Rating : 4.3/5
Genre : Drama
Year : 2019
Running time : 2 hours 20 minutes
Director : Anubhav Sinha
Cast : Ayushmann Khurana, Manoj Pahwa, Kumud Mishra, Sayani Gupta, Mohammed Zeeshan Ayub, Nasser, Isha Talwar
Kid rating : A, R
Ayushman Khurana is Ayan Ranjan, an IPS officer posted to caste-ridden Uttar Pradesh. A modern, well-educated, city-bred young man Ayaan is astounded at the stranglehold of caste and creed in this community. When a gruesome rape/murder case come to light, Ayan realizes that he’ll have to fight corruption, and backward notions to provide justice to his people.
Anubhav Sinha surprises me very pleasantly. His Ra One was alright. I wasn’t impressed by Tum Bin2. I didn’t expect Article 15 to be this good a film. But it is! It is a fantastic film, and it might be the best film of the year. Sinha helms it expertly, layers it beautifully, building up his characters so that we know them, sympathize with them and root for them. Article 15 is also well-paced and ratchets up the tension nicely.
I must say that Khurana can really pick his films. Article 15 is proof and what a remarkable film it is! Ayan is a hero unlike any other – a soft-spoken, non-snarling (for comparisons with Singham – which I also liked) mature young man who doesn’t flex his muscles or even engage in a single fist-fight. He leads by example, with courage and grit, not giving in to baser compulsions or stooping to the levels of his enemies – the stuff that true heroes are made of!
In most traditional Hindi films, the hero is this almost God-like character with astonishing good-looks, astounding physical prowess, the ability to beat up a dozen goons with ease, and/or wily street-smarts. Khurana’s Ayan has none of these (although he cuts a fine figure with that moustache) and comes across as a down-to-earth man grappling with extraordinary issues, using brain instead of brawn. Even without these hero-ish qualities, there is no doubt that Ayan is the hero, just by dint of his evolved thinking and the courage he displays. So very refreshing!
Ayan’s sounding board, his conscience, is girlfriend Aditi (Isha Talwar), who, in her brief role, does well. Khurana of course is marvelous. Equally marvelous is Manoj Pahwa as Brahmdatt Singh, the corrupt officer under Ayaan. Kumud Mishra is Jatav, the Dalit man who has risen up to being a Sub Inspector but still serves in deference to the upper-caste Brahmdatt Singh. Mishra is magnificent; he makes the film better just by being in it.
From start to finish, Article 15 is a fine product. Its strong storyline, wonderful acting and awe-inspiring message are worth watching. Highly recommended.
Kid-wise: Scenes of violence against women, intimidation, and women strung up from a tree.
