Article 370 is a national subject and is not limited to a single person. The film Article 370 is a well researched film which showcases every single detailing about Article 370. The film tells us about the history of Article 370, what does Article 370 actually mean, how it came into the picture, why was J&K given the special status, why was it abrogated and much more. From a cinematic point of view Article 370 gives a satisfactory experience to the viewer. The film is inspired from the true events, but has some slight frictional elements to make the story more interesting. The makers have used cinematic liberty which is must when someone makes a proper mainstream cinema.
Article 370 explores many issues, but majorly deals with the political and corruption part and gives an insight of Kashmir. The film beautifully explores the reality of Jammu and Kashmir. The film explores the harsh reality which was unknown to the people of India.
Yami Gautam is a powerful actress and she easily gets into the skin of the character. We all have seen in the past, that what Yami is capable of and this film is just another feather added in her cap. Yami plays a very powerful character which us very much appealing and convincing. Priya Mani gets a character driven role. She gets a good amount of screen space and doesn’t fail to impress. Kiran Karmakar who plays the role of Shri. Amit Shah is the show stealer. He gets a character which will receive the maximum number of hooting from the audience. Whenever Kiran appears on-screen, he is on a rampage mode. Arun Govil as Hon. PM Narendra Modi doesn’t look much like Modi ji, but in terms of performance is decent. Iravati Harshe plays the role of a journalist and wins the heart of the viewers with her classy attitude. The remaining cast is good.
We all had heard about Article 370 or have read about it or have known about it, but did we have an in depth knowledge about the same? The film answers all the questions and clears all the doubts which people had in their minds for years.
Aditya Suhas Jambhale has made a promising debut with Article 370. He got a very important film to direct which deserved to be handled with care, and he is successful in it. His direction could have been better, but the strong subject makes us forget some flaws. As there was a huge scope for this subject, the presentation and execution could have been a little more stronger.
The biggest problem of this film is its duration. The film should have been trimmed by 20 minutes, which would have made it more effective and powerful. The film fails to hold the attention of a viewer for a complete 2 hours and 49 minutes. The film seems to be a little dragged and has some dull moments. The best part is that these dull moments are covered up with some extremely powerful scenes which bring the narrative back on track.
The writing is powerful and the makers have tried to keep things realistic. There are slight fictional elements added to add some twist to the story. The historical part is accurate enough and is presented in a convincing way. The emotional connection is definitely missing and this is what disappointed me the most. The writers try to create tense situations, but it doesn’t look that effective. The screenplay could have been more gripping.
The dialogues are interesting and strong. There are some dialogues which give goosebumps and are whistle worthy. The conversations are intellectual which keep you engrossed and invested.
The last 40 minutes of the film create a different atmosphere and set the stage on fire. There is a certain happening in the narrative which always takes place to keep the audience engaged.
Article 370 would have been more effective if it would have been released in the first quarter of 2020. As Article 370 is a nationwide topic, the release of film in 2024 doesn’t harm it. This is a perfect time to release the film, as the elections are also around the corner (not stating this as a propaganda move by the makers).
Aditya Dhar’s association with this project was very important. He has already made a film like URI, which followed a similar pattern. He has been able to give justice to such a topic, as he himself belongs to Kashmir and would have experienced things there.
The makers could have easily added unnecessary jingoism to create hype, but they chose to make it more realistic as possible, and that is why they deserve a round of applause. We should be thankful to the makers for exploring this subject beautifully.
Article 370 is an important film which needs to be watched once to understand the history. The film should be watched for its detailing and research done by the team. In terms of cinema, the film completely satisfies the viewer. Don’t miss it.
Rating – 3/5*
