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{{short description|2019 Indian film directed by Ajay Bahl}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Use Indian English|date=April 2020}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Section 375
| image = Section 375 poster.jpg
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| director = Ajay Bahl
| producer = [[Kumar Mangat Pathak]] <br/> Abhishek Pathak
| writer = [[Manish Gupta (director)|Manish Gupta]]<br>Ajay Bahl
| starring = {{ubl|[[Akshaye Khanna]]|[[Richa Chadda]]|[[Meera Chopra]]}}
| music = [[Clinton Cerejo]]
| cinematography = Sudhir K. Chaudhary
| editing = Praveen Angre
| studio = {{ubl|[[Panorama Studios]]|SCIPL}}
| distributor = {{ubl|[[Panorama Studios]]|[[PVR Pictures]]|[[Anand Pandit]] Motion Pictures|[[Amazon Prime Video]]<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.outlookindia.com/newsscroll/panorama-studios-pvr-pictures-unite-to-distribute-films/1561756|title=Panorama Studios, PVR Pictures unite to distribute films|publisher=Outlook|date=25 June 2018|access-date=25 June 2019}}</ref>}}
| released = {{Film date|2019|09|13|df=yes}}
| runtime = 124 minutes<ref name=toirev />
| country = India
| language = [[Hindi]]
| budget =
| gross = {{estimation}} {{INR}}12.35 crore<ref name="boxoff">{{cite web|url=https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movie/section-375/box-office/#bh-movie-box-office|title=Section 375 Box Office|website=Bollywood Hungama|date=13 September 2019 |accessdate=20 September 2019}}</ref>
}}

'''''Section 375: Marzi Ya Zabardasti?''''' ({{translation|'''''Section 375: Will or Force?'''''}}),<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/celebrities/story/akshaye-khanna-is-brilliant-but-an-underrated-actor-richa-chadha-1436658-2019-01-23|title=Akshaye Khanna is brilliant but an underrated actor: Richa Chadha|website=India Today}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://m.timesofindia.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/richa-chadha-goes-into-hiding-for-section-375-refrains-from-being-seen-in-public/articleshow/68061033.cms|title=Richa Chadha goes into hiding for Section 375, refrains from being seen in public!|website=Times of India}}</ref> better known simply as '''''Section 375''''', is a 2019 Indian [[Hindi]]-language [[legal drama]] film directed by Ajay Bahl, written by [[Manish Gupta (director)|Manish Gupta]] and produced by [[Kumar Mangat Pathak]] and Abhishek Pathak.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://m.timesofindia.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/sarah-paulson-is-richa-chadhas-inspiration-for-section-375/articleshow/68205130.cms|title=Sarah Paulson is Richa Chadha's inspiration for 'Section 375'|website=Times of India|access-date=17 April 2019|archive-date=1 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190301075254/https://m.timesofindia.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/sarah-paulson-is-richa-chadhas-inspiration-for-section-375/articleshow/68205130.cms|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/akshaye-khanna-richa-chadha-film-rape-laws-5067561/|title=Akshaye Khanna and Richa Chadha to star in film based on misuse of rape laws|website=Indian Express|date=17 February 2018 }}</ref> It is based on Section 375 of the [[Indian Penal Code]] [[Rape in India#Definition in Indian Penal Code|laws]] in India.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/real-life-victory-for-akshaye-khanna-starrer-section-375/articleshow/65110916.cms|title=Real-life victory for Akshaye Khanna-starrer Section 375|website=Mumbai Mirror}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://m.hindustantimes.com/bollywood/richa-chadha-says-she-is-excited-to-play-a-lawyer-for-the-first-time-in-section-375/story-R3Z5Ol3n07ariMdXY3ktiP.html|title=Richa Chadha says she is excited to play a lawyer for the first time in Section 375|website=Hindustan Times|date=14 January 2019 }}</ref>
<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiatvnews.com/entertainment/bollywood-akshaye-khanna-and-richa-chadha-to-feature-in-the-film-titled-section-375-428405|title=Akshaye Khanna and Richa Chadha to feature in the film titled Section 375|website=India TV|date=17 February 2018 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newsnation.in/entertainment/bollywood-news/akshaye-khanna-richa-chadha-gear-up-for-a-courtroom-drama-titled-section-375-article-211434.html|title=Akshaye Khanna, Richa Chadha gear up for a courtroom drama titled 'Section 375'|website =News Nation|date=14 January 2019 }}</ref>
The film stars [[Akshaye Khanna]], [[Richa Chadda]], [[Meera Chopra]] and [[Rahul Bhat]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/features/akshaye-khanna-richa-chadha-set-kick-off-section-375/|title=Akshaye Khanna, Richa Chadha are set to kick off Section 375|website=Bollywood Hungama|date=14 January 2019 }}</ref> [[Principal photography]] of the film began in January 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://boxofficeindia.co.in/section-375-akshaye-khanna-richa-chadda-start-shooting-courtroom-drama|title=Section 375: Akshaye Khanna, Richa Chadda start shooting for the courtroom drama|website=Box Office India|access-date=17 April 2019|archive-date=5 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210905161720/https://boxofficeindia.co.in/section-375-akshaye-khanna-richa-chadda-start-shooting-courtroom-drama|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The film was theatrically released in India on 13 September 2019.<ref name=":dna">{{cite web|url=https://www.dnaindia.com/bollywood/report-akshaye-khanna-and-richa-chadha-s-section-375-gets-postponed-will-now-release-on-this-date-2778380|title=Akshaye Khanna and Richa Chadha's 'Section 375' gets postponed, will now release on THIS date|website=DNA|access-date=3 August 2019}}</ref> The film opened to low numbers on opening day and was declared "average" at the box office.

