Article 370, released on February 23, 2024, is a political action thriller that dives into the contentious abrogation of Article 370, which granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir. Directed by Aditya Suhas Jambhale and produced by Aditya Dhar, the film follows Zooni Haksar (Yami Gautam), an NIA agent, and Rajeshwari Swaminathan (Priyamani), a PMO official, as they navigate insurgency, corruption, and constitutional maneuvering to dismantle the article’s framework. It’s an ambitious attempt to blend real-world events with cinematic flair, but it’s a mixed bag—partly engaging, partly heavy-handed, and undeniably polarizing.

Yami Gautam anchors the film as Zooni, a Kashmiri Pandit with a personal stake in the valley’s chaos. She’s solid, bringing a fierce intensity to the action scenes and a steely resolve to her mission. Her performance peaks in the high-stakes moments—like a tense encounter or the climactic operation—where she channels both grit and vulnerability. Priyamani, as the sharp-witted bureaucrat Rajeshwari, complements her nicely, exuding authority with a controlled, no-nonsense air. Their dynamic is a refreshing twist, placing two women at the helm of a male-dominated genre. The supporting cast—Arun Govil as a Modi-esque PM, Kiran Karmarkar as a Shah-like Home Minister, and Vaibhav Tatwawadi as a loyal officer—does its job, though the caricatured political figures lean a bit too hard into reverence.

The film’s first half is its strength, setting up the stakes with a brisk pace and a clear-eyed look at Kashmir’s unrest—stone-pelting, terror funding, and political gridlock. Jambhale keeps it tense, weaving in real events like the Pulwama attack and Burhan Wani’s encounter with a decent dose of authenticity. The action sequences are well-staged—crisp, grounded, and free of the over-the-top excess that often plagues Bollywood thrillers. Siddharth Vasani’s cinematography captures the valley’s stark beauty, while Anurag Saikia’s score pumps up the adrenaline without overpowering the mood.

Where Article 370 falters is in its script, co-written by Jambhale, Dhar, and others. The second half loses steam, stretching a straightforward story into a 158-minute runtime that feels bloated. The constitutional legalese—meant to be the film’s intellectual core—gets bogged down in expository dialogue and predictable beats, like Zooni’s eleventh-hour heroics or Rajeshwari’s chess-master strategizing. It’s less a nuanced exploration and more a victory lap for the abrogation, glossing over complex realities—like the Kashmiri perspective or the fallout of mass arrests—with a one-sided lens. Critics have called it propaganda, and it’s hard to argue when the film sidesteps inconvenient facts (Nehru’s “blunders” are exaggerated, human rights brushed aside) to lionize the ruling party’s narrative, especially with elections looming.

The production is slick—polished visuals, tight editing in parts—but it can’t mask the sense that Article 370 is more sermon than story. It’s not subtle about its stance, and while that’ll thrill some, it alienates others who’d prefer less cheerleading and more depth. The intent is clear: to frame the abrogation as a masterstroke, not a debate. Whether you buy that depends on where you stand.

Article 370 is a 3 out of 5 stars affair—competent, occasionally gripping, but too tethered to its agenda to truly soar. It’s a film that works as a nationalist actioner if you don’t dig too deep, buoyed by strong leads and a few standout moments. But if you’re looking for a balanced take on a divisive issue, this isn’t it—it’s a polished megaphone for one side of the story, and it’s content to stay that way.