A scene from Traffic Signal

Apsara is screening Nazim Rizvi’s Undertrial. Directed by Aziz Khan, the film stars Rajpal Yadav, Monica Castelino, Prem Chopra, Kader Khan, Pratima Kazmi, Mukesh Tiwari, Sunil Rege and Rajesh Puri in the lead roles.

Traffic Signal, which completes Madhur Bhandarkar’s trilogy after Page 3 and Corporate, is being screened for the second consecutive week at Meghdoot cinema.

The film’s cast includes Kunal Khemu, Neetu Chandra, Ranveer Shorey, Konkona Sen Sharma, Sudhir Mishra, Upyendra Limaye, D. Santosh, Sameer Khan, Sandeep Kulkarni, Manoj Joshi, Nassar Abdulla and Madhu Sharma.

Salaam-e-Ishq is running for the third consecutive week at Anuradha and the first week at Mayur Krishna. The film, directed by Nikhil Advani of Kal Ho Na Ho fame, stars Salman Khan, Priyanka Chopra, John Abraham, Vidya Balan, Akshaye Khanna, Ayesha Takia, Anil Kapoor, Juhi Chawla, Govinda, Shannon Esrechowitz, Sohail Khan and Isha Koppikar.

Pragjyoti is showing Baabul. Directed by Ravi Chopra, the film stars Amitabh Bachchan, Hema Malini, Salman Khan, Rani Mukherjee, John Abraham, Parmeet Sethi, Om Puri, Aman Verma, Rajpal Yadav, Smita Jaykar, Avtar Gill and Gargi Patel.

The months-old comedy Apna Sapna Money Money is being screened at Urvasi. The Sangeeth Sivan-directed film stars Jackie Shroff, Sunil Shetty, Ritesh Deshmukh, Riya Sen, Celina Jaitley, Koena Mitra and Chunky Pandey. Vandana is screening the 1992 action film Aaj Ka Goondaraj directed by Ravi Raja and starring Chiranjeevi, Meenakshi Sheshadri, Raj Babbar, Dalip Tahi, Sharat Saxena, Parikshit Sahni, Satish Shah, Dina Pathak, Rakesh Bedi, Prem Chopra, Tinu Anand and Kunika.

AT THE BOX OFFICE

The queues have grown longer this week with an improvement in the law and order scenario. The film that has benefited the most is Traffic Signal. Like last week, it tops the charts. Good previews have worked to keep Traffic Signal ahead of new release Undertrial even after a week’s run. The occupancy for Traffic Signal during the day has improved and ranges between 75 and 80 per cent.

The film delves into the world of those who have made traffic signals their office.

The characters reflect real life — Silsila (Kunal Khemu) collects hafta from those working at the signal. Rani (Neetu Chandra) sells traditional clothes, while Noorie (Konkona Sen Sharma) is a prostitute who solicits customers at night. Dominic (Ranvir Shorey) is a drug addict who tells his sad stories to everyone and Haji (Sudhir Mishra) is a local mafioso who collects a share from collectors at different signals.

Bhuban Saikia, a diehard film buff, says: “I would rate it as a moderate hit. The film could have been better with a proper storyline. Nonetheless, the crowds seem pleased.”

For the second place, the tussle is between Undertrial and Salaam-e-Ishq.

Undertrial, a straight-out-of-life story of a man accused of raping his three daughters and the mother of the girls testifying in court against him, does not appear to have appealed to all sections of cineastes. Many cinegoers have found it “dark and depressing”. The occupancy level for Salaam-e-Ishq, which revolves around six love stories, is pegged at 60 per cent at both the theatres. Its audience profile mostly comprises the young and the young-at-heart.

Baabul, Apna Sapna Money Money and Aaj Ka Goondaraj occupy the next positions in that order. The occupancy level see-saws between 25 and 30 per cent.

NEXT CHANGE

Hope it is Parzania.