Phule review: Patralekhaa stands taller and stronger than Pratik in Ananth Mahadevan’s important but boring biopic on the pioneers of ‘Beti Padhao’

Phule review: Patralekhaa stands taller and stronger than Pratik in Ananth Mahadevan’s important but boring biopic on the pioneers of ‘Beti Padhao’

What: ‘Phule’ – the biographical film on the lives of Mahatma Jyotirao Phule and Savitribai Phule by Ananth Mahadevan does the important thing of bringing the life of the great reformer and social activist Jyotirao Phule and his associate Savitribai Phule to the screen but the movie lacks debate and understanding of the caste divide in its tedious one hour twenty-nine minutes ride.

Phule movie review

‘Phule’ could have been a classic reminder of the great reformist in Maharashtra during the nineteen century who not only advocated for girl education but also demanded equality and removal of the rigid caste system ruled by Brahmins where the ‘achoot’, ‘shudra’ and the lower caste where treated worse than dogs, pigs and rats.

The movie has striking scenes where the powerful Brahmins of Poona during the 1840s are in full control, the achoots (untouchables) are kept out from their range, even their shadow is considered to be impure. The lower caste is segregated, they drew water from those stingy muddy wells, forced to wear a broom while walking on streets and on specific time only they can come out on streets, the broom which is hanging in the back is supposed to sweep the path behind them. Girls cannot get educated and a widow has to leave a reclusive dry life.

All these do make an impact and when we see cow dung thrown at Jyotiba and her friend and fellow teacher Fatima Shaikh (Akshaya Gurav) we do get angry.

All these does make ‘Phule’ an important film no doubt but still writer director Ananth Mahadevan and co-writer Muazzam Beg fail to churn the debate on the caste, varna, jaati etc.

What made Jyotiba go against the system controlled by Brahmins, what is the counter claim and based on what? I am not demanding a lesson on the caste formation, In my humble opinion a debate on the age old understanding and Phule’s ideology should have happened and the movie should not have fallen prey to a cursory demonstration of the great achievements of the extraordinary reformist Jyotiba and his wife Savitribai.

I have heard that Nilesh Jalamkar’s Marathi-language biopic Satyashodhak (available on Prime Video) is a better made biopic on Jyotiba Phule. A déjà vu of Kesari 2 in theatres and Sony Liv’s Waking of A Nation…? Thankfully not, cause Ananth Mahadevan has not played with history though he has made a sanitized bio pic.

Further, it was sad to see the gifted Pratik Gandhi not at par in the titular role while Patralekhaa gets lots of scope to showcase her talent and she delivers.

Other actors like Vinay Pathak as Jyotiba’s father, and Sushil Pandey as the older brother are competent. ‘Taare Zameen Par’ fame Darsheel Safary makes an impact as Phules’ adopted son. Joy Sengupta is fine as the staunch Brahmin.