Constitutionalism on celluloid

As we celebrate the 75th Republic Day to mark the date on which the Constitution of India came into effect, here’s a look at films and shows that spoke about the Constitution. While Samvidhaan remains the only series that discusses the Constitution in detail, in recent years, films like Article 15, 19(1)(a), and Jai Bhim have depicted certain parts of the Constitution.

Article 15
The film’s title is borrowed from Article 15 of the Constitution which prohibits discrimination on the basis of faith, sex, caste, race, and place of birth. In one scene from the 2019 film, Ayushmann Khurrana’s character, an IPS officer, puts up a print of Article 15 outside his office on a notice board after becoming frustrated with the issue of casteism in the village he is posted.
About the reason behind why he made the film, director Anubhav Sinha wrote in The Print, “Lakhs of people looked up Article 15 of the Constitution, and read it... That’s the reason why I made this film. I wanted my young colleagues to know this (casteism) is not a thing of the past. I am happy youngsters are flocking to the theatres. They are the ones who will look for the right answers and create a new India. Until then, let there be a constant and urgent conversation. Because a conversation was the core idea behind Article 15.”
Samvidhaan
Samvidhaan: The Making of the Constitution of India (2014) is a ten-part mini TV series by Shyam Benegal. “Nobody teaches us about our Constitution. The series was an attempt to address that vacuum. I thought I’d learn more about the Constitution by making it. We consulted members of Parliament and took a non-partisan view,” Benegal had said about the show that aired in 2014.
Jai Bhim
The 2021 Tamil film has been called “an ode to the Constitution of India,” by critics. “After reading one of Justice Chandru’s books (Jai Bhim: My Judgements), I realised how ordinary people can also be heroes, how they can fight for the cause of others,” the film’s lead Suriya had said in an interview. “Jai Bhim is the slogan of the suppressed. Their weapon is the Constitution of India,” TJ Gnanavel, director and writer of the film, had said in 2021.
The director tells us, “We titled the film Jai Bhim because it is a term thought out by a visionary who knew what the role of a Constitution should be. It was meant to convey the hope that the Constitution will not let down even the downtrodden. The uniqueness of our Constitution is that it is inclusive, not exclusive. It was my hope and a matter of pride when I was shooting the film. So, if there are people who strive to ensure that our rights are upheld, then there is no better remedy for all our problems than the Constitution.” — With input from Fahad Hussain

19(1)(a)
Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution states that all citizens shall have the right to freedom of speech and expression. About the 2022 Malayalam film 19(1) (a), director Indhu VS had earlier told Film Companion that it’s “a coming-of-age drama about a woman living within a shell and politics comes into her life and changes it.... When something happens around her, how does her life and her passiveness change into action is what I wished to explore.”