Jio Studios and B62 Studios’ Article 370 (UA) is about the abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution of India. On 5 August, 2019, the Government of India issued a Presidential Order superseding the 1954 order. Before that, from 17 November, 1952, Jammu and Kashmir was administered by India as a state, and Article 370 conferred on it the power to have a separate constitution, a state flag, and autonomy of internal administration. All that changed after the abrogation of Article 370.
Aditya Dhar and Monal Thaakar have written the story in such a simple manner that it can be understood by everyone. Although the abrogation of Article 370 was a complex and, in a way, a very technical affair, the same has been explained so simplistically by the two story writers that the highly technical story becomes one of universal appeal. That’s the biggest victory of the writers. The screenplay, penned by Aditya Dhar, Aditya Suhas Jambhale, Monal Thaakar and Arjun Dhawan, with additional screenplay by Aarsh Vora, is equally engaging. The screenplay writers have concentrated on the technical aspects but have not once let the human aspect fade into the background. In fact, they’ve balanced the two sides so wonderfully that the drama becomes absolutely heart-touching as well as informative without, at any point, becoming preachy. The tension that builds up before the abrogation of Article 370 has been brought out so beautifully by the four writers that it is palpable. The audience is on tenterhooks as the home minister and the Prime Minister plan their strategy with a very few key people who, of course, are asked to keep the impending drama strictly confidential. The last half an hour of the screenplay is so outstanding that the audience feel fulfilled by the end of it! The climax is so wonderful that one feels a sense of great achievement and pride, and, of course, utmost respect for the leaders of the country who achieved the seemingly impossible task! The audience often experience a feeling of patriotism and adrenaline rush. Aditya Dhar, Aditya Suhas Jambhale, Monal Thaakar and Arjun Dhawan have written the dialogues which are simple yet so weighty that they convey the right emotions. Many of the dialogues are even clapworthy.
Yami Gautam Dhar is brilliant as NIA (National Investigation Agency of the government of India) officer Zooni Haksar. She makes her character so believable that this performance will rate as one of her best to-date. She looks every inch the character she plays and gives her cent per cent to it. Priya Mani is excellent in the role of Rajeshwari Swaminathan, chief secretary in the PMO. She lends her character a lot of dignity, which was required. Between the two of them, the ladies have done so remarkably well that the viewers don’t even feel the absence of a hero — and that’s saying a lot for the writing as well as the acting! Arun Govil makes a fantastic mark as the Prime Minister. Kiran Karmarkar is outstanding as the home minister. His scenes are praiseworthy. Vaibhav Tatwawadi shines as Yash Chauhan. He endears himself to the viewers. Skand Sanjeev Thakur performs phenomenally as Wasim Abbasi. He looks very nice too. Raj Arjun is excellent as Khawar Ali. Raj Zutshi is terrific as Salahuddin Jalal. Irawati Harshe Mayadev makes her presence felt as TV news presenter Brinda Ghosh. Divya Seth is lovely in the role of Parveena Andrabi. Sumit Kaul does a wonderful job as Yaqub Shaikh. Dr. Mohan Agashe lends good support as Jagmohan Patil. Asit Redij performs beautifully as Rohit Thapar. Ashwani Kumar is very good as Ashish Mattoo. He performs excellently. Ashwini Koul stands his own as Zakir Naikoo. His expressions are wonderful. Rajiv Kumar leaves a fine impression as Shamsher Abdali. Shivam Khajuria (as Burhan Wani), Mithil Shah (as Siddharth), Middat Ullah Khan (as the sarpanch), B. Shantanu (as the vice president), Sanya Sagar (as Namita Chaturvedi), Jaya Virlley (as Pranjali), Ajay Shankar (as Gaurang Sengupta), Toshir Nalwat (as PA Mohsin), Sukhita Aiyar (as Anuradha Pattnaik), Puja Shailesh Sawant (as Brinda Ghosh’s secretary), Mohammad Sagir Malik (as Major Kumar), Homiyar Viraf Sachinwalla (as General Durrani), Sandeep Chatterjee (as the ISI chief), Kulpreet Yadav (as the RAW chief), Amit Koushik (as Lt. General Singha), Kumar Kanchan Ghosh (as Chatterjee), Varun Narayan (as Brinda Ghosh’s executive producer), Amita Pareva (as the librarian), Ashu Sharma (as Brigadier Pasha), Tajala Yaseen (as Aafiya), Shaheena (as Fatima), Zahoor Zaidie (as Wali Shah Nizami), Janya Khandpur (as Sabia), Harsh Malik (as Omveer), Anil Kapur (as the President of India), Junaid Rafiq Magray (as Brinda Ghosh’s assistant), Shradha Bhatt (as young Zooni), and the others provide great support. Ajay Devgan’s voice over adds gravitas to the drama.
Aditya Suhas Jambhale’s direction is outstanding. He has made the film educative but has not sacrificed entertainment at any point. The highly technical drama moves hand-in-hand with the human drama and makes the audience feel a sense of exhilaration at many points. Shashwat Sachdev’s music goes perfectly well with the mood of the film. Lyrics (by Kumaar, Sudhanshu Saria and Osho Jain) are weighty. Shashwat Sachdev deserves distinction marks for his background score which is simply marvellous. Siddharth Deena Vasani’s cinematography is extraordinary. Parvez Shaikh’s action and stunt scenes are super-thrilling. Sujeet Subhash Sawant and Sriram Kannan Iyengar’s production designing is fantastic. Shivkumar V. Panicker’s editing is super-sharp.
On the whole, Article 370 is a blockbuster. It will go on to do extraordinary business and will keep springing surprise after surprise at the box-office.
Released on 23-2-’24 at Inox (daily 6 shows) and other cinemas of Bombay thru PVR Inox Pictures. Publicity: very good. Opening: good (aided by the very affordable ticket prices today, it being Cinema Lovers’ Day). Collections will pick up as the day progresses. …….Also released all over. Opening was good everywhere.