Firsts are always special, and for the makers of the acclaimed political thriller Article 370, their maiden venture winning big at the National Awards is simply a moment to savour. Just days after the Aditya Suhas Jambhale-directed film was announced as one of the biggest winners at the 72nd National Film Awards, B62 Studios Co-Founder and producer Lokesh Dhar shared a deeply emotional note reflecting on the film’s journey, the studio’s vision, and the rich cultural stories that continue to shape their cinema.
Co-produced by Aditya Dhar, Lokesh Dhar, and Jyoti Deshpande of Jio Studios, Article 370 secured three prestigious accolades: Best Feature Film, Best Actress for Yami Gautam Dhar, and Best Music Director for Shashwat Sachdev.
Embracing the Underdog Spirit
Calling Article 370 the first film released by B62 Studios almost two years ago, Lokesh Dhar described the National Award recognition as a moment of immense gratitude for the entire team that worked tirelessly behind the scenes.
Sharing his thoughts on social media, Dhar wrote:
“It’s been a minute since the National Awards were announced. Article 370 was the first film we released at B62 Studios, almost two years ago. Our intention was to bring stories to the screen that keep us awake at night; the ones that stay with you long after the lights go off. The odds weren’t in our favor. And it’s great to be the underdog.”
Reflecting on the magnitude of the film’s success and the overwhelming response it generated, he added, “For this film to win three National Awards—Best Feature Film, Best Actress, and Best Music—is an honour. I’m deeply grateful to the 72nd National Film Awards jury. For the audience to have shown this film so much love, along with the love they’ve shown to Dhoom Dhaam, Baramulla, and Dhurandhar, is beyond words.”
Rooted in the Magic of Kashmiri Storytelling
Beyond the glitz of the awards, Dhar spoke profoundly about the personal memories that act as the foundation for the stories B62 Studios chooses to tell. Recalling quiet evenings spent listening to family elders narrate enchanting tales from Kashmir, he explained how those early experiences continue to heavily influence the studio’s creative vision.
“Some of this success, I believe, is owed to the blessings of the elders,” Dhar reminisced. “When the electricity went out in the evenings, the silence was broken by news from a battery-operated radio, tuned to Radio Kashmir. When that ended, the stories began. The elders would sit on the floor on woollen carpets and narrate larger-than-life tales where the rivers ran wider, the snow lay deeper and the icicles hung longer. Big enough to pull us into their world, never so big that we lost interest.”
A Collective Victory for the Team
He concluded his heartfelt note by dedicating the monumental achievement to the people who made the cinematic journey possible.
“In some way, that’s what we’re trying to do with every film: honour those stories. Long after we are gone, the resilience they showed will live on through the movies we make,” Dhar noted. “None of this would exist without the people who built it with us: our incredible cast and crew, our director, our writers, Jio Studios, and the friends and family who stood by us through it all. This is as much theirs as it is ours.”
The triple victory for Article 370 marks a historic milestone for B62 Studios’ debut release, reinforcing the studio’s steadfast commitment to telling powerful, resonant stories that are deeply steeped in the culture and history of India.
