Phule movie review: Pratik Gandhi & Patralekhaa starrer biographical drama is beautiful, poignant and heart touching

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25-04-2025

Director Ananth Narayan Mahadevan has brilliantly crafted the biographical drama of Jyotiba Phule and Savitribai Phule as the movie showcases the precious contribution of the couple, which played a crucial role in making India a progressive country. read more
Star cast: Pratik Gandhi, Patralekhaa, Vinay Pathak, Sushil Pandey, Darsheel Safary, Suresh Vishwakarma, Joysen Gupta, Alexx O'Nell, Amit Behl, Akshaya Gurav and Jayesh More
Director: Ananth Narayan Mahadevan
After facing controversies and headlines, Pratik Gandhi and Patralekhaa starrer Phule has finally hit the screens today. Based on the life of social activist, businessman, anti-caste social reformer and writer, Jyotirao Phule aka Jyotiba Phule and his wife Savitribai Phule (the first female teacher of India), the biographical drama showcases the couple's contributions to social reform and education in India.
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While the trailer looked promising due to the nuanced acts of the lead cast, does it manage to impress the audience? Let's find out…
The plot starts in 1897 in Poona (now Pune), where villagers are scared due to the bubonic plague and are taken to medical camps by Britishers. In a panic, Savitribai Phule (played by Patralekhaa), without any fear or hesitation, carries a kid and takes him to the camp.
Cut to 1848, young Jyotiba Phule ( Pratik Gandhi) is teaching English to his wife Savitri, which is not only liked by the upper caste or surroundings but also by his father Govind Phule (Vinay Pathak).
Jyotiba secretly goes to his upper caste friend's house along with Savitribai to educate young girls. But soon the upper caste people reach that place and destroy all the study material. Later, all the Brahmins warn Jyotiba through Panchayat to stop educating girls as it is insulting Indian culture and tradition and accepting the slavery of Britishers.
To avoid any trouble for his father and elder brother, Jyotiba and Savitribai leave their home and go to Usman's house, who is Phule's school friend. As they realize that people are not comfortable sending girls to schools because there are no female teachers, Savitribai Phule and Usman's sister Fatima get professional training and thus emerge as female teachers of India.
On 15th May 1849, a small open school was started by Savitribai and Fatima with 30 girls and by 1852, the number of schools reached 20. While the problem of girl education is slowly and steadily being solved, Jyotiba realizes the condition of Shudras (lower caste) and widows is still miserable due to regressive and orthodox traditions implemented by the upper caste.
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On 24th September 1873, Jyotiba starts the Satyashodhak Samaj to fight for the equal rights of the lower caste and combat caste discrimination. The couple also tackled the Great Famine in India, which was triggered due to drought in 1876 and solved it with great will and determination.
For the upliftment of the Shudras (Dalits) and for spreading progressive thoughts including widow remarriage, Phule was bestowed with the title of Mahatma on May 11, 1888.
Till the demise of the couple, Jyotiba and Savitribai gave their heart, soul and everything for the reformation of the country and making a place where girls can be educated with free minds and no fear.
Director Ananth Narayan Mahadevan has brilliantly crafted the biographical drama of Jyotiba Phule and Savitribai Phule as the movie beautifully showcases the precious contribution of the couple, which played a crucial role in making India a progressive country.
Ananth takes you to that era and makes you part of Jyotiba and Savitirbai's struggles, hardships and triumphs. While Sunita Radia has done a good job as DoP, Raunak Phadnis' editing is good but could have been a bit crisper in the second half.
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Talking about the performances, Pratik delivers a stellar act as Jyotiba and his sincerity in portraying this great soul is visible in every frame. Patralekhaa too gives an eye-pleasing emotional performance and makes a special place in your heart. Supporting cast including Vinay Pathak, Sushil Pandey, Suresh Vishwakarma, Joysen Gupta, Alexx O'Nell, Amit Behl, Akshaya Gurav and Jayesh More have played their roles perfectly. Special mention for Taare Zameen Par actor Darsheel Safary, who played Jyotiba and Savitribai's adopted son Yashwant with innocence and finesse.
On the whole, Phule is a must-watch for all the Indians as it is a beautiful tribute to Jyotiba Phule and Savitribai Phule.
Rating: 3.5 (out of 5 stars)
Phule is playing in cinemas