Article 370 Review: Gautam film dramatizes the complex political issues in Kashmir.
Article 370
The action drama covers a lot of ground, from the ascent of militant Burhan Wani in 2016 to the contentious repeal of Article 370 in 2019.
The title of the film, “Article 370,” provides a fair indication of what to anticipate when you go into the theater. On August 6, 2019, Indians, both inside and outside of their country of origin, experienced a historic day. On that day, the Indian government removed the autonomy, or special status, that the territory had been granted under Article 370 of the Indian Constitution, for Jammu and Kashmir. Extreme reactions followed the relocation, with some parts of the nation experiencing joyous festivities while others saw terrifying unrest. caused a range of feelings in the country, from happiness to discontent. The newest action-drama “Article 370,” starring Yami Gautam, also aims to depict the chapters in the same historical era of India.
The disputed Himalayan region of Kashmir has been partially under the control of both India and Pakistan ever since they gained independence from Britain in 1947. Since then, it has been the subject of three of the four wars waged between the neighbors. Article 370, which went into force in October 1949, gave Kashmir autonomy over internal government in the interim. This made it possible for Kashmir to enact laws in every other field except finance, communications, defense, and foreign policy.
The movie is based on the Prime Minister’s Office’s (PMO) clandestine action to repeal Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir, declaring Ladakh and Jammu & Kashmir to be Union Territories. Aditya Dhar of “URI” fame wrote the screenplay, and debutant feature filmmaker Aditya Suhas Jambhale directed it. The pair has tried their best to convey the political events in India’s history without coming across as jingoistic or preachy.
Despite its excessive effort to avoid any of the aforementioned elements, the film does contain a few really dramatic scenes. The film, in terms of plot, camerawork, and possibly even tone, partly resembles Dhar’s last work, the Vicky Kaushal-starring patriotic drama, but we assume that nobody is complaining because the same moment garnered thunderous shouts and hooting inside the movie theater.
“Article 370” is a well-narrated chapter that addresses difficult political topics in more detail in a way that is much easier for the average viewer to follow along with, even though its two hours and thirty minutes of running time make it feel a little long at points. The screenplay for the film is divided into multiple chapters, including The Lover of the Tral, Blindspot, Save the Date, Sub-clause (d), and Was, Is, and Always Will Be. This helps to further streamline the plot and eliminate any gaps.
The controversial removal of Article 370 in 2019 and the unrest in Kashmir that began in 2016 due to the ascent of militant Burhan Wani are the two main events that are depicted in the action drama. The movie’s premise then switches to the 2019 Pulwama terror attack and the hunt for its perpetrators after Wani’s death and the controversy that followed.
The film revolves around Zooni Haksar (Yami Gautam Dhar), a local agent secretly hired by PMO Secretary Rajeshwari (Priyamani Swaminathan) to lead the National Investigation Agency (NIA) operation in Kashmir, fight corrupt law enforcement officials and separatists, and suppress terrorist groups, months before Article 370 is repealed. They have the full support of the Home Minister (Kiran Karmarkar) and the Prime Minister (Arun Govil), who are not named but are undoubtedly made identifiable.
The first part moves slowly, building up enough momentum to introduce the major idea gradually. However, the second half quickens the tempo and becomes sharper, with several strong lines that will make you applaud. For good reason, Yami Gautam’s portrayal as intelligence field officer Zooni Haksar is one of the most talked-about roles of the renowned ensemble cast. Nonetheless, there are a few situations where it seems like she’s going overboard with her patriotism. It detracts a little from the level of intellect and maturity that one would anticipate from an officer of that caliber. However, a Bollywood “hero” ought to be unique in some sense, don’t you think?
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Priyamani puts on an equally amazing performance, taking center stage with her understated yet composed act amid all the chaos. However, it is evident that Arun Govil, who portrays the prime minister, and Kiran Karmarkar, who plays the home minister, were modeled after Amit Shah and Narendra Modi, respectively. The performers Raj Zutshi, Raj Arun, and Vaibhav Tatwawadi provide strong support to the main cast.
“Article 370” uses a straightforward plot and strong acting to successfully convey its intended message. It attempts to depict a tragic story of how politicians and bureaucrats in Kashmir have failed time and time again to stay onto power, deceiving young people into becoming stone pelters and allowing extremism.
