On one hand, you could see ARTICLE 15 as a simple, honest not-a-super star IPS officer Vs evil politician, local mafia and hands in hand with corrupt policemen story. And that will be doing a disservice to a well-made movie that literally hits at the softer belly of the society. It effortlessly takes you deep inside the village and the caste-system practised there. You have no choice but to stare at reality. Hopefully, it rudely awakens your senses. It will make you discuss the reality, and that’s a work well done by Director Anubhav Sinha
THE STORYLINE- ARTICLE 15.
The IPS cop Ayan Ranjan (Ayushmann Khurana) is rudely awakened in his first posting when he first-hand experiences what caste differentiation means. He comes face to face the unsaid ill-defined social norms that are the rule of the land. No one is really bothered to file an FIR when three girls from lower caste go missing. They are not even disturbed when two of them are found raped-murdered and hanging from the tree.
The dominant interested parties from upper class are all interested in closing the case. They know that nothing will happen. Life will go on. But the young IPS is pushed into action when his wife says- till when will people wait for a superman.
POWERFUL NARRATIVE AND DIALOGUES – THE HEART OF ARTICLE 15
The policemen are equally interested in closing the case. No one wants to disturb the balance in the area. To the extent that a policeman Bhramadatt (Manoj Pahwa )referring to the IPS officer remarks “Aap logon ka transfer ho jata hai, humein maar diya jata hain,” ( Yu get transferred we are killed) in his attempt to close the file.
The girls in question have demanded a mere Rupee three increase in their meagre rupee twenty-five per day wages. The upper caste rangdaar, the local goonda says: “Unhe unki aukaat dikhane ke liye”. ( we show them their identity / value/status) When asked by the police office Ayan Ranjan Aukaat kya hoti hai? ( what is status / value / identity) , the goonda clarifies “Aukaat wohi hai jo hum dete hain.”( it is what we give them)
There are instances, which put the need for equality in focus. One of the most powerful episode in the film is when the father of the murdered girls ends up saying, Woh Kuch Din Rak Kar Chodh Detey. Mara kyu. they (the upper caste people ) should have kept them (the girl) for few days and then allowed them to go free, why to kill them.
EFFECTIVE CAST
Ayushmann Khurana has been much appreciated for this role and the spectrum of possibilities he has been showing in the past few films. Manoj Pahwa, Kumud Mishra and Sayani Gupta add to the compelling narration. But the person who caught my eye was Mohammed Zeeshan Ayub, as the Bhim Sena leader and a listed person Nishad.
NET NET
Whatever may be the case and criticism- it is a movie worth watching once. If and only if some of us stop waiting for the superheroes to come and act, things could be different.
THE INSPIRATION- ARTICLE 15.
The movie Article 15 is inspired by the 2014 Badaun case. Two teenage Dalit girls were murdered after being gang-raped. Their bodies then hung from a tree as a message to other lower caste people.
Article 15 states prohibit discrimination on the grounds of religion, race, caste, sex, and place of birth. Most of us who have been to rural areas know, how hopeless the situation is. How we are miles away from the dreams of our freedom fighters and constitution creators.
Cast: Ayushmann Khurrana, Manoj Pahwa, Kumud Mishra, Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub, Ashish Verma, Sayani Gupta, Isha Talwar, Nasser
BLOG/37/MOVIE/5/2019
