Zee Studios, Dancing Shiva Films and Kingsmen Productions’ Phule is the story of Mahatma Jyotirao Phule, also known as Jyotiba Phule, and his wife, Savitri Phule. As an Indian social activist and anti-caste social reformer, Jyotiba Phule’s work extended to many areas, including eradication of untouchability and the caste system, and education of women and the oppressed caste people.
Ananth Narayan Mahadevan and Muazzam Beg’s screenplay, based on incidents from the life and times of Phule, is like a mere documentation of events and happenings. The writing is, therefore, just like an assemblage of important portions of Phule’s life. Since the Indian audience is used to seeing drama and melodrama in a story, more so in a story of a human being who brought about so much change in society in the 1800s when India was under the British rule, this kind of writing will not cut ice with them. Another drawback of the screenplay is that it is entirely written from the point of view of Phule. The psyche of the other characters has hardly been presented, making the drama almost totally unidimensional. Although the script is about a social reformist and talks about the hardships he faced in his work, it fails to move the viewers emotionally. Resultantly, the drama unfolds in a manner which gives the viewers a feeling that they are reading a history book. Muazzam Beg’s dialogues are functional. Too many dialogues in Marathi and English — understandably, for the sake of authenticity — would prove to be a minus point.
Pratik Gandhi is sincere as Mahatma Jyotