his niece's admission. The day is special for Dr. Abel ([[Kunchako Boban]]) who is celebrating his first wedding anniversary. Raihan ([[Vineeth Sreenivasan]]), an aspiring television journalist, starts his first job with an interview with Siddharth Shankar the very same day.
 
On the same day, at a crowded traffic junction in [[Kochi]], Raihan and Rajeev ([[Asif Ali (actor)|Asif Ali]]), travelling in a bike are fatally hit by a speeding car at the signal. Raihan is all set to interview the superstar, Siddharth Shankar. Also at the junction, in another car, is the surgeon Dr. Abel.
 
Raihan goes into [[coma]] and is declared [[brain dead]] although he is kept alive using [[ventilator]] in [[Lakeshore Hospital]] Kochi. Meanwhile, Siddharth's ailing daughter Riya's ([[Namitha Pramod]]) condition becomes worse. She is admitted to Ahalya Hospital Palakkad and she urgently needs a heart transplant. At first, Raihan's parents do not agree to take their son off the ventilator and donate their son's heart but Rajeev and Raihan's girlfriend Aditi ([[Sandhya (actress)|Sandhya]]) persuade them into it. Now that the heart is available, the problem was with transporting it from Kochi to Palakkad. No helicopters or chartered flights are available due to bad weather and time concerns and so the heart will have to be taken by road. Someone will have to drive the 150 kilometres from Lakeshore Hospital in Kochi to Ahalya Hospital in Palakkad in under two hours during the rush traffic.
 
City Police Commissioner Ajmal Nazar ([[Anoop Menon]]) is asked to carry out the mission. He initially refuses considering the complexity and risk involved in the mission. But finally, he heeds to the persuasion of Dr.Simon D'souza ([[Jose Prakash]]). Sudevan, being an experienced driver who has driven as an escort for ministers, volunteers to be the driver of the [[Mahindra Scorpio]] which will transport the heart because he wanted to regain the name he lost due to the bribe incident. Accompanying him on this mission is Dr Abel and Rajeev.
 
Everything goes smoothly for some time. But at a point Dr. Abel threatens Sudevan that he would kill Rajeev if he didn't comply, forcing Sudevan to deviate from the highway into a forest road (Puttukad forest area) in order to save himself from the police. However, Rajeev retaliates leading to a fight. He phones his sister Miriam ([[Roma Asrani|Roma]]) and speaks that he had hit his wife Shwetha ([[Remya Nambeesan]]) with a car as he was infuriated with the fact that she was cheating on him with his best friend Jikku ([[Krishna (Malayalam actor)|Krishna]]) and that she has possibly died, so he wishes to save himself from the clutches of the police. Here Siddharth Shankar phones him and convinces him that he can save Abel, however, Abel is shown not to be so convinced. In the nick of time,  Shruti([[Lena (actress)|Lena]]), Siddharth Shankar's wife explains her mental traumatic condition due to the heart problem of her daughter for the last 13 years. And explains that no other problem can be bigger than this one. Abel now convinced, advises Sudevan and Rajeev to leave. However, Sudevan decides to have Abel with them in the team and in spite of the repeated suggestions from the Commissioner Nazar to get him arrested.
 
They are then shown to enter a road 8&nbsp;km ahead of the route time table, thus making up for the time they lost in the forest. However, after some time Riya's conditions worsen, forcing the team to take an alternate route through a communally sensitive place called Bilal Colony. It is shown that police cannot enter the place due to its strong minority.  Rajeev seems to know the place well and advises Siddharth Shankar to get the place cleared for the vehicle to move. Siddharth Shankar personally phones Thanzeer(Baiju Ezhuppuna) the Fans Club President who goes out of his ways and means to clear roads for the vehicle. Rajeev exits the vehicle as soon as they enter the colony to ensure the roads are clear. In midway, Abel also exits the vehicle to remove two vehicles which are blocking the route. After which Abel boards the car with Thanzeer's assistance, however, Rajeev is unable to board the car. Sudevan drives at high speeds and ensures that they reach Ahalya Hospital on time. Covering the challenging 150&nbsp;km feat in a daunting 1 hour and 58 minutes.
 
It is shown that Shwetha is out of danger and has no complaints regarding the accident against Abel, thus freeing him. Rajeev is offered a lift to Kochi by an unnamed man ([[Nivin Pauly]]). Raihan's parents invite Aditi home as a symbol of acceptance and prepare for the last rites of Raihan. Riya opens her eyes, bringing joy to her family, Nazar feels a sense of satisfaction and phones Dr. Simon D'Souza to thank him. Sudevan en route to his home finds a few people fighting on the road regarding a minor accident, where he signals them to stop the fight. Thus the movie ends on a happy note.
 
