Phule Review: Pratik Gandhi, Patralekha Film On Casteism Has Honest Performances But Weak Storytelling!
Pratik Gandhi and Patralekha starrer Phule is based on the lives of the social reformers Jyotiba Phule and Savitribai Phule.
3 / 5
Not every battle has to be fought with guns and ammunition; some need intelligence, education and undefeated morals. Such a great example was set by social reformers Jyotiba Phule and Savitribai Phule, and their contribution towards breaking casteism in India should always be remembered. Pratik Gandhi and Patralekha starrer Phule is a film inspired by their lives and is directed by Ananth Mahadevan. Phule tells a story that is important and educates us on some of the major events that went down in Indian history, like girls’ education, casteism and widow remarriage, but the film struggles majorly in storytelling and direction. Here is a detailed review of Phule.
Story
Phule is a biographical film on the lives of Jyotirao Phule and Savitribai Phule. It follows their early lives when the couple raised their voices against some malpractices, age-old traditions of casteism and the suppression of women and girls’ education. It covers some major events in Indian History, like how Jyotirao and Savitribai Phule started the first school for girls in Poona, Maharashtra, their contribution towards uplifting the Dalits and fighting for their rights against the cruelty of casteism, the couple’s work during the Great Famine, while shedding light on their personal lives and struggles.
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Performances
Pratik Gandhi as Jyotirao Phule has done a phenomenal job in making this historical personality come alive on the big screen. The actor’s hard work in the honest portrayal of Mahatma Jyotirao Phule is evident and deserves applause. He delivers a poised performance that is also an expression of the actor’s understanding of Jyotirao Phule.
Patralekha as Savitribai Phule also has a strong screen presence, which comes out more polished in the second half of the film. One feels the strength, voice and determination of this powerful historical figure through the actor’s performance. She is daring, but at the same time, she brings softness to her husband. However, Patralekha’s accent and dialogue delivery were a little distracting.
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Akshaya Gaurav’s aces the role of Fatima Shaikh, Savitribai Phule’s friend who ran the girls’ schools with her. Among the supporting characters, it’s her performance that deserves our attention.
Also Read: Exclusive: Nikkhil Advani On Historical Dramas Getting Backlash: “There Will Be Hundred…”
Storytelling, Direction
Phule tells an important story, but with impact, less impact than expected. It’s again safe, clean storytelling that does not let you feel it most of the time. In the first half, there is a scene where some Brahmins destroy the school set up by the couple and also beat Jyotiba Phule mercilessly, but this looks so staged and forced that the gravity and cruelty in this scene do not sink in at all. Phule struggles with pace too in the first half, and seems to be just a recap of everything in Jyotiba Phule and Savitribai Phule’s lives without going much deeper into it.
It’s in the second half that the film picks up pace and becomes interesting. However, most of the important things about this historical narrative were saved for post-interval but it does manage to leave us with some thought-provoking moments.
Cinematography
The cinematography of the film has its moments, and some frames were shot well. The film’s setting and filters do a decent job of immersing us into the storytelling, but still, it does not feel like enough.
Undoubtedly, Phule educates us on some of the important events in history that changed the fate of the lower classes, women, girl child and all this because of two visionaries- Jyotirao Phule and Savitribai Phule. In some ways, through this biography, the film also teaches you the meaning of feminism (for the ones who have a hard time figuring THAT out) and how Jyotiba was a feminist, and the biggest feminist ally. The performances by the lead actors are noteworthy and honest, but the film lacks big time in the storytelling, direction and dialogue, making the film not come through very strongly. Some aspects of it do stay with you, but the film deserved much more attention and effort than it received. However, it’s a film that should be watched to know how far we have come, and that some battles don’t need arms! It’s currently running in theatres.
First Published: April 25, 2025 1:49 PM
