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