==Cast==
 
* [[Sreenivasan]] as Sudevan Nair, a head constable in Kochi City Traffic Police
* [[Kunchacko Boban]] as Dr. Abel Thariyan, a reputed cardiac surgeon at Lakeshore Hospital, Ernakulam.
* [[Vineeth Sreenivasan]] as Raihan Saifudeen, A journalist trainee working in [[Indiavision]]
* [[Asif Ali (actor)|Asif Ali]] as Rajeev Menon, Raihan's best friend
* [[Anoop Menon]] as [[Superintendent of Police#India|SP]] Ajmal Nazar [[Indian Police Service|IPS]], [[Commissioner of Police#India|City Police Commissioner]] of [[Kochi]]
* [[Rahman (actor)|Rahman]] as Siddharth Shankar, a Malayalam Cine Megastar
* [[Sandhya (actress)|Sandhya]] as Aditi, Raihan's girlfriend and a divorcee
* [[Roma (actress)|Roma]] as Miriam, Abel's sister working in [[Club FM 94.3|Club FM]]
* [[Lena (actress)|Lena]] as Shruthi, Sidharth Shankar's wife
* [[Sai Kumar (Malayalam actor)|Sai Kumar]] as Dr. Saifudeen, a surgeon and Raihan's Father.
* [[Fathima Babu]] as Raihan's Mother
* [[Remya Nambeesan]] as Shwetha, Abel's wife.
* [[Vijayakumar (Malayalam actor)|Vijayakumar]] as Mathew, Private Secretary to Sidharth Shankar.
* Dr. Rony David as a Journalist
* [[Namitha Pramod]] as Riya, Sidharth Shankar's daughter.
*[[Krishna (Malayalam actor)|Krishna]] as Jicku, a common friend of Abel and Shwetha who has an affair with Shwetha.
* Reena Basheer as Sudevan's wife
* Nisha Sarang as Sudevan's sister
* [[Prem Prakash]] as a doctor
* Renjith Reghu as Deepu
* Mahima as Aditi's friend
* Baiju Ezhupunna as Thanzeer,<ref>{{Citation|title=Traffic (2011) - IMDb|url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1821682/fullcredits|access-date=2019-05-12}}</ref> the Siddharth Shankar Fans Club President of Bilal Colony
*[[Akhil S Prasad]] as Ajaz, Miriam's brother.
*[[Jose Prakash]] as Dr.Simon D'souza (Guest appearance)
*[[Nivin Pauly]] as a man in a car (Special Appearance)
*Gowri Krishnan as Sudevan's Daughter (Special Appearance)
 
==Production==
The film is directed by [[Rajesh Pillai]].<ref name="sreeni">{{cite web|url=http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/malayalam/article/54337.html|title=Vineeth and Sreenivasan in 'Traffic'|accessdate=10 February 2010|publisher=Indiaglitz}}</ref> Writers of the film Bobby and Sanjay, who scripted ''Ente Veedu Appoontem'' and ''[[Notebook (2006 film)|Notebook]]'' explain: "The director wanted the film to be of a different mould altogether. Here every character is of equal importance as the story moves ahead. It was quite a challenging task but an enjoyable experience as well."<ref name="Hindu">{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/arts/cinema/article804622.ece|title=It happened one day... |author=Vijay George|accessdate=30 September 2010|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|location=Chennai, India|date=30 September 2010}}</ref> They add that the film is inspired by a true incident. A similar mission was successfully carried out by the [[Tamil Nadu]] police in a more complex [[Chennai]] city.<ref name="Hindu"/>{{Failed verification|date=March 2012}} Also, in a scene, the character played by [[Anoop Menon]] talks about the incident.
 
''Traffic'' is one of the first multi narratives made in this decade in Malayalam film. The film has Sreenivasan, Rahman, Kunchacko Boban and Asif Ali as the four lead protagonists whose stories are narrated through the sequences.<ref name="July">{{cite web|url=http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/malayalam/article/57917.html|title='Traffic' to start this July|accessdate=18 June 2010|publisher=Indiaglitz}}</ref> Vineeth Sreenivasan, who recently made his debut as a writer and director with ''[[Malarvadi Arts Club]]'', says that it was the exciting script that attracted him to the project. "It is a particularly exciting day for my character as he is all set to join a news channel but as it turns out fate had other plans in store for him," adds the actor.<ref name="Hindu"/>
On the theme, Rajesh says, "I felt it was a theme that could connect with viewers regardless of their age. It's a contemporary theme that reassures us that if we approach something with honesty, even nature will come to our support."<ref name="Vijay George"/> The film will be the second on-screen pairing of Vineeth and Sreenivasan, after their first film ''[[Makante Achan]]''.<ref name="sreeni"/> Sandhya plays Aditi, who is in love with Raihan. "Aditi is perhaps more worldly-wise than usual for someone her age. But she has her own reasons for being so", says the Malayali actor who created quite a stir with her performance in the Tamil film. This movie was said to be better than its other remakes.
 
