“Article 370” Review: Priya Mani and Yami Gautam Make an Impact in the Political Film on Kashmir
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On February 23, “Article 370,” which stars Priya Mani and Yami Gautam in key roles, was released in cinemas. Does the movie merit viewing? After reading our analysis, make a choice.
“I do not know what the film is all about, but yesterday I heard on TV that a film is coming on ‘Article 370.’ Good, it will be useful for people to get correct information,” PM Narendra Modi said while addressing a rally in Jammu earlier this week. If after hearing him, you planned to pack your notebook and pen to take notes while watching this Yami Gautam-starrer, you are in for a disappointment. As soon as the film rolls, the makers claim that the film is ‘inspired,’ and given it’s not a ‘documentary,’ creative liberty has been taken while recounting the chain of events.
‘Article 370,’ directed by Aditya Suhas Jambhale, is a well-made film that will try your patience due to its 2 hours and 40 minutes of running time. The first half, which is squandered on establishing the plot, might have been easily cut by the director. The movie crawls more slowly than a tortoise, but in the second part, it awakens and sprints, more quickly than a hare, to the finish line with well-paced drama and predictable turns.
If the team feels like they won, it’s all because of the actors’ performances. Priya Mani and Yami Gautam, the two women in charge and those who do the majority of the work, have an influence.
The prime mover in getting Kashmir’s special status revoked is Priya Mani, a joint secretary in the Prime Minister’s Office. As is typical with most heroes in Bollywood action films, Yami, the woman with a terrible history, is an ‘arrogant’ officer on duty. Its name, Zooni, also makes you think of Kajol from “Fanaa,” who struggled with love for her nation. In ‘Article 370,’ Zooni is a Kashmiri Pandit, and it’s her deep love for the valley that sets the ball rolling. Although it’s amusing, after a point, how she always gets to pack the last punch and shoot the last bullet to hail her as the undefeatable star.
The film, which is set between 2015 and 2019, is structured into six chapters similar to any History or Civic book. It attempts to convey the terrifying story of Kashmir’s repeated betrayals by politicians and bureaucrats. To maintain their hold on power, they have permitted radicalization and are still brainwashing the youth to support ‘Azaadi’ and act as stone pelters.
Even though the film’s creators refer to it as “inspired,” you can’t help but notice how the two leaders of Kashmir have been portrayed as Mehbooba Mufti and Farooq Abdullah, but in a more sinister way.
Giving credit where credit is due, the filmmakers refrained from doing what is most obviously done in these films these days, which is to criticize Pakistan or Muslims. Furthermore, there are no overtly desh bhakti tunes or corny dialogues to demonstrate one’s patriotism. The picture has great production value, something that producer Aditya Dhar accomplished in “Uri” (2019). ‘Article 370’ is not jingoistic, but it is geared towards propagandizing the BJP government in the run-up to the general elections.
Arun Govil and Kiran Karmarkar, playing PM Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, appear to be the only ministers in the film with hearts. The opening, read by Ajay Devgn, also blames Jawaharlal Nehru for the ‘blunder’ in Kashmir.
Some of the film’s implausible claims regarding the Kashmiri autonomy movement may make you want to learn more about the real history. We assume that’s what the Prime Minister meant when he said ‘Article 370’ would be ‘helpful for people to acquire correct information’.
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