Article 370 Review: A Success All The Way

Article 370 Cast/Actors: Yami Gautam as Zooni Haksar, Priyamani as Rajeshwari Swaminathan, Arun Govil as Prime Minister, Kiran Karmarkar as Home Minister, Ashwini Koul as Zakir Naikoo, Raj Arjun as Khawar Ali, Rajendranath Zutshi as Jalal and Divya Seth Shah as Parveena Andrabi.

Article 370 Release Date: 23rd February, 2024

Article 370 Director: Aditya Jambhale

Article 370 Available On: Theatrical Release and (likely to be released on Jio Cinemas Digital Platform)

Article 370 Released/Available In Languages: Hindi

Article 370 Runtime: 2h 38m

Article 370 Critic Review:

Put your collars up. It’s a matter of pride that Indian filmmakers have begun to document our history with skill, simplifying a complex legal, communal and political subject to make it cinematically understandable without dumbing it down.

The intricate compulsions that led to the existence of Article 370 (Ajay Devgn in an effective voiceover), its place in undermining Indian law enforcement in Jammu & Kashmir, the cauldron of danger that the Valley had turned into and the seeming permanence of thinking of J&K and Ladakh as a country different from India, are so well explained that two National Award-winning talents, director Aditya Suhas Jambhale and creative producer Aditya Dhar deserve unstinted applause.

The two Adityas, along with co-writers Arjun Dhawan, Monal Thaakar and Aarsh Vora, go on to re-create the circumstances of 2016 when terrorist Burhan Wani’s death was turned into martyrdom, leading to scaled-up violence by the notorious stone pelting mobs.

It sets the tone for why Article 370 had to be abrogated to bring peace to the troubled Valley and gently bring it back into India’s fold. It was a tough two-pronged challenge. One was to abrogate it with such legal precision that it had to be accepted unchallenged. The other was to do it without the bloodshed of J&K’s citizens.

It had to be an operation executed with courage, dexterity and utmost secrecy.

Aditya Jambhale pulls it off cinematically by dividing the work between intelligence officer Zooni Haksar (Yami Gautam) on the ground and PMO official Rajeshwari Swaminathan (Priyamani) in difficult Delhi. It works splendidly, the two committed women executing the Prime Minister’s wish in tandem, overcoming the odds posed by Pak-sponsored separatists and J&K’s political dynasts, Andrabi (Divya Seth) and Jalal (Rajendranath Zutshi). Although names have been changed, you know who they are.

Finding solutions to the complexities of the situation are left to Zooni and Rajeshwari, the Prime Minister (Arun Govil) and the Home Minister (Kiran Karmarkar) cleverly kept away from the proceedings until almost halftime.

There is thrill in Jambhale’s telling while he retains the authentic flavour of how the PM and the HM did what they did on the historic date, August 5, 2019.

It would be wisest to not unravel how the inspired team overcame every obstacle to abrogate Article 370 and let the viewer experience the twists and turns, including a brief, vital chapter from Zooni’s past. 

However, the absolutely spot-on work by the cast must be recorded. Right on top would be Yami Gautam – Zooni is perhaps one of her most well-executed performances to date. It certainly is the most impactful and important one. Priyamani in the dignified role of Rajeshwari is as perfect as her well-draped sarees. And the crisp, professional dynamics between Zooni and Rajeshwari is a delight.

Raj Arun in a slightly dodgy role as Zooni’s boss Khawar Sir and Vaibhav Tatwadi as her colleague Yash Chauhan, are wonderfully cast.

The intercuts between enforcing security in the volatile Valley and the battle with the Opposition in Parliament make a long and gripping climax, topped with one thunderous dialogue delivered by Kiran Karmarkar. The entire territory of Kashmir is unequivocally ours – hamesha tha, hai aur rahegi.

Wipe those wet eyes. It is time for taaliyan.

Article 370- Watch it or Not?: How can you miss out on such a historic moment in India’s calendar? Watch it right away.

Article 370 Score Rating: 4 out of 5

Article 370 Official Trailer:

 Article 370 Official Trailer (Credit: Jio Studios)

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