==Reception==
 
===Critical response===
The film opened on 7 January 2011 to positive reviews. Veeyen of ''Nowrunning.com'' gave the film 3 out of 5 stars, writing, "Rajesh Pillai's ''Traffic'' is a brutally brilliant film in which he lends color to coincidence and unveils before us cogitation on the dynamics of chance. A strikingly crafted film that is raw and genuine, it crawls right under your skin and stays there."<ref name="Nowrunning">{{cite web|url=http://www.nowrunning.com/movie/7383/malayalam/traffic/2895/review.htm|title=Rajesh Pillai's Traffic is a brutally brilliant film! |accessdate=8 January 2011|publisher=Nowrunning}}</ref> ''IndiaGlitz'' enthusiastically praised the film's "riveting plot, great performances, soulful music... and skillful direction".<ref name="indiaglitz.com"/> A review at Cinefundas also praised the acting, adding that "the real hero of the film is the script".<ref name="Traffic – Malayalam Movie Review"/> ''Sify.com'' called it "an overwhelming experience" and rated it as "very good."<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20130314013953/http://www.sify.com/movies/traffic-review-review-malayalam-14959872.html Movie Review:''Traffic'' review<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> The Malayalam website ''Movieraga'' called it an "excellent movie" and went on to state that the new blood of Malayalam cinema cannot be seen as second-grade any more.<ref>[http://movieraga.indulekha.com/2011/01/08/review-traffic/ Review: Traffic | MOVIERAGA<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> The movie was part of the series of movies that began the [[New generation (Malayalam film movement)|New Generation Movement.]]<ref name="thenewsminute.com"/>
 
Traffic was screened in the ''Malayalam Cinema Today'' section at the 16th [[International Film Festival of Kerala]] (IFFK), in [[Thiruvananthapuram]], Kerala in 2011.<ref name="A slice of Kerala">{{cite news|title=A slice of Kerala|url=http://newindianexpress.com/cities/thiruvananthapuram/article231030.ece|newspaper=The New Indian Express}}</ref>
 
==Box office==
The film became both critical and commercial success.<ref name="India Today"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.news18.com/news/india/2011-malayalam-filmdom-failed-to-script-success-430328.html|title=2011: Malayalam filmdom failed to script success|publisher=[[CNN-News18]]|date=21 December 2011}}</ref>
 
==Soundtrack==
{{Infobox album
| name      = Traffic
| type      = Soundtrack
| artist    = [[Mejo Joseph]]
| cover      =
| alt        =
| released  = {{Start date|df=yes|2010|12|25}}
| recorded  = 2010
| venue      =
| studio    =
| genre      = [[Film soundtrack]]
| length    = {{Duration|m=25|s=32}}
| language  = [[Malayalam]]
| label      = Satyam Audios
| producer  = [[Listin Stephen]]
| prev_title = Kanmazha Peyyum Munpe
| prev_year  = 2010
| next_title = [[Chapters (film)|Chapters]]
| next_year  = 2012
}}
 
{{Track listing
 
| extra_column = Artist(s)
 
| all_lyrics = [[S. Ramesan Nair]] except where noted
| all_music  = Samson Kottoor except where noted
 
| title1 = Kannerinjal
| extra1 = Vipin Warrier, [[Hesham Abdul Wahab]]
| music1 = [[Mejo Joseph]]
 
| title2  = Pakalin
| extra2  = [[Sithara (singer)|Sithara]]
| music2  = Mejo Joseph
| lyrics2 = [[Vayalar Sarath Chandra Varma]]
 
| title3 = Unaroo Mizhiyazhake
| extra3 = [[Chinmayi]]
 
| title4 = Unaroo Mizhiyazhake
| extra4 = Samson Kottoor
 
| title5 = Unaroo Mizhiyazhake
| note5  = Instrumental
| extra5 = Kalyan
 
| title6 = Theme Music
| note6  = Instrumental
| music6 = Samson Kottoor
 
}}
 
==Remakes==
Owing to its critical and commercial success, ''Traffic'' was remade in Tamil as ''[[Chennaiyil Oru Naal]]'' (2013). In Tamil version, This movie had made Blockbuster in Box Office. Its Hindi remake, ''[[Traffic (2016 film)|Traffic]]'' has been released in May,2016.<ref name="Top 10 Cinema"/><ref name="ട്രാഫിക് ഹിന്ദിയിലും"/>


