Phule Review: A reminder society deserves, but an execution it doesn’t Ft. Pratik Gandhi and Patralekhaa

Phule Review: Story - Jyotiba Phule (Pratik Gandhi) and Savitribai Phule (Patralekhaa) have always swum against the tide. The boy who studied English in an era when it was deemed a weapon against Indian culture also taught the language to his wife, so they could educate society together. Soon, they realise that it is the Brahmins who don’t want the have-nots to rise above their status, as it allows them to continue oppressing those they consider untouchable. Phule follows Jyotiba and Savitribai as they fight for girls’ education, widows’ rights, and the right to live free from the clutches of those who treated the marginalised as slaves.

Phule Review:

Consuming art in times like these—when the country is in chaos and people are pitted against one another—may feel almost criminal. When the art in question tells the story of a man who fought against similar evils we now face, it’s deeply ironic. Phule, which stirred controversy by holding up a mirror to a certain community, has been one of the most talked-about films recently. It tells the story of a Mahatma who emerged from among the Dalits and gave them the right simply to be. In a time when headlines are flooded with debates over language, religion, and the atrocities of the powerful against the marginalised, this is perhaps the story that most needs telling—but it deserved a better craft and narrative.

Phule captures the lives of Mahatma Jyotiba Phule and Savitribai Phule, who fought tirelessly for others and tried to create a fair world around them. They challenged the fear among Brahmins that the Dalits would rise and "pollute" the hierarchy. Thanks to their efforts, girls in India could access formal education, and the marginalised found a voice and a place at the elite table—without paying a massive cost. Yet, the film reduces all this to a mere textbook reading, and that’s the most disappointing aspect. It is not Anandi Gopal, a decent e xample about how such stories should be told. 

Written by Ananth Mahadevan and Muazzam Beg, Phule is sincere in its intent but overly cautious in its storytelling. It steers clear of provoking today’s gatekeepers or courting controversy. But how do you tell the story of a revolutionary couple—who sparked outrage and even assassination attempts—without embracing the fire of that rebellion? That’s where Phule falters. It becomes a sanitised account, like something you’d watch as a vague museum animation.

The screenplay doesn’t aim to feel cohesive. It jumps between chapters without connecting the dots. The glue needed to bind the story is so absent that even thoughtful details—like ageing the characters—go unnoticed. Moments, whether uplifting or devastating, don’t linger long enough to leave an impact. Phule should have been a film that made you uncomfortable before moving you to respect. While the respect is there, the emotional gut-punch is not.

Beyond its narrative issues, Phule suffers from a certain “we shot this on a set and didn’t go further” attitude. For instance, Jyotiba’s elder brother is a florist, and every time we see him, it’s from the same angle at the same door—eventually drawing attention to the repetitiveness. Coming from a director like Ananth Mahadevan, known for much more refined work, this lack of finesse is particularly disheartening. The conflicts arise and resolve with such ease, it feels unrealistic.

Pratik Gandhi puts in a strong effort to embody the iconic figure and does fairly well, but the script holds him back. The awkward blend of Hindi and Marathi makes his dialogue feel rehearsed, especially since Marathi isn’t his native language. Full marks for the attempt, but it does sound like a non-Marathi speaker trying too hard. The same applies to Patralekhaa, who carries a strong urban accent. She shines in emotional moments, but her overall performance is underwhelming. Poor dubbing also doesn’t help—audio and visuals often feel disjointed.

Some scenes do stand out—Savitribai being traumatised by Brahmin boys throwing cow dung at her, or the chilling famine sequences—but they’re few and far between. For a story this powerful, that’s a real letdown. Perhaps the script was too immature, or maybe it suffered in the editing room.

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Phule Review: Final Verdict

Ananth Mahadevan’s Phule is brave in its choice of story and noble in intent—but it’s the execution that falters. A narrative this impactful demanded a bolder, more layered, and emotionally resonant treatment.

Phule hits the big screen on April 25, 2025. Stay tuned to OTTplay for more from the world of films and streaming.