Buddha in a Traffic Jam(2016)
Buddha in a Traffic Jam is a 2016 Indian Hindi-language political thriller film directed by Vivek Agnihotri. The cast includes Arunoday Singh, Anupam Kher, Pallavi Joshi, Mahie Gill, and Anchal Dwivedi. The story follows Vikram Pandit, a management student at the Indian Institute of Business, who becomes a pawn in a conspiracy involving his professor and Naxal rebels. His social media campaign to help the poor is secretly used to spread Maoist propaganda. The film exposes the nexus between academia, corruption, and left-wing extremism. It won several awards at international film festivals. The film was released in India on May 13, 2016, after facing distribution challenges.
Quick Facts
- Streaming on
- Amazon Prime Video, ZEE5
- Theatrical Release
- 13 May 2016
- Director
- Vivek Agnihotri
- Language
- Hindi
- Runtime
- 1h 54m
- Rating
- 7.1/10
Storyline
Vikram Pandit is a bright management student. His professor, Jamshed Batki, uses him to publish articles that are actually written by Batki. The articles go viral and make Vikram famous. But Vikram does not know that Batki is connected to Naxal rebels. When he discovers the truth, his life is in danger. He must find a way to escape the web of lies and corruption.
“One man. One lie. One revolution.”
Film Details
Parental Guide
Where to Watch
Vibe & Tags
Cast & Crew
Reunion Meter
Frequent partnerships reunited for Buddha in a Traffic Jam
Cast reunions in this film: Anupam Kher & Pallavi Joshi (4 films together), Vivek Agnihotri & Pallavi Joshi (4 films together), Anupam Kher & Vivek Agnihotri (3 films together), and Anupam Kher & Mahie Gill (2 films together).
Trivia
- The film's title is a metaphor comparing the calm of Buddha to the chaos of modern Indian society.
- Director Vivek Agnihotri stated the plot was inspired by real-life Maoist conflicts in central India.
- It was partially funded through a unique model involving contributions from students and professors.
- The movie faced significant delays in release, taking over four years from completion to theaters.
- Actor Anupam Kher joined the cast after reading the script and called it a 'brave film'.
- Some scenes were shot in remote tribal areas to authentically depict the Naxalite conflict setting.
- The film sparked controversy for its political themes, leading to polarized reviews upon release.