==Awards==
==Awards==
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! Ref.
! Ref.
|-
|-
| rowspan=1| <div style="text-align: center;"> [[Kerala State Film Awards|Kerala State Film Awards 2011]]</div>
| rowspan=1 style="text-align:center"|  [[Kerala State Film Awards|Kerala State Film Awards 2011]]
| [[Kerala State Film Award for Best Screenplay|Best Screenplay]]
| [[Kerala State Film Award for Best Screenplay|Best Screenplay]]
| {{won}}
| {{won}}
| [[Bobby–Sanjay|Bobby-Sanjay]]
| [[Bobby–Sanjay|Bobby-Sanjay]]
|<ref name="Kerala State Film Awards 2012">{{cite web|title=Kerala State Film Awards|url=http://www.nowrunning.com/news/malayalam/dileep-sweta-menon-triumphs-at-state-awards/54304/story.htm|publisher=Nowrunning.com}}</ref>
|<ref name="Kerala State Film Awards 2012">{{cite web|title=Kerala State Film Awards|url=http://www.nowrunning.com/news/malayalam/dileep-sweta-menon-triumphs-at-state-awards/54304/story.htm|publisher=Nowrunning.com|access-date=19 July 2012|archive-date=21 July 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120721044353/http://www.nowrunning.com/news/malayalam/dileep-sweta-menon-triumphs-at-state-awards/54304/story.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
|-
| rowspan=2| <div style="text-align: center;">[[1st South Indian International Movie Awards]]</div>
| rowspan=2 style="text-align:center"| [[1st South Indian International Movie Awards]]
| Best Director
| Best Director
| {{won}}
| {{won}}
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| [[Lena (actress)|Lena]]
| [[Lena (actress)|Lena]]
|-
|-
| rowspan=2| <div style="text-align: center;"> [[Filmfare Awards South|Filmfare Awards South 2012]] </div>
| rowspan=2 style="text-align:center"|  [[Filmfare Awards South|Filmfare Awards South 2012]]
| [[Filmfare Award for Best Film – Malayalam|Best Film]]
| [[Filmfare Award for Best Film – Malayalam|Best Film]]
| {{won}}
| {{won}}
| [[Listin Stephen]]
| [[Listin Stephen]]
| rowspan=2|<ref name="Filmfare Awards South 2012">{{cite web|title=Filmfare Awards South 2012|url= http://www.kollyinsider.com/2012/07/59th-filmfare-awards-2012-south.html|publisher=Kollyinsider.com }}</ref>
| rowspan=2|<ref name="Filmfare Awards South 2012">{{cite web|title=Filmfare Awards South 2012|date= 8 July 2012|url= http://www.kollyinsider.com/2012/07/59th-filmfare-awards-2012-south.html|publisher=Kollyinsider.com }}</ref>
|-
|-
| [[Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress – Malayalam|Best Supporting Actress]]
| [[Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress – Malayalam|Best Supporting Actress]]
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| Lena Abhilash
| Lena Abhilash
|-
|-
| rowspan=3|<div style="text-align: center;">[[Kerala Film Critics Awards]]</div>
| rowspan=3 style="text-align:center"| [[Kerala Film Critics Awards]]
| Best Script
| Best Script
| {{won}}
| {{won}}
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| Lena Abhilash
| Lena Abhilash
|-
|-
| rowspan=1| <div style="text-align: center;">Lohithadas Award</div>
| rowspan=1 style="text-align:center"| Lohithadas Award
| Best Script
| Best Script
| {{won}}
| {{won}}
| Bobby-Sanjay
| Bobby-Sanjay
|<ref name="mathrubhumi.com"/>
|<ref>{{cite news|title=ലോഹിതദാസ് പുരസ്‌കാരം ബോബിക്കും സഞ്ജയിനും|url=http://www.mathrubhumi.com/movies/malayalam/282848/|newspaper=Mathrubhumi|access-date=29 June 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120628210409/http://www.mathrubhumi.com/movies/malayalam/282848/|archive-date=28 June 2012|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
|-
|-
| rowspan=6| <div style="text-align: center;"> [[Asianet Film Awards|Asianet Film Awards 2012]] </div>
| rowspan=6 style="text-align:center"|  [[Asianet Film Awards|Asianet Film Awards 2012]]
| Best Film
| Best Film
| {{nom}}
| {{nom}}
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| [[Sreenivasan]]
| [[Sreenivasan]]
|-
|-
| rowspan=5| <div style="text-align: center;">Asiavision Movie Awards </div>
| rowspan=5 style="text-align:center"| Asiavision Movie Awards
| Best Popular Movie
| Best Popular Movie
| {{won}}
| {{won}}
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| Listin Stephen
| Listin Stephen
|-
|-
| rowspan=3|<div style="text-align: center;"> Nana Film Awards </div>
| rowspan=3 style="text-align:center"|  Nana Film Awards
| Best Film
| Best Film
| {{won}}
| {{won}}
| Listin Stephen
| Listin Stephen
| rowspan=3|<ref name="Nana Film Awards 2011">{{cite web|title=Nana Film Awards 2011|url=http://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/384380_165044300264538_100002769065902_193665_2060132686_n.jpg|publisher=Nana.com |archive-url=https://archive.today/2012.07.10-205829/http://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/384380_165044300264538_100002769065902_193665_2060132686_n.jpg |archive-date=10 July 2012 |url-status=dead}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
| rowspan=3|<ref name="Nana Film Awards 2011">{{cite web|title=Nana Film Awards 2011|url=http://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/384380_165044300264538_100002769065902_193665_2060132686_n.jpg|publisher=Nana.com |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120710205829/http://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/384380_165044300264538_100002769065902_193665_2060132686_n.jpg |archive-date=10 July 2012 |url-status=dead}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
|-
|-
| Best Director
| Best Director
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| Mahesh Narayanan
| Mahesh Narayanan
|-
|-
| rowspan=2| <div style="text-align: center;">Mathrubhumi Kalyan Silks Film Awards </div>
| rowspan=2 style="text-align:center"| Mathrubhumi Kalyan Silks Film Awards
| Best Screenplay
| Best Screenplay
| {{won}}
| {{won}}
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| Listin Stephen
| Listin Stephen
|-
|-
| rowspan=2| <div style="text-align: center;">Surya Film Awards </div>
| rowspan=2 style="text-align:center"| Surya Film Awards
| Most Popular Director
| Most Popular Director
| {{nom}}
| {{nom}}
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| Mahesh Narayanan
| Mahesh Narayanan
|-
|-
| rowspan=1| <div style="text-align: center;"> Kochi Times Awards </div>
| rowspan=1 style="text-align:center"|  Kochi Times Awards
| Best Script
| Best Script
| {{won}}
| {{won}}
| Bobby – Sanjay
| Bobby – Sanjay
|<ref>{{cite news|title=Kochi Times Film Awards 2011 |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-06-23/news-and-interviews/32369964_1_video-mohanlal-kavya-madhavan|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004233019/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-06-23/news-and-interviews/32369964_1_video-mohanlal-kavya-madhavan|url-status=dead|newspaper=[[The Times of India]] |archive-date=2013-10-04}}</ref>
|<ref>{{cite news|title=Kochi Times Film Awards 2011 |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/regional/malayalam/news-and-interviews/The-Kochi-Times-Film-Awards-2011/articleshow/14341029.cms|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004233019/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-06-23/news-and-interviews/32369964_1_video-mohanlal-kavya-madhavan|url-status=live|newspaper=[[The Times of India]] |archive-date=2013-10-04}}</ref>
|-
|-
| rowspan=3| <div style="text-align: center;"> Amrita Film Awards 2012 </div>
| rowspan=3 style="text-align:center"|  Amrita Film Awards 2012
| Best Supporting Actor (Female)
| Best Supporting Actor (Female)
| {{won}}
| {{won}}
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| Rajesh Pillai
| Rajesh Pillai
|-
|-
| <div style="text-align: center;"> Jaihind Film Awards 2012 </div>
| style="text-align:center" |  Jaihind Film Awards 2012
| Best Director
| Best Director
| {{won}}
| {{won}}
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|{{citation needed|date=February 2016}}
|{{citation needed|date=February 2016}}
|-
|-
| <div style="text-align: center;"> Film Guidance Chalachitra Awards 2011 </div>
| style="text-align:center" |  Film Guidance Chalachitra Awards 2011
| Best Supporting Actress
| Best Supporting Actress
| {{won}}
| {{won}}
| Remya Nambeesan
| Remya Nambeesan
|<ref>{{cite web|title=Film Guidance Chalachitra Award 2011|url= http://entertainment.oneindia.in/malayalam/news/2012/beautiful-film-guidance-chalathchitra-award-150212.html|publisher=Oneindia.in}}</ref>
|<ref>{{cite web|title=Film Guidance Chalachitra Award 2011|url=https://www.filmibeat.com/malayalam/news/2012/beautiful-film-guidance-chalathchitra-award-150212.html|publisher=Oneindia|access-date=21 July 2012|archive-date=9 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210609190308/http://entertainment.oneindia.in/malayalam/news/2012/beautiful-film-guidance-chalathchitra-award-150212.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
|-
| rowspan=5| <div style="text-align: center;"> Reporter TV Film Awards 2012 </div>
| rowspan=5 style="text-align:center"|  Reporter TV Film Awards 2012
| Best Film
| Best Film
| {{won}}
| {{won}}
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| Lena Abhilash
| Lena Abhilash
|-
|-
| rowspan=6| <div style="text-align: center;"> Thikkurissy Awards 2011 </div>
| style="text-align:center"|  Thikkurissy Awards 2011
| Best Second Actress
| Best Second Actress
| {{won}}
| {{won}}
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{{Reflist|30em}}
{{Reflist|30em}}


