Phule (2025) – A Sincere but Sanitized Ode to Social Reform
Phule film poster (Image credit X.com)
Phule (2025) Review: Pratik Gandhi Shines in a Sincere Yet Sanitized Tribute to Social Reform
By Amit Kumar
New Delhi, April 12, 2025: Ananth Narayan Mahadevan’s Phule aims high, with noble intentions and reverent storytelling. It brings to screen the extraordinary lives of Jyotirao and Savitribai Phule, two pioneering 19th-century reformers who dared to challenge caste orthodoxy and champion education for women and the marginalized.
But in its quest to reach wider audiences, the film tempers its own radical heart, delivering a biopic that is powerful in message but muted in impact.
Plot & Themes
The film chronicles the tireless activism of Jyotirao Phule (Pratik Gandhi) and his wife Savitribai (Patralekhaa Paul), focusing on their groundbreaking work in education and social justice. From establishing India’s first school for girls in Pune in 1848 to founding the Satyashodhak Samaj (Truth-seekers’ Society), their struggle against Brahminical oppression and patriarchal norms forms the backbone of the narrative.
Phule is both a historical tribute and a timely reminder that the evils the Phules combated — caste discrimination, gender inequality —are far from vanquished. Yet, in walking the tightrope between authenticity and acceptability, the film pulls its punches. Some of the bolder, more uncomfortable truths about caste oppression are left only half-said, and the result is a drama that feels earnest but cautiously curated.
Performances
Pratik Gandhi delivers a grounded and quietly intense portrayal of Jyotirao Phule. He conveys the reformer’s moral conviction with calm determination, shining especially in moments of confrontation and introspection.
Manoj Kumar: The Quintessential ‘Bharat Kumar’ of Indian Cinema
Patralekhaa Paul is equally compelling as Savitribai — her eyes ablaze with both compassion and steely resolve. Together, their chemistry anchors the film, offering a portrait of a marriage defined not just by love, but by shared purpose.
Among the supporting cast, Darsheel Safary brings welcome energy, suggesting the next generation inspired by the Phules’ ideals. Alexx O’Nell lends credibility in a limited role, though many secondary characters feel underwritten in a story struggling to cover vast historical ground.
Direction & Craft
Mahadevan, known for socially-conscious cinema (Mee Sindhutai Sapkal), directs with clear admiration for his subjects. The production design is meticulous, evoking the period with authentic detail, from modest classrooms to the austere colonial streets of 19th-century Pune.
Sunita Radia’s cinematography is evocative, capturing both the intimacy of personal sacrifice and the scale of systemic resistance. However, some sequences lean into theatricality, where visual nuance gives way to heavy-handed dialogue.
Rohan-Rohan’s musical score underscores emotional beats without overwhelming them, but the film’s rhythm falters in the latter half. As it tries to cover multiple reform initiatives, the narrative loses its emotional center.
Censorship & Controversy
Originally slated for release on April 11, 2025, to coincide with Jyotirao Phule’s birth anniversary, the film was delayed following backlash from Brahmin groups, who accused it of promoting caste antagonism. The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) reportedly demanded edits — removing references to caste-specific terms and toning down depictions of systemic oppression.
One such alteration replaces a visceral scene of caste-based humiliation with a more generalized act of public shame. The result: a film that plays it safe where it should cut deep. Mahadevan has defended these compromises as necessary for release, but they undeniably diminish the film’s potential as a bold statement on caste injustice.
Strengths & Weaknesses
Phule succeeds most where it centers the humanity of its protagonists. Scenes like Savitribai educating young girls despite jeers and attacks, or Jyotirao confronting religious dogma with reasoned defiance, are stirring and memorable. The film also does a commendable job making the Phules’ legacy accessible to younger audiences, many of whom may be encountering these historical figures for the first time.
But by softening its edges, the film undercuts its own thesis. The Phules weren’t just educators — they were revolutionaries. The film’s sanitization, paired with an overambitious timeline, leads to underdeveloped arcs and an emotional disconnect. Dialogue occasionally drifts into didactic territory, telling us what to feel rather than showing us why.
Final Verdict
Phule is a well-intentioned and moving homage to two of India’s most underappreciated reformers. Pratik Gandhi and Patralekhaa Paul bring soul and gravitas to their roles, and Mahadevan’s direction ensures that their legacy is respectfully rendered.
For a story about challenging power, Phule feels frustratingly subdued — its voice softened by the very forces its subjects once defied. It’s a worthy watch for its historical insight and performances, but those seeking unflinching truth may leave wanting more.
Join the WhatsApp Channel of The Raisina Hills
Follow on Google News https://news.google.com/publications/CAAqBwgKMNK2vwsw39HWAw?hl=en-IN&gl=IN&ceid=IN%3Aen
About The Author