== Plot ==
Notable film director Rohan Khurana ([[Rahul Bhat]]) is arrested and convicted by a sessions court after assistant costume designer Anjali Dangle ([[Meera Chopra]]) accuses him of rape. In the High Court, senior and talented criminal barrister Tarun Saluja ([[Akshaye Khanna]]) works hard to punch holes in the accuser's claims, while Hiral Gandhi ([[Richa Chadda]]), an [[utopian]] and fervent lawyer fighting her first big case, who was once Saluja's trainee, serves as the prosecutor and defence barrister of the claimed victim. Tarun goes by his principle ''Law is a fact, Justice is abstract'' and believes that a lawyer should not get emotionally involved in a case or get into an ethical debate. At a seminar in a flashback, also attended by Hiral, he surmises how justice is left out without proper defence, noting that the pursuit of justice is nothing but a career opportunity for the defence lawyer, prosecution & the judges as well. He summaries this with his line " We're in the business of law, not of Justice". This is completely contrary to Hiral's attitude, as she gets passionately involved in her pursuit to deliver justice. For this very reason, she had to quit Tarun's law firm in the past.

Tarun in his cross-examination exposes tampering of evidence, lies and facts hidden by key witnesses. He proposes the theory that Anjali had a consensual relation with Rohan which started with the pressure of retaining her job, but with time she got emotionally involved in the relationship. Later, when she realises that Rohan is only interested in a physical relationship with her whereas she was expecting him to be her life partner, there is a big argument between the two on this issue. Rohan belittles her and tells her that without him her career is over. Later, Rohan throws her out of his second flat where they pursued their relationship. After a couple of days, Anjali apologises to Rohan & they rekindle their relationship. Later in the day, she reports this incident as rape to police.

Insisting that it is a case of an affair gone sour, Tarun points out that the law does not regard consensual physical relations as rape. Hiral argues that though a couple may have had a consensual relationship in the past, any subsequent sexual encounter without consent of the girl is rape. The case disputes the legal provisions of the penal code 375 that defines conditions under which a sexual offence can be defined as rape.

The judges are put in a tough spot because on one hand, it is clear that Anjali had filed this case to avenge her humiliation, and on the other hand, there is a strong public perception that rich and influential people are exploiting the underprivileged. The two judges deliberate on the case in their chamber. A judgement in favour of Tarun would badly reflect on their credentials, despite circumstantial evidence clearly pointing to fake rape charges. One of the judges peeks from the balcony and sees protests against the accused going out of control, and it is clear what their judgement would be.

The bench, while delivering the verdict accepts the merit of the case presented by Tarun, but public sentiment forces the bench to strictly go by the book and deliver the judgment in line with popular opinion. The judges uphold the session court judgement which states that since there is no evidence of consent or force for this particular incident, the statement of the victim is considered as paramount evidence. Rohan's wife Kainaz indicates to him that she will not aid him anymore, and leaves. Tarun promises Rohan that he will approach the High Court immediately. Rohan is taken to prison, and Anjali confesses in secret to Hiral that what Tarun had said in the court was true and she did this only to get revenge at Rohan. Hiral is shocked by this, and is later invited for dinner by Tarun's family. Tarun once again reminds her "We're in the business of law, not of Justice", a principle she has now truly understood.