== External links ==
==External links==
<!--LINKS TO PUBLIC DISCUSSION FORUMS SHOULD NOT BE ADDED-->
<!--LINKS TO PUBLIC DISCUSSION FORUMS SHOULD NOT BE ADDED-->
* {{IMDb title|id=1821682|title=Traffic}}
* {{IMDb title|id=1821682|title=Traffic}}
* [http://www.nowrunning.com/movie/7383/malayalam/traffic/index.htm ''Traffic''] at Nowrunning.com
* [http://www.nowrunning.com/movie/7383/malayalam/traffic/index.htm ''Traffic''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110121050433/http://www.nowrunning.com/movie/7383/malayalam/traffic/index.htm |date=21 January 2011 }} at Nowrunning.com
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20101204124724/http://popcorn.oneindia.in/title/8644/traffic.html ''Traffic''] at [[Oneindia.in]]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20101204124724/http://popcorn.oneindia.in/title/8644/traffic.html ''Traffic''] at [[Oneindia.in]]
* [http://www.rediff.com/movies/report/south-review-traffic/20110110.htm ''Traffic'' review] at [[Rediff.com]]
* [http://www.rediff.com/movies/report/south-review-traffic/20110110.htm ''Traffic'' review] at [[Rediff.com]]
Line 722: Line 370:
==Further reading==
==Further reading==
* [http://www.aphithendranmemorialtrust.org/incident.html "A true heart touching story (The incident on which the film is based on)"].
* [http://www.aphithendranmemorialtrust.org/incident.html "A true heart touching story (The incident on which the film is based on)"].
{{Filmfare Award for Best Film – Malayalam}}
{{Authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Traffic}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Traffic}}
[[Category:2011 films]]
[[Category:2011 films]]
[[Category:Indian films]]
[[Category:Indian road movies]]
[[Category:Indian road movies]]
[[Category:Malayalam-language films]]
[[Category:2011 Malayalam-language films]]
[[Category:2010s Malayalam-language films]]
[[Category:2010s road movies]]
[[Category:2010s road movies]]
[[Category:2010s thriller films]]
[[Category:2011 thriller films]]
[[Category:Indian films based on actual events]]
[[Category:Indian films based on actual events]]
[[Category:Malayalam films remade in other languages]]
[[Category:Malayalam films remade in other languages]]
[[Category:Films with screenplays by Bobby-Sanjay]]
[[Category:Films with screenplays by Bobby-Sanjay]]
[[Category:Indian nonlinear narrative films]]
[[Category:Indian nonlinear narrative films]]
[[Category:Fictional portrayals of the Kerala Police]]
[[Category:Films shot in Kochi]]
[[Category:Hyperlink films]]
[[Category:Hyperlink films]]
[[Category:Films directed by Rajesh Pillai]]
[[Category:Films directed by Rajesh Pillai]]

