Phule movie review: Pratik Gandhi, Patralekhaa's Savitribhai-Jyotiba Phule biopic struggles to rise over dull screenplay
What Jyotiba Phule and his wife, Savitribhai Phule, did for the abolishment of the caste system in India in the late 1800s, apart from fighting for female literacy, cannot- and should not- be forgotten. With this being acknowledged right in the beginning, it gives the writer the liberty to talk strictly about the film at hand, and its merits/ demerits. Phule is intended to be a faithful biopic on the lives of the two reformers, directed by Ananth Mahadevan and starring Pratik Gandhi and Patralekhaa.
It begins with Savitribhai's humanitarian efforts for the people suffering from the Great Plague of Pune (then Poona) and then cuts to a flashback, where Jyotiba, married to the then-child Savitribhai, agrees to educate her despite resistance from his family and community.
Their relationship is one of equality right from the beginning, and Ananth gets the vibe of the biopic right.
Phule will definitely educate many people on these unsung heroes of India, whom we don't talk about enough. Some scenes in the film truly stand out. Like the one where Savitribhai shows a man his place when he tries to intimidate her. Or the courtroom scene where Pratik successfully stands up to a group of Brahmins who object to his attempts to abolish the caste system
Where the film begins to feel weak is cramming in so much into a little more than two hours' runtime. What it leads to is thus one getting exhausted before the intermission. I don't think the makers have left out anything, but it was never meant to be like a history chapter in class X, which faithfully covers everything. What unfolds on screen isn't treated like a film. And by the time the ending is near, one is hoping it will at least wrap up on a poignant note, on time. But again- it stretches on. There's no climax really.
What doesn't help is that both the leading actors, who put in decent efforts, sometimes give in to caricaturish portrayals. The screenplay jumps from one good deed to another, but there's no focus on making us understand these two people.
The attention to detail in the production design is commendable. Rohan-Rohan's music is average, though.
Overall, Phule is a sincere, important film, dulled by an oversimplistic screenplay and treatment.
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Time of India
3 days ago
- Time of India
Koshish thi ki log samjhein unki ladai: Writer Muazzam Beg on the film Phule and the legacy of Jyotirao and Savitribai Phule
A still from Phule Writer Muazzam Beg Phule, a biographical drama about social reformers Jyotirao Phule and Savitribai Phule, is more than a period film - it's a story of two towering figures in India's reformist history. Writer Muazzam Beg says the journey of making the film began with a moment of personal reckoning. 'It was an important film to make,' he says, adding that he, too, was surprised by how little he knew about the couple's early activism. 'Jyotirao and Savitribai worked towards social reforms at a very young age,' he explains. 'Agar jan manas ki baat karen toh utna nahi jaante log. Jinko pan-India audience bolte hain, un sab tak Jyotiba Phule pahunchne chahiye.' Writer Muazzam Beg on the set of Phule Film ka core wohi tha - education aur untouchability ki jo ladai ladi thi unhone The film stars Pratik Gandhi and Patralekhaa in the lead roles and explores the Jyotirao Phule and Savitribai Phule's pioneering work in education, caste reform, and gender equality. 'Ambedkar ke liye zameen toh phir Jyotiba Phule ne hi taiyyar ki thi,' Muazzam points out, referencing how Phule's efforts laid the groundwork for B.R. Ambedkar's later activism. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo In fact, Ambedkar himself has written extensively about Jyotirao and Savitribai, acknowledging their role in shaping India's modern reformist consciousness. Condensing such expansive lives into a feature-length film was, Muazzam admits, one of the greatest challenges. 'When an entire life has to be crunched into a couple of hours, you have to make decisions about what to show and what to leave out,' he says. 'But as a writer, and with Ananth Mahadevan as director and co-writer, we didn't take any cinematic or creative liberties. Everything that you see in the film is based on extensive research and facts. We referred to several books.' He adds, 'A biography is vast, and their lives were immensely vast. To make a movie, you have to hold on to the core, and for us, that was their fight against untouchability. Core wohi tha - education aur untouchability ki jo ladai ladi thi unhone. We wanted that message to reach the audience.' Writer Muazzam Beg on the set of Phule We were focused on two things: first, that the words should feel authentic to the people of that time, and second, that today's audience could understand them Writing dialogue for a period film came with its own set of challenges. 'Uss waqt ki bhasha bhi alag thi. Har tarah ke log thay,' he explains. 'We were focused on two things: first, that the words should feel authentic to the people of that time, and second, that today's audience could understand them. Those words that were too difficult to understand, we preferred to avoid. Koshish yehi thi ki logon tak baat pahunche.' The film pays close attention to detail - not just in language, but in costumes, settings, and overall tone. Shot at real locations, the film strives for authenticity. 'Aaj jab hum Jyotiba ki kahani bol rahe hain, toh uske peechhe ek maqsad hai - ki log ye samjhein ki kya ladai ladi unhone, aur kya change laa sakte hain hum apne society mein,' Muazzam says. He talks about the enduring relevance of Phule's ideals. 'There's no doubt that in the last 175 years, the time has changed a little when it comes to the caste system,' he says. 'I have been so inspired by Jyotiba Phule. He never discriminated against anyone on the basis of caste, gender, or any grounds. Once you decide what to do in life, how you go about it - that journey is very inspiring for me.' He adds, the goal was to ensure that the film remained respectful. 'It was very important for us to balance that nobody gets hurt by the film.' Writer Muazzam Beg on the set of Phule Check out our list of the latest Hindi , English , Tamil , Telugu , Malayalam , and Kannada movies . Don't miss our picks for the best Hindi movies , best Tamil movies, and best Telugu films .
