Hat-trick for Madhur Bhandarkar with 'Traffic Signal'

Traffic Signal , which captures the lives of people who spend most of their waking life around Mumbai's street lights has won director Madhur Bhandarkar a National Award, making it a third such in the past seven years.

Bhandarkar who won the Best Director at the 54th National Awards announced in the capital on Tuesday said it was totally unexpected and caught by surprise.

"It is a great feeling. I have made an hat-trick by winning the awards again," a jubilant Bhandarkar said.

Known for making realistic and issue-based films Bhandarkar has previously bagged two national awards for his films Chandni Bar (2001) and Page 3 (2005).

"I am a different kind of filmmaker. People love my kind of cinema and I will continue to make films like this," Bhandarkar said.

When asked if he was expecting to win the award, Bhandarkar said, "No, not at all. I was not expecting it but it is something great. I do not think about awards while making the film but I am very happy to make this hat-trick."

Even though it was appreciated by critics for its unique subject line and approach, 'Traffic Signal' failed to replicate the huge success of 'Page 3,' his earlier film, which has also won an National award.

"It was a moderate hit film but it was appreciated critically. While looking at the success of the film we must look at the budget also. 'Traffic Signal' was only a 4 crore film but it earned about 10 crores at the box office," he said.