Latest revision as of 02:20, 4 March 2026


Traffic
Theatrical official poster
Directed byRajesh Pillai
Produced byListin Stephen
Written byBobby-Sanjay
Starring
Music bySongs:
Mejo Joseph
Samson Kottoor
Background Score:
Mejo Joseph
CinematographyShyju Khalid
Edited byMahesh Narayanan
Production
company
Distributed byMagic Frames
Release date
  • 7 January 2011 (2011-01-07)
Running time
122 minutes
CountryIndia
LanguageMalayalam
Budget₹2.75 crores[1]
Box office₹15 crores[2]

Traffic is a 2011 Indian Malayalam-language road thriller film directed by Rajesh Pillai and written by Bobby–Sanjay. It features an ensemble cast of Sreenivasan, Kunchacko Boban, Rahman, Anoop Menon, Vineeth Sreenivasan, Asif Ali, Sandhya, Roma, Remya Nambessan, Lena, and Saikumar.[3] The film tells its story in a hyperlink narrative format.

Traffic was released on 7 January 2011 to positive reviews from critics, and was a commercial success. It has since gained cult status and is widely recognised as being among the first Malayalam New Wave films. A multi-narrative thriller that intertwines multiple stories around one particular incident, Traffic is inspired from a real event that happened in Chennai.[4][5] It was remade into Tamil as Chennaiyil Oru Naal, in Kannada as Crazy Star and in Hindi, under the same name. The film marked the final appearance of the veteran actor Jose Prakash before his death in 2012.[6]

Plot[edit | edit source]

On 16 September in Kochi, Sidharth Shankar is preparing for the release of his new film; Traffic Constable Sudevan resumes his duty following a suspension for accepting a bribe to pay the fees for his niece's school admission, cardiologist Dr. Abel is celebrating his first wedding anniversary and Raihan, an aspiring television journalist, starts his new job with an interview with Siddharth Shankar.

At a crowded traffic jam, Raihan and his friend Rajeev, who were travelling together on a bike are hit by a speeding car at the signal. At the same junction in another car is Abel and his friend, Jikku.

On the other hand, Siddharth's daughter Riya is suffering from a heart condition and her condition deteriorates, making her in need of a heart transplant. Raihan falls into a coma and is declared brain dead, although he is kept alive using a ventilator. Raihan's parents refuse to take their son of the ventilator and donate his heart but reluctantly agree on the persuasion of Rajeev, and Raihan's girlfriend Aditi. However, the heart is unable to be transported from Kochi to Palakkad, as there are no helicopters or flights available due to the weather conditions and time concerns; the only option available is via road.

City Police Commissioner Ajmal Nazar is asked to take charge of the mission, but refuses due to the complexity and risk involved. However, he agrees on the insistence of Dr. Simon D' Souza. No officer is willing to drive the vehicle transporting the heart until Sudevan volunteers, hoping to regain the respect he lost. Accompanying him on the mission are Abel and Rajeev.

The mission goes smoothly at first, until Abel holds Rajeev at knife-point, threatening Sudevan that if he didn't comply he would kill Rajeev, forcing Sudevan to deviate from the highway into a forest. After Rajeev retaliates, Abel calls his sister Miriam, and confesses to running over his wife Shwetha, after finding out that she was having an affair with his friend Jikku and that she may have died, therefore he wishes to save himself from the police. Siddharth then calls Abel and promises to help him, though he is not convinced. A frustrated Siddharth's wife Sruthi explains the trauma she has been through because of her daughter's heart condition, and tells him that no other problem could be bigger than this. A finally convinced Abel advises Sudevan and Rajeev to leave without him, however, he is brought along by Sudevan despite being requested by Nazar to have him arrested.

They divert into a road 8 km ahead of the scheduled route, making up for the time they lost. Riya's condition begins to worsen, causing Sudevan to take an alternate route through a communally sensitive are called Bilal Colony, where police are restricted from entering due to its strong minority. Rajeev, who is familiar with the area, helps make way for the vehicle to pass along with help of Thanzeer, Siddharth Shankar's Fan Club President whom Siddharth personally called. Abel also leave the vehicle to push two vehicles blocking the route. Sudevan drives at a high speed and reaches the hospital on time, covering the 150 km feat in an hour and 58 minutes.

