Niharika Lal (BOMBAY TIMES; February 8, 2020)

Section’ and ‘Article’ seem to be the new favourite words in film titles as producers are making a beeline at the production association offices to register the titles of their films. Last year, after the central government revoked Article 370 (which granted Jammu and Kashmir special status), the associations received multiple applications for titles with Article 370 as well as Article 35 A, and Dhara 370 in them. An official of Indian Film and TV Producers Council (IFTPC) says, “Those titles which are registered with us are Section 364, Section 376, Section 302, Section 420, Section 484, Section 424, Article 14, Article 370, Article 35A, Dhara 370.”

An official of the Indian Motion Picture Producers’ Association (IMPPA), says, “IMPPA has received around 20 applications for the title of films which include the words ‘Article’, ‘Dhara’, ‘Section’ in them. As the films Article 15 and Section 375 created quite a buzz, many producers are also interested in having these words in the titles. A committee will look into the plot and other aspects of the films and then decide who should be granted the titles.”

A source from the Indian Film & Television Directors’ Association (IFTDA), says, “We’ve registered 15 titles with ‘Section’ and ‘Article’ in them for feature films. We also have several other applications for titles including Citizenship (Amendment) Act in them.” Gautam Chintamani, a film historian says, “It’s not surprising that filmmakers are making a beeline for these titles because filmmakers and audience both find movies with such titles intriguing. Also, titles with ‘Section’ or ‘Article’ are good for social media campaigns – in forming hashtags and get the film trending, making it topical. Article 15 should get the credit of coming up with the title first.”

PEOPLE INITIALLY WONDERED WHAT KIND OF NAME IS ARTICLE 15 FOR A FILM: ANUBHAV SINHA
While film experts now praise the film Article 15 for its title, director Anubhav Sinha says that his judgment was questioned when people from the film industry first heard about the title of his film. Speaking at a session in Delhi, he said, “When I named my film Article 15, people in the industry were wondering, ‘What kind of a name is this for a film?’ But that film did more business than many big budget movies and what’s more important is that the title Article 15 struck an emotional chord with the audience.”

Ajay Bahl, director of the film Section 375, adds, “When Manish Gupta wrote the film, he titled it Section 375 because that was the story (based on Section 375 of Indian Penal Code) , and it made perfect sense. But honestly, I thought that we should use another title instead. But we couldn’t come up with anything better than this for this film, so we kept it. And it worked.”

Pointing out how Bollywood has the habit of following trends, Gautam Chintamani, says, “Knowing the Bombay film industry, it’s likely that producers will tell the writers to just go through the Constitution and see on which Article/Section a film’s title can be based!”

There are several film producers’ associations and to avoid duplication of titles, all these associations cross-check with each other before registering the film titles.

KEY TITLES REGISTERED AND WHAT THEY MEAN

Section 364: Kidnapping or abducting in order to murder

Section 376: Punishment for rape

Section 302: Punishment for murder

Section 420: Cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property

Section 484: Counterfeiting a mark used by a public servant

Section 424: Dishonest or fraudulent removal or concealment of property

Article 14: Equality before the law or equal protection of the laws within the territory of India

Article 370: The recently abrogated article acknowledged the special status of the state of Jammu and Kashmir in terms of autonomy and its ability to formulate laws for the state’s permanent residents

Article 35A: The recently abrogated article empowered the Jammu and Kashmir state’s legislature to define “permanent residents” of the state and provide special rights and privileges to those permanent residents