== Cast ==
* [[Akshaye Khanna]] as Advocate Tarun Saluja, defence barrister of the accused
* [[Richa Chadda]] as Advocate Hiral Gandhi, The public prosecutor
* [[Meera Chopra]] as Victim Anjali Vasudev Dangle
* [[Rahul Bhat]] as Accused Rohan Ravi Khurana
* [[Shriswara]] as Kainaz Khurana, Rohan's wife
* [[Sandhya Mridul]] as Shilpa Saluja, Tarun's wife
* [[Kruttika Desai]] as Justice Indrani
* [[Kishor Kadam]] as Justice Madgaonkar
* Annuup Choudhari as Pramod Dangle, Anjali's brother
* Tanuka Laghate as Meera Singh
* Kshama Ninave as Mrs. Dangle, Anjali's mother
* Nishank Verma as Shekhar
* Karran Jeet as Hiral's husband (uncredited)
* Riva Arora as Roshini ( Taruns Daughter)<ref>{{Citation |title=Section 375 (2019) - IMDb |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8144834/fullcredits |language=en |access-date=2022-06-13}}</ref>{{Citation needed|date=November 2022}}

==Marketing and release==
The first poster of the film was released by its makers on 7 August 2019. On 5 September, a dialogue promo presenting Khanna was released.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://m.timesofindia.com/videos/entertainment/hindi/section-375-dialogue-promo/videoshow/71005304.cms|title=Section 375 – Dialogue Promo|website=Times of India|date=6 September 2019}}</ref>

The film was premiered at Singapore South Asian International Film Festival (SgSAIFF) on 7 September 2019. It was closing film of the festival and received appreciation.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/section-375-akshaye-khanna-richa-chadhas-courtroom-drama-closes-singapore-south-asian-international-film-festival-7309441.html|title=Section 375: Akshaye Khanna, Richa Chadha's courtroom drama closes Singapore South Asian International Film Festival|website=Firstpost|access-date=9 September 2019|date=9 September 2019}}</ref> The film was theatrically released in India on 13 September 2019.

== Reception ==

=== Critical response ===
On [[review aggregator]] website [[Rotten Tomatoes]], the film holds a rating of {{RT data|score}} based on {{RT data|count}} reviews, with an average rating of {{RT data|average}}.<ref name="rt:cr">{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/section_375|title=Section 375|website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]|date=13 September 2019 |publisher=[[Fandango Media|Fandango]]|access-date={{RT data|access date}}}}</ref>

Sreeparna Sengupta of ''[[The Times of India]]'' gave the film four stars out of five, praising screenplay, dialogues and performance of [[Akshaye Khanna]], [[Richa Chadha]], [[Rahul Bhat]] and [[Kishor Kadam]], noted that the film made for a 'gripping watch with a crisp runtime and top-notch performances'. Concluding she wrote, "Overall, ''Section 375'' is an audacious effort. It is a relevant film that tackles a complex issue and one that will engage, inform and open up debates."<ref name=toirev>{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/movie-reviews/section-375/movie-review/71082088.cms|title=Section 375|work=The Times of India|first=Sreeparna|last=Sengupta|date=11 September 2019|access-date=11 September 2019}}</ref> Trade analyst and critic [[Taran Adarsh]] gave the film four stars out of five, tagged it as "Powerful" and praised the performance of [[Akshaye Khanna]], [[Richa Chadha]], writing and direction. He opined, "A relevant film that raises pertinent points... Recommended!"<ref>{{cite tweet|user=taran_adarsh| author=Taran Adarsh|date=12 September 2019|number = 1172069610432032768 |title=#OneWordReview... #Section375: POWERFUL. Rating: 4/5 Engaging courtroom drama... Writing and direction top notch... Akshaye Khanna, Richa Chadha brilliant... Meera Chopra, Rahul Bhat first-rate... A relevant film that raises pertinent points... Recommended! #Section375Review https://t.co/Jc3DUlCgaZ}}</ref> Udita Jhunjhunwala of ''[[Firstpost]]'' gave three and half stars out of five and opined that it was the cinematography and editing that kept the film moving at desirable pace and in mood. Praising Manish Gupta's writing, she concluded that the film neither took a shrill, moralistic stand, nor caved to 'Bollywood-ised courtroom hysteria', rather it stuck to a highly charged narrative that deftly examined both sides of the case and deferred to the rule of law.<ref name="Udita">{{cite news|first=Udita|last=Jhunjhunwala|url=https://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/section-375-movie-review-richa-chadha-akshaye-khanna-play-off-each-other-well-in-this-nuanced-film-7328451.html |title=Section 375 movie review: Richa Chadha, Akshaye Khanna play off each other well in this nuanced film|work=Firstpost|date=12 September 2019|accessdate=12 September 2019}}</ref>