Abel is relieved after finding out that Shwetha is in stable condition and has no complaints against him. Rajeev is offered a lift back to Kochi and Raihan's parents accept Aditi and invite her to their home, before doing Raihan's final rites. Riya opens her eyes, much to the relief of her family, and a satisfied Nazar thanks Dr. Simon D'Souza. Sudevan en-route to his home finds a group of people arguing in the middle road over a minor accident, where he signals them to stop, ending the film on a happy note.

Cast[edit | edit source]

Production[edit | edit source]

Bobby and Sanjay, who scripted Ente Veedu Appuvinteyum and Notebook explained: "The director wanted the film to be of a different mould altogether. Here every character is of equal importance as the story moves ahead. It was quite a challenging task but an enjoyable experience as well."[7] They add that the film is inspired by a true incident. A similar mission was successfully carried out by the Tamil Nadu police in a more complex Chennai city.[7][failed verification] Also, in a scene, the character played by Anoop Menon talks about the incident.

Traffic is one of the first multi narratives made in this decade in Malayalam film. The film has Sreenivasan, Rahman, Kunchacko Boban and Asif Ali as the four lead protagonists whose stories are narrated through the sequences.[8][7] On the theme, Rajesh says, "I felt it was a theme that could connect with viewers regardless of their age. It's a contemporary theme that reassures us that if we approach something with honesty, even nature will come to our support."[9] The film will be the second on-screen pairing of Vineeth and Sreenivasan, after their first film Makante Achan.[10]

Reception[edit | edit source]

Critical response[edit | edit source]

The film opened on 7 January 2011 to positive reviews. Veeyen of Nowrunning.com gave the film 3 out of 5 stars, writing, "Rajesh Pillai's Traffic is a brutally brilliant film in which he lends color to coincidence and unveils before us cogitation on the dynamics of chance. A strikingly crafted film that is raw and genuine, it crawls right under your skin and stays there."[11] IndiaGlitz enthusiastically praised the film's "riveting plot, great performances, soulful music... and skillful direction".[12] A review at Cinefundas also praised the acting, adding that "the real hero of the film is the script".[13] Sify.com called it "an overwhelming experience" and rated it as "very good."[14] The Malayalam website Movieraga called it an "excellent movie" and went on to state that the new blood of Malayalam cinema cannot be seen as second-grade any more.[15] The movie was part of the series of movies that began the New Generation Movement.[16]

Traffic was screened in the Malayalam Cinema Today section at the 16th International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK), in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala in 2011.[17]

Box office[edit | edit source]

The film received highly positive reviews and was declared a blockbuster at box office.[18][19]

Soundtrack[edit | edit source]

Traffic
Soundtrack album by
Mejo Joseph
Released25 December 2010 (2010-12-25)
Recorded2010
GenreFilm soundtrack
Length25:32
LanguageMalayalam
LabelSatyam Audios
ProducerMejo Joseph
Mejo Joseph chronology
Kanmazha Peyyum Munpe
(2010) 		Traffic
(2010) 		Chapters
(2012)

All lyrics are written by S. Ramesan Nair except where noted; all music is composed by Samson Kottoor except where noted.

No.TitleLyricsMusicArtistsLength
1."Kannerinjal" Mejo JosephVipin Warrier, Hesham Abdul Wahab 
2."Pakalin"Vayalar Sarath Chandra VarmaMejo JosephSithara 
3."Unaroo Mizhiyazhake"  Chinmayi 
4."Unaroo Mizhiyazhake"  Samson Kottoor 
5."Unaroo Mizhiyazhake" (Instrumental)  Kalyan 
6."Theme Music" (Instrumental) Samson Kottoor  

Remakes[edit | edit source]

Year Film Language
2013 Chennaiyil Oru Naal Tamil
2014 Crazy Star Kannada
2016 Traffic Hindi

Owing to its critical and commercial success, Traffic was remade in Tamil as Chennaiyil Oru Naal (2013), which was a huge success at box office like Traffic. Kannada remake Crazy Star (2014) received negative reception from both critics and box-office. Traffic's Hindi remake was released in May 2016.[20][21]

Awards[edit | edit source]

Award Category Result Recipient Ref.
Kerala State Film Awards 2011 Best Screenplay Won Bobby-Sanjay [22]
1st South Indian International Movie Awards Best Director Won Rajesh Pillai
Best Actress in a Supporting Role Won Lena
Filmfare Awards South 2012 Best Film Won Listin Stephen [23]
Best Supporting Actress Won Lena Abhilash
Kerala Film Critics Awards Best Script Won Bobby-Sanjay [24]
Second Best Actor – Male Won Anoop Menon
Second Best Actor – Female Won Lena Abhilash
Lohithadas Award Best Script Won Bobby-Sanjay [25]
Asianet Film Awards 2012 Best Film Nominated Listin Stephen [26]
Best Director Nominated Rajesh Pillai
Best Screenplay Won Bobby-Sanjay
Best Supporting Actor Nominated Anoop Menon
Best Supporting Actress Nominated Remya Nambeesan
Best Character Actor Nominated Sreenivasan
Asiavision Movie Awards Best Popular Movie Won Listin Stephen [27]
Second Best Actor Won Anoop Menon
Best Screenplay Won Bobby-Sanjay
Special Performance Award Won Rahman
Trendsetter Award Won Listin Stephen
Nana Film Awards Best Film Won Listin Stephen [28]
Best Director Won Rajesh Pillai
Best Editor Won Mahesh Narayanan
Mathrubhumi Kalyan Silks Film Awards Best Screenplay Won Bobby-Sanjay [29]
Best Path Breaking Film of the Year Nominated Listin Stephen
Surya Film Awards Most Popular Director Nominated Rajesh Pillai
Best Editor Won Mahesh Narayanan
Kochi Times Awards Best Script Won Bobby – Sanjay [30]
Amrita Film Awards 2012 Best Supporting Actor (Female) Won Lena Abhilash [31]
Best Script Won Bobby-Sanjay
Trendsetting Film Director Won Rajesh Pillai
Jaihind Film Awards 2012 Best Director Won Rajesh Pillai [citation needed]
Film Guidance Chalachitra Awards 2011 Best Supporting Actress Won Remya Nambeesan [32]
Reporter TV Film Awards 2012 Best Film Won Listin Stephen [33]
Best Director Won Rajesh Pillai
Best Script Won Bobby-Sanjay
Best Editor Won Mahesh Narayanan
Best Supporting Actress Won Lena Abhilash
Thikkurissy Awards 2011 Best Second Actress Won Sandhya

