Last night, I watched Article 15
after a recommendation from a lady friend of mine who I respect and
whose judgment I trust. In the two-plus hours that I spent alongside an
almost 50:50 audience of men/women in a relatively packed Mumbai
multiplex screen, I went through a psychological riot, shifting from
anger/outrage, sadness, laughter, introspection, reflection, hope, and
contentment. A few drops of tears broke through my resilience during a
couple of scenes. At the end of the movie, I found myself searching for
faces that mirror my feelings, and I wasn't disappointed.
Aspects of the dark underbelly of 2019 India
that the movie covers--some of which include casteism, gang rapes,
honor killings, caste and religion politics, media blackouts, fake news,
gender inequality, underwage labor, child labor, socioeconomic divide,
urban-rural divide, armchair activism, gun violence, social media
outrage, bureaucracy, corruption--are issues that should occupy a
larger space in our collective consciousness. I hope this wonderful
movie sparks educated conversations on these topics, which is the most
effective way changes will percolate to the grassroots of society.
Here’s a useful article on the movie. https://www.indiatoday.in/education-today/gk-current-affairs/story/why-is-article-15-important-for-india-1557401-2019-06-28
