Article 15 Movie Review- The much needed reality check

Director: Anubhav Sinha

Cast: Ayushmann Khurrana, Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub, Manoj Pahwa, Sayoni Gupta

Article 15 directed by Anubhav Sinha is a coming of age story of an IPS officer Ayan played by Ayushmann Khurrana and how he slowly understands the severity of the centuries old caste system which plagues rural India. Set against the Badaun gang-rape and murder case of 2014 Ayan provides a segway for the educated modern city dwellers to be invested into this reality which we do not even know existed. The biggest feat for this movie is that it is being made and as a mainstream Hindi film, even if you are not a lover of Hindi cinema you should watch this movie to witness the reality of our nation.

Anubhav Sinha who has both written and directed this film keeps his protagonist (Ayan) rooted in urban and modern India, this choice helps to not alienate the audience and allows us to unravel this issue along with Ayan. So, even if you are blissfully unaware (like me) about the Badaun case and the severity of the caste system you will be able to grasp the entire film although it may take the first few minutes to settle in and completely understand what is happening.

Majority of the scenes are shot at dusk or dawn which creates the required suspenseful mood and many are shot with lots of fog surrounding the actors- this gives an eerie and gloomy effect but also portrays how these problems and incidents are masked away from the rest of the country. The cinematography by Ewan Mulligan is also able to capture the smells and textures of the village, especially the gruesome living conditions of the “scheduled castes”.

The film never gets too preachy, it stays believable and relatable. Another aspect which I really loved was how unafraid the movie was of even showing close ups of the dead bodies of the girls, or rotting flesh. All of these shots added to the injustice committed within the country but also makes you uncomfortable enough to make you stop pitying these people and instead you respect them for what they do. There is one splendid scene where a man cleans a man hole, and in that moment you feel admiration for people who are willing to do your menial tasks so that you can stay comfortable and sanitised.

The acting is extremely consistent and there is a good performance throughout. Ayushmann Khurrana as Ayan, was amiable and was perfect as the man who learns about his country and its struggles. Mohommed Zeeshan Ayyub as Nishad gets a sort of half baked character who is a little confusing but he is good with whatever screen time he gets. The real gems are Kumud Mishra and Manoj Pahwa both play their characters beautifully and nail the accents. Rojini Chakraborty, Sayani Gupta and Isha Talwar are all wonderful. Out of them Sayani’s plight is heartbreaking to watch and really moves you, because it is her character who never really waits for a hero to come and save her as she herself is actively making a difference to her life.

Article 15 never even wanders into the stereotypical Hindi movie with a love story and “khet” shots, and it is quite refreshing because the content rules the entire film. I should warn you that sometimes the heavy accents do get in the way of understanding every single dialogue, especially with Manoj Pahwa. Sometimes I was unable to decipher the Hindi itself but it didn’t really hamper the overall viewing experience. Also pay close attention to the entire story because it borders on getting confusing, especially since there are many characters who are referred to. Additionally, towards the end don’t zone out because if you even miss one scene you will not be able to connect all the dots. My last problem was the dialogue, which referred to important moments or things too quickly not allowing the audience to completely grasp whats happening, I could hear quite a few people asking “huh what did he say?” In the theatre.

What really made me proud was that this movie was not marred with too much controversy regarding its release and the censor board allowed its release smoothly. This movie is essential viewing for every urban Indian like me who is oblivious to peoples real lives and believes that their country can be best represented by the paved roads of Bombay or quaint cafes beside the sea. The movie made me realise that although I am a citizen of this nation there is so much I do not know of because of where I am brought up.

So I would say this movie is a must watch, not because it is a cinematic marvel but because it speaks the truth about our nation and how divided we are, and how we can easily be exploited. Go into that theatre for a reality check if you are busy or free this weekend. Carry a few tissues with you because when Vande Mataram plays you may get teary.