Devesh Sharma reviewing for ''[[Filmfare]]'' rates the film with three stars out of five. He wrote that the film was a 'well-crafted', 'well-acted' film with pithy and witty dialogues. He praised performance of Khanna and Chadha, but criticising the climax, concluded, "This criminal twist at the very end undoes all the good done by the film and leaves you with a bitter taste in the mouth. The director is trying to be too clever here but this cleverness eats away into the nobility of the film."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://filmfare.com/reviews/bollywood-movies/movie-review-section-375_-36021.html|title=Movie Review: Section 375|last=Sharma|first=Devesh|date=12 September 2019|website=Filmfare|access-date=27 June 2019}}</ref> Manjusha Radhakrishnan of ''[[Gulf News]]'' gave three and half stars out of five, concurring in praising lead cast she wrote, "Both Khanna and Chadha are in top form as warring legal counsels". She also praised the editing of the film and noted that film was off-beat, but concurring with Sharma she felt that the second half was made 'frustratingly convenient'. Concluding she opined, "While you may not be thrilled at where the film is headed, the right thing to do is to give the searing ''Section 375'' a fair trial."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://gulfnews.com/going-out/movie-reviews/section-375-review-richa-chaddha-legal-drama-deserves-a-fair-trial-1.66369212|title=''Section 375' review: Richa Chaddha legal drama deserves a fair trial|last=Radhakrishnan|first=Manjusha|date=12 September 2019|work=Gulf News|access-date=13 September 2019}}</ref> Writing for [[News18]], Rajeev Masand termed the film as an 'unmistakably compelling courtroom drama' and rated it with three and half stars out of five. He noted that director Ajay Bahl and writer Manish Gupta have made a 'sharp, thought-provoking drama' which is topical and conscious of the situation prevailing. Concluding, he opined, "It’s a well-made film with a persuasive argument that is nevertheless disturbing."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.news18.com/amp/news/movies/section-375-movie-review-akshaye-khanna-richa-chadhas-performances-make-for-compelling-courtroom-drama-2308555.html|title=Section 375 Movie Review: Akshaye Khanna, Richa Chadha's Performances Make for Compelling Courtroom Drama|last=Rajeev|first=Rajeev|date=14 September 2019|work=News18|access-date=14 September 2019}}</ref>

===Box office===
''Section 375'' collected {{INRConvert|14.5|m}} on the opening day, and {{INRConvert|30.7|m}} on the second day, whereas the third day collection was {{INRConvert|35.2|m}}, taking its total opening weekend collection to {{INRConvert|80.4|m}}.

{{As of|2019|09|19}}, the film has a collection of {{INRConvert|153|m}} in India.<ref name="boxoff"/>

== See also ==
* [[False accusation of rape]]
* [[Shiney Ahuja]]
* ''[[Dafaa 302]]''
* ''[[Article 15 (film)|Article 15]]''
* [[Aligarh (film)|''Aligarh'' (film)]]
* [[Vaashi (2022 Film)]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{IMDb title|8144834}}
* {{Bollywood Hungama movie|section-375}}
* {{Rotten Tomatoes|m/section_375}}

[[Category:2010s Hindi-language films]]
[[Category:Indian courtroom films]]
[[Category:Films about social issues in India]]
[[Category:T-Series (company) films]]
[[Category:Indian drama films]]
[[Category:2019 drama films]]
[[Category:2019 films]]
[[Category:Hindi-language drama films]]
[[Category:Indian legal films]]
[[Category:Films about Bollywood]]
[[Category:Films about sex crimes]]
[[Category:Films about sexism]]
[[Category:Films about sexual abuse]]
[[Category:Films about sexual harassment]]
[[Category:Films about violence against women]]
[[Category:Films about rape in India]]
[[Category:Indian films about revenge]]
[[Category:Indian Penal Code]]
[[Category:Films about lawsuits]]
[[Category:Films about lawyers]]
[[Category:Films about miscarriage of justice]]

Section 375 - Revision history

Ajay Kumar: Created a new article