Rating:
3.5/5
Star
Cast:
Ayushmann
Khurrana,
Isha
Talwar,
Sayani
Gupta,
Kumud
Mishra,
Namashi
Chakraborty
Director:
Anubhav
Sinha
Article
15
Movie
Review:
Ayushmann
Khurrana
|
Anubhav
Sinha|
Manoj
Pahwa
|FilmiBeat
In
one
of
the
scenes
in
Article
15,
as
a
senior
officer
gears
up
to
wade
into
waist-level
sludge
in
search
of
a
missing
girl,
he
asks
a
constable
if
his
mother
had
any
advice
for
such
ventures.
To
this,
the
man
denies
but
adds
that
the
TV
has
a
advice
which
says,
'daag
acche
hain'.
Even
in
the
most
grimmest
situation,
director-writer
Anubhav
Sinha
manages
to
blend
in
a
hint
of
situational
humour
which
works
in
his
favour
in
this
Ayushmann
Khurrana
starrer.
Foreign-returned
IPS
officer
Ayan
Ranjan
(Ayushmann
Khurrana)
is
handed
over
the
incharge
of
Lalgaon
Police
Station
in
the
heartland
of
India.
As
events
unfold
one
after
the
other,
Ayan
realizes
that
the
place
is
grappling
with
caste
discrimation
at
every
corner.
Even
before
he
could
sink
in
this
culture
shock,
a
horrifying
crime
comes
into
the
light
where
two
underage
girls
are
found
hanging
from
a
tree
after
being
brutually
violated,
while
the
third
girl
goes
missing.
Everyone
around
him
is
keen
to
brush
off
the
case
under
the
carpet
in
the
guise
of
'honour-killing',
but
Ayan's
instincts
tell
him
otherwise.
'Aap
logo
ka
transfer
ho
jata
hai,
hume
maar
diya
jata
hain," warns
one
of
the
cops
as
he
decides
to
dive
deep
into
investigating
the
gruesome
crime.
The
rest
of
the
plot
revolves
around
how
Ayan
uncovers
the
truth.
With
'Article
15',
director
Anubhav
Sinha
and
writer
Gaurav
Solanki
borrow
a
leaf
out
of
a
real-life
incident
and
spin
a
hard-hitting
narrative
which
makes
you
realize
how
deep
the
caste-based
crimes
run
in
our
society.
The
makers
do
not
sugarcoat
the
bitter
pill
and
that's
one
of
the
reasons
why
'Article
15'
makes
a
compelling
watch.
On
the
flipside,
Sinha
introduces
some
characters
on
a
promising
note,
but
fails
to
give
them
a
proper
conclusion.
Also,
the
political
undertone
in
the
narrative
at
a
few
places
could
have
been
easily
avoided.
Finally
breaking
free
from
his
'Dilli
ka
munda' mould,
Ayushmann
Khurrana
drops
a
pleasant
surprise
as
a
tough
cop
who
refuses
to
give
in
to
the
obstacles
around
him.
The
actor
shines
in
the
scene
where
he
is
baffled
with
the
caste
hierachy.
There
are
moments
where
he
just
lets
his
facial
expressions
do
the
talking
and
boy,
the
intensity
soon
grows
on
you.
Sayani
Gupta
is
pitch-perfect
in
her
part.
Seasoned
actors
like
Manoj
Pahwa
and
Kumud
Mishra
pack
a
punch
with
their
brilliant
act.
Mohammed
Zeeshan
Ayub
and
Naseer
too
put
up
a
good
act,
though
Zeeshan's
role
could
have
been
fleshed
a
little
more.
Ewan
Mulligan's
cinematography
is
grim
and
gritty
and
blends
well
with
the
theme
of
the
film.
There
are
moments
of
discomfort
when
the
lens
capture
the
harsh
reality
of
caste
discrimination.
Yasha
Ramchandani's
editing
could
have
been
a
taut
especially
in
lazy
first
half.
Mangesh
Dhadke's
background
is
effective,
but
should
have
been
a
little
controlled
as
it
hampers
a
few
dialogues
at
places.
Ayushmann
Khurrana's
Article
15
holds
a
mirror
to
our
society
that's
still
grappling
with
caste
disparities
even
after
the
birth
of
Indian
Constitution.
I
am
going
with
3.5
stars.