Article 15 reviewed.

'Prohibition of discrimination on grounds of RELIGION, race, CASTE, sex or place of birth'; A fundamental right; says ARTICLE 15 of the Holy grail of governance; Our Constitution. The lengthiest in the world. Hand written. By stalwarts.

And that's pretty much what the movie tells us. That the Constitution is supreme and sacrosanct. Come what may. Nobody is above it. Not even the person who construed it.

Based on true events taken place in 2014 in a village called Katra Sadatgunj in Badaun district of Rohilkhand; UTTAR PRADESH, this movie offers nothing new as such. But it comes across as a rough slap in the face; leads to introspection. The movie stays with you for a long time after you've exited the screen.

The plot is simple. A good hearted straightforward fresh out of the academy IPS officer posted to a village which still follows the VARNA system and his dogged fight for justice. The movie is not necessarily entirely based on article 15 but it is more so about the equal application of law to one and all.

Reel references based on real events are laced through the movie. Eg : BSP - SP alliance, usage of CBI as the government's pet agency and the general formalism in the police force of our country. This makes it a fun watch without affecting the plot.

What works for this wonderful movie is the fantastic grey tone cinematography by Ewan Mulligan. He has made smart use of natural play of fog and light to denote grim emotions. And that's the tone of the movie. GRIM. With hardly one or two light moments. The background score helps build the tension but is a little overdone at times. The editing and writing could have been way better. The dialogues aim to hit you in the heart but are lost in transit. Hats off to Anubhav Sinha to direct another gem after MULK. He has done a fantastic job directing a fantastic ensemble; which is another highlight of the film. The combination of Manoj Pahwa, Kumud Mishra, Zeeshan Ayub, Nasser and Ayushman K works like magic. Mishraji, Pahwaji and Ayushman have hit it out of the park. They slip right into their characters. Ayushmann is implausible as the sophisticated young IPS officer finding his feet and trying to do his job.

The movie is definitely worth a watch. It highlights so many basic essential important issues and it couldn't have come at a better time. People are arguing about the BJP and it's politics. Screw that. Let's be humans FIRSTLY AND LASTLY.

'Aukaat wahin hai jo hum dete hai', says one character. Sadly and unfortunately, such people are the keepers of the seats of power in modern India.

Without further ado, go watch this movie.