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ "2011 was troublesome for Malayalam films". News18. 4 January 2012.
  2. ↑ Manoj Nair (21 May 2011). "Malayalam movies: Non-linear narratives are making the box-office ring louder". India Times. Economic Times.
  3. ↑ Coming up: A complex Traffic – Rediff.com Movies
  4. ↑ "Hithendran Incident".
  5. ↑ "Traffic Movie Review". Archived from the original on 19 August 2010.
  6. ↑ "Veteran Malayalam actor Jose Prakash passes away". The Times of India. 24 March 2012. Archived from the original on 11 January 2014.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Vijay George (30 September 2010). "It happened one day..." The Hindu. Chennai, India. Retrieved 30 September 2010.
  8. ↑ "'Traffic' to start this July". Indiaglitz. Archived from the original on 21 June 2010. Retrieved 18 June 2010.
  9. ↑ Vijay George (13 January 2011). "Traffic gets green signal". The Hindu. Chennai, India.
  10. ↑ "Vineeth and Sreenivasan in 'Traffic'". Indiaglitz. Archived from the original on 12 February 2010. Retrieved 10 February 2010.
  11. ↑ "Rajesh Pillai's Traffic is a brutally brilliant film!". Nowrunning. Retrieved 8 January 2011.
  12. ↑ "Traffic – This is a 'Traffic' of change". IndiaGlitz. 8 January 2011.
  13. ↑ "Traffic – Malayalam Movie Review".[usurped] CineFundas.com. 7 January 2011.
  14. ↑ Movie Review:Traffic review
  15. ↑ Review: Traffic | MOVIERAGA
  16. ↑ "When script trumps superstars: How Malayalam cinema has changed in the last decade". The News Minute. 31 December 2019. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
  17. ↑ "A slice of Kerala". The New Indian Express. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016.
  18. ↑ "Kaavalan to Meendum Oru Kadhal Kadhai: 5 Malayalam remakes that shouldn't have been made". India Today. 28 August 2016.
  19. ↑ "2011: Malayalam filmdom failed to script success". News18. 21 December 2011.
  20. ↑ "Malayalam 'Traffic' to Be Remade in Tamil?". Top 10 Cinema. 1 February 2011. Archived from the original on 4 February 2011. Retrieved 2 February 2011.
  21. ↑ "ട്രാഫിക് ഹിന്ദിയിലും". (in Malayalam) Kerala Kaumudi. 11 April 2011. Retrieved 16 April 2011.
  22. ↑ "Kerala State Film Awards". Nowrunning.com. Archived from the original on 21 July 2012. Retrieved 19 July 2012.
  23. ↑ "Filmfare Awards South 2012". Kollyinsider.com. 8 July 2012.
  24. ↑ "Kerala Film Critics Awards 2012". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 18 May 2012.
  25. ↑ "ലോഹിതദാസ് പുരസ്‌കാരം ബോബിക്കും സഞ്ജയിനും". Mathrubhumi. Archived from the original on 28 June 2012. Retrieved 29 June 2012.
  26. ↑ "Asianet Film Awards 2011". Trivandrum.co.in.
  27. ↑ "Asiavision Movie Awards". Asiavisionawards.com. Archived from the original on 25 January 2012.
  28. ↑ "Nana Film Awards 2011". Nana.com.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  29. ↑ "Mathrubhumi Film Awards 2011". Sanscinema.com. Archived from the original on 14 March 2012. Retrieved 19 March 2012.
  30. ↑ "Kochi Times Film Awards 2011". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 4 October 2013.
  31. ↑ "Amrita Film Awards 2012". Amritatv.com. Archived from the original on 14 October 2013.
  32. ↑ "Film Guidance Chalachitra Award 2011". Oneindia. Archived from the original on 9 June 2021. Retrieved 21 July 2012.
  33. ↑ "Reporter TV Film Awards 2012". Metromatinee.com.

External links[edit | edit source]

Further reading[edit | edit source]

Template:Filmfare Award for Best Film – Malayalam

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