MOVIE ANALYSIS

ARTICLE 15

P.Kruthi Sridhar
1930772

Dr.Stefy Joseph
Department of History and International studies

CHRIST (DEEMED TO BE
UNIVERSITY)

Department of Economics
Christ(deemed to be university)
2019-2022
“Theatre is a mirror, a sharp reflection of society”
Cinema is not just confined to entertainment, but has portrayed itself as an epitome of many
ideologies,values and principles. It also depicts various cultures, societies. This pops up an age-
old debate that whether the society influences the cinema or the cinema is influencing the
society. The answer would be that both are intertwined in such a way that it has become
uniquely, inclusively, exclusively ubiquity with the society. In that sense political cinema has
taken it’s stance. Not only off late but even before WW 1 French cinema and Hollywood tried to
disseminate American values and political ideologies. And now in 21st century political cinema
seems to focus on controversial topics like war, terrorism, caste, religion, human rights etc., And
Indian political cinemas has produced epic political cinemas like Gulaal, Rajneeti, Aayutha
Ezhutu, Article 15 etc.,
When words seem inadequate, visuals take over . Movie Article 15, as the title suggests is a
movie predominantly on how the article 15 of the Indian Constitution is infringed . Article 15 of
the Indian Constitution says that the state cannot discriminate individual on the basis of caste,
creed, race, sex.
Movie Article 15 though seems to be a movie concentrating on one particular incident,
scrutinizing it gives a different view. The story revolves around a deep interior rural village
Laalgaon, where a city bred IAS officer, the protagonist, who realises that there is more than
naked eye view when he slowly understands the caste discrimination plagued in the village. The
story begins when 3 girls go missing and when two of them are raped for days and hanged. And
the protagonist tries to untie the mystery behind their deaths and finds it’s roots to be caste
discrimination.
Equality is a term with a revolutionary effect, but again it is a term that is victimized from ages.
The modern definition of equality is an epitome of the struggle for equality from ages. The term
equality is derived from old French terms, aequalis, aequas which means even ,level, and equal.
It is usually said that because all humans are equal, everyone should be treated equally, but
naturally all human beings are not equal and accommodating that diversity and providing equal
opportunities is real equality. According to Prof.Laski equality means “coherence of ideas”, this
definition mainly leads to two main ideas ,that is, among the individuals justice and reason must
be maintained so that individuals do not feel the deprivation of transparency and deprived of
his/her due share and it also means the absence of special privileges. The concept of equality is
the common cornerstone of not only all contemporary political thought but also few traditional
approaches. There are two main concepts of equality, that is, equal worth and equal authority,
which means that each individual is of equal moral worth and no individual is naturally under
authority of anyone else. But these two concepts are so parallel that each cannot justify with each
other. There are three main dimensions of equality, political equality, economic equality and
social equality. These dimensions are interdependent of each other. The concept of equality is
that vital that it has become the foundation and main objective of Indian Constitution. The
evidence extent and persistence of inequality is so persistent in any society that it has become the
most common area of study. The movie Article 15 is so much related to the concept of equality
that it depicts how class and economic status has arbitrated unnatural power over others and how
it has subjected them to oppression. Though to the outer view caste seems to be diluted, it still
has its evil roots in society, and that is what is depicted in the movie with well intertwined events
and acts and shows how the concept of caste and class is different from the an urban society to a
rural society.
It is a myth that the concept of caste and an individuals social status is derived from the divine
sanction from the Vedas and holy scriptures, the the truth lies opposite to its claim. When we go
through the Vedas and Varna Vyavastha we cannot find the concept of caste discrimination or
gender equality nor untouchability. Shloka of Manusmriti is often quoted to claim that organs of
human body above navel are sacred and those below are impure (apavitra). But when go through
the text of Rigveda there is no sanction for such a hypothesis in the Rigveda. Such a
interpretation is totally false as its translation by George Buhler reads: “All those cavities which
lie above the naval are pure and those which are below the navel are impure.”
The movie provides for various instances to depict the importance of equality and prevalent caste
discrimination and the fury of the suppressed people on one side and the helplessness of those
who still accept their situation and just move on with it.This movie not only depicts caste
discrimination but also corruption, crony capitalism and nepotism ,caste based politics.
Dr.B.R.Ambedkar once said “If I find Constitution being misused , then I will be the first to burn
it” ,this was the extent of intolerance of our revolutionists against intolerance. And a scene
starred itself when the protagonist tried convincing the people that we should go only in
Constitutional means, and it was rebutted by saying that when it did help for the basic well being
and even the right to live a dignified life then it really is not fulfilling it’s purpose. It also depicts
the practice of untouchability , how the basic element of life ‘water’ has to go through the shame,
here one could recall Suvathamma in her poem ‘water’ where she tells the water silent in the
bisleri bottle has raged blood streams for it.' Though the protagonist tries to help people out of
the situation, it is oppressed by corrupt higher officials ,this depicts how our current Indian
political system is entangled with money, muscle and corrupt power. Though in cities and
developed areas caste has importance to help people by affirmative actions ,it is still used as tool
to suppress people in underdeveloped regions. This evil reality of India shatters down the ideals
of secularism and democracy from our Constitution.
Caste is something that has deep.roots in the Indian society. It doesn’t mean that we cannot
alienate it , it is just that we have engrained into caste system to the extent that we alienate
ourselves from our individualistic ideals and principles. Caste discrimination only is in India is
one of the great myth , in a survey conducted in 2018 revealed that 26% of people were
physically assaulted due to their caste background and more than half of them were afraid to
reveal themselves as Dalits. Mostly caste system in India cannot be removed completely and it is
nearly impossible, but what we can achieve as a collective effort of society is stopping
discrimination against caste and class and respect and consider ascribed status than prescribed
one. And this can happen only we accommodate and adjust to the diversity. To be precise than
equality, we need equity for the current situation of our society. By adopting equity and by state
not discriminating people and provide for their dignified life we can absolutely remove caste
discrimination. Both the political and the administrative heads have equal responsibility to curb
caste discrimination. Though on one hand youth is being inspired by the ideals of secularism on
the other hand we find a number of charity trusts, hospitals, educational institutions in the name
of caste community. When little people do little things from different little places it can make a
bigger difference, and thence it starts from us accepting the diversity.
“Equality is giving everyone a shoe, but equity is giving everyone a shoe that fits them”