Time of India
4 days ago
- Time of India
Patralekhaa reveals why she applied sindoor to Rajkummar Rao at their marriage: 'I felt like the luckiest girl on Earth that day...'
recently opened up about two memorable moments from her personal and social life — the heartfelt spontaneity at her wedding with and a star-studded luncheon hosted by filmmaker Farah Khan. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Sharing candid insights, she revealed the emotions behind the intimate sindoordaan ritual at her wedding and fondly remembered the delicious food and eclectic guest list at Farah's much-talked-about gathering. While recalling a moment from her wedding, Patralekhaa shared with Bollywood Bubble that she and Rajkummar Rao had asked the priest to keep the ceremony short and light-hearted. As they enjoyed the relaxed vibe at the mandap, Rajkummar applied sindoor to her as per tradition. To her surprise, he then handed it to her and asked her to do the same for him, leading to the much-talked-about moment. She explained that the moment was spontaneous and unplanned, happening so quickly that even Rajkummar hadn't decided on it beforehand. Overwhelmed with emotion, she felt incredibly lucky and cherished that special moment deeply. When shown a picture from Farah Khan's luncheon, Patralekhaa recalled the event fondly. She mentioned it was before the pandemic and described Farah's cooking—especially her famous 'Lokhandwala World Famous Roast Chicken'—as the most delicious roast chicken ever. She also noted the unique guest list, including stars like Hrithik and , which only Farah could bring together so effortlessly. Patralekhaa's upcoming projects include a TV series titled Gulkanda Tales, which is currently in production. She is also involved in a new production project with Rajkummar Rao, their second one after Toaster. Additionally, she is involved in Phule, IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack, and Wild Wild Punjab.
Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Hindustan Times
Patralekhaa recalls meeting Shah Rukh Khan for the first time, credits him for having a house in Mumbai
Actor Patralekhaa recently opened up about her first meeting with none-other-than superstar Shah Rukh Khan, in an interview. The Phule actor shared her fondest memories meeting the star and revealed that it is because of him that she and husband-actor Rajkummar Rao have a house in Mumbai today. (Also read: When Rajkummar Rao fired his cook for disrespecting wife Patralekha: 'Aap apna bag pack kijiye') In an interview with Bollywood Bubble, Patralekhaa shared her experience of meeting Shah Rukh Khan for the first time. The 35-year-old actor showed a picture with Pathaan star and said, "I was blown away by his charm, by the aura, the enigma that surrounds him. He is everything that you have hear about him. He is kind, well-spoken, and respectful. I was smitten meeting him." The Citylights actor also recalled the time when her husband Rajkummar talked with Shah Rukh about his dream of having a house like Mannat. Rajkummar had earlier mentioned how the Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge star advised him to have a bigger house because it would motivate him to work harder. Patralekhaa gleefully said, 'Thanks to SRK sir, that we have a house today.' Rajkummar and Patralekhaa dated each other for over a decade, and finally got married on November 15, 2021. Patralekhaa was last seen in the film Phule with Pratik Gandhi, which was directed by Anant Mahadevan. The film was based on the lives of Jyotirao Phule and Savitribai Phule. She will next be seen in the revenge crime thriller Suryast, which also stars Lara Dutta. The release date is yet to be announced. She also has Krishna DK and Raj Nidimoru's Gulkanda Tales in her kitty. The show's star cast includes like Pankaj Tripathi, Abhishek Banerjee and Kunal Kemmu in key roles.
