The caste system and the caste conflict that lasted for 3,000 years still permeated the entire society.
On May 27, 2014, in the countryside of Uttar Pradesh, India, two teenage “untouchables” were raped and hanged on trees to show their lives. The latest Indian crime film “Article 15” was adapted based on this real event. The evil of the caste system and the darkness of collusion between the gangsters aroused strong resonance among the audience, with box office sales and word-of-mouth.
The Indian caste system divides people into four levels from high to low: Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vasa, and Sudra. Beyond the four major levels is the lowest Dalit: untouchable untouchables. “Article 15” slammed the caste system. The Brahman Society submitted a petition to the Supreme Court requesting that the film be banned. The Brahman organization held protests in front of major theaters, and it became a live advertisement for the film.
Article 15 of the Constitution of India states: No one shall be discriminated against because of caste, religion, or place of birth. However, the 3000-year-old caste system and caste conflicts still pervade the entire society.
Ayusman Kulana, who is familiar with Chinese audiences because of his starring “Tuner”, appeared in the police officer Ayang. Passing through a village of untouchables, the subordinates reminded the existence of the Ayan caste system: “We do not drink the water they have touched. We cannot touch them, even their shadows cannot fall on us.”
Untouchables do the dirtiest, hardest, and most dangerous work, and go naked into the sewers without protection. According to the Indian Cleaners Movement (SKA), health workers often do not get paid for several months, and dozens of people die from suffocation each year when they clean the sewers.
Three low-caste girls were gang-raped by the factory owner and the police for demanding an increase in daily wages by 3 rupees. Two were hanged to be effective, and one was missing. Unimaginable, 3 rupees, one missing, two lives! The executioner tried to deter the untouchables.
The Indian police system is divided into two systems, one is the local police system, and the other is the Federal Police System (IPS) under the Central Ministry of the Interior. The members are all highly educated social elites and communicate in English. Ayan belongs to the IPS police officer. He has a deep background and a promising future. Sooner or later, he will be transferred and promoted. He will dig out the real murderer regardless of everything. It is difficult to get the cooperation of the local police: you have left, what should we do?
The darkness and corruption of the officialdom have refreshed Ayan’s cognition again and again, and the police have refused to register the two fatal cases! Under the tremendous pressure, the parents of the deceased lied and surrendered openly; the elite school bully elite from the untouchables struggled for the weak and were kidnapped and killed;
Ayan is not Sherlock Holmes or Batman, there is no bragging words or amazing moves, this is the most outstanding part of the film: low-key, pragmatic, sober understanding of the dark status quo, and also keep earnest expectations for the bright future. In fact, some strange cases that seem to be covered with clouds and fog do not need any Holmes at all. Human behavioral motivation and behavior patterns have long been wiped out by criminologists and psychologists. What’s wrong with all this.
Near Zhu Zhechi, Chuan dialect is called learning good people from good people. When we meet a good person and appreciate an excellent work of art, we often have an urge and desire to become better. Ayang, who was struggling to find the missing girl, was suspended by his superiors, but he did not give up: “I will look for the missing girl at any cost. If you think I have broken the law, you can arrest me.”
The dark, depressing story has a bright and warm ending, justice is extended.
Ayang asked what the caste of the old mother at the roadside was. The old mother’s answer was overshadowed by the sound of the car horn, and people laughed. This leopard tail has a profound meaning: the ancient and unreasonable caste system will eventually be overwhelmed by modern civilization.
I do n’t believe in chicken soup, but I believe that every nation has the backbone of A Yang and the untouchable elite: darkness is eternal, and light is eternal.