Yami Gautam's Article 370 banned in all Gulf countries, here's why

Yami Gautam and Priyamani starrer Article 370 was released in cinemas on Friday, February 23 and it is a box office hit. With favorable word-of-mouth and positive reviews, the movie is anticipated to do well in the coming days. The film Article 370 revolves around the politically charged subject of the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir.

Now, recent reports by ANI reveal that the film has been banned from all the Gulf countries. All the Gulf countries, which include Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, and Bahrain, will not be able to watch the film. However, no specific reason has been revealed for the ban.

After Hrithik Roshan and Deepika Padukone starrer Fighter, Article 370 becomes the second Bollywood film of 2024 to be banned from the Gulf countries.

Also read: Article 370 box office collection day 3 - Yami Gautam's political drama scores big, mints ₹9.5 crore on its first Sunday

The ban in Gulf countries is however unexpected, especially in the light of area's booming tourism and travel sector as well as the ongoing production of Indian films there. There is an obvious discrepancy between Bollywood's contribution to the Gulf's entertainment sector and the absence of Indian films in its theaters. Although, there is a dedicated fan base in the region, the lack of films such as Yami Gautam starrer Article 370 highlights restricted cross-cultural interaction and a worrying trend of censorship, as per a statement.

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Article 370 Box Office Collection

According to the recent reports by trade tracker Sacnilk.com, Article 370 made Rs 5 crore on its opening day. On its second day, the film brought in nearly Rs 7 crore, and on its first Sunday, the film made Rs 9.5 crore at the box office. The film is currently facing tough competition with Vidyut Jammwal, Arjun Rampal, Amy Jackson, and Nora Fatehi starrer Crakk at the ticket window, However, after collecting Rs 22.80 crore in total at the box office, the film is leading its way.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Article 370

Prime Minister Narendra Modi mentioned the film Article 370 during a recent speech in Jammu. He said, "I have heard that a film on Article 370 is going to be released this week... It is a good thing as it will help people in getting correct information."

Also read: Article 370 Review – It’s whispers, not chest thumping anymore with some good filmmaking ft. Yami Gautam and ‘fiction’