Film Review 'Phule': Pratik Gandhi and Patralekhaa Do Justice to Their Roles

By Shantiswaroop Tripathi

• Rating: 3 and ½
• Producers:  Dr. Raj Khaware, Shivraj Khaware, Utpal Acharya, Pranay Chokshi, Jagdish Patel, Anuya Chauhan Kudecha, and Ritesh Kudecha
• Writers: Ananth Narayan Mahadevan and Moazzam Begg
• Director: Ananth Narayan Mahadevan
• Cast: Pratik Gandhi, Patralekha, Vinay Pathak, Sushil Pandey, Darsheel Safary, Joy Sen Gupta, Suresh Vishwakarma, Amit Behl, Alex O'Neil, and others.
• Duration: 2 hours 19 minutes

In the development of any society or nation, equality among humans and education hold immense significance. An illiterate society cannot progress. Understanding this, the fight for equality and the right to education began in the 19th century with Mahatma Jyotirao Phule. During his lifetime, Mahatma Phule and his wife, Savitribai Phule, worked tirelessly to uplift every individual, especially the untouchables. Their efforts were so impactful that they were the first to be honored with the title 'Mahatma'. Unfortunately, Mahatma Phule has not found a place in the national school curriculum. If we exclude Maharashtra, many people are still unaware of Mahatma Jyotirao Phule. However, now, directorAnanth Narayan Mahadevan has introduced them to the nation through the film 'Phule', which was released in theaters on April 25, 2025. This film narrates the story of the oppressed class, whom Phule first addressed as 'Dalit'. Interestingly, Phule is not Jyotirao's caste. Born into a family of flower growers, Jyotirao's father adopted this surname after receiving land from the king for farming.

Storyline

In 19th-century Maharashtra, Jyotirao Phule and his wife Savitribai ignited the flame of women's education and holistic empowerment at a time when girls were married off as mere children and forced to bear and raise children. The film begins with Jyotirao educating his wife, Savitribai. As she learns, Savitribai undergoes a transformation and becomes aware of her world. The film also depicts scenes such as the dwellings of untouchables, where they tie a broom behind them to ensure the roads remain clean, and the wealthy Brahmins not allowing them to draw water from their wells. Jyotirao's actions anger the Brahmin community, leading

Review

The film Phule is not without its flaws. It has sparked unnecessary controversy, yet director Ananth Narayan Mahadevan—born into a Brahmin family in Kerala—has crafted a deeply impactful film. This is a film that deserves to be screened in every school, or at the very least, exempted from GST and similar levies. Phule is a story about universal education and the upliftment of the underprivileged.

Ananth Narayan Mahadevan began his career in journalism, then moved into acting, followed by directing television serials and eventually films. He gained widespread recognition for his biopic Mee Sindhutai Sapkal. His film Gour Hari Dastaan is considered a cultural gem of Indian cinema. Notably, he was initially attached to direct Rocketry, the film based on the life of renowned space scientist Nambi Narayanan. Another of his films, My Ghat, is still awaiting release. Phule can be seen as a labor of love—a spiritual endeavor—for Mahadevan, not without its challenges.

At 2 hours and 19 minutes long, the film tries to pack in a great deal, which at times makes it feel more like a documentary than a traditional feature film. Still, the director does a commendable job of avoiding overly fiery or melodramatic speeches, choosing instead a more restrained and respectful tone.

The emotional core of the film is beautifully elevated by the song "Saathi," sung by Monali Thakur and penned by Kausar Munir, which adds a heartfelt dimension to the narrative.

Performances

Pratik Gandhi delivers a powerful performance as Mahatma Jyotirao Phule. However, the portrayal of his character post-stroke falls a bit short—the actor and director seem to have overlooked the physical and vocal challenges of a person partially paralyzed. In such a case, facial expressions, voice, and body language are all deeply affected, but here they remain mostly unchanged.

Patralekhaa, playing Savitribai Phule, does justice to her role, though her presence occasionally feels underwhelming compared to Gandhi's screen dominance. Vinay Pathak as Jyotirao’s father and Sushil Pandey as his elder brother are competent in their parts.

Darsheel Safary—best known from Taare Zameen Par—disappoints in a brief appearance as Jyotirao’s adopted son, Yashwant. Other supporting performances by Joy Sengupta, Amit Behl, Suresh Vishwakarma, and Alex O'Neil are serviceable but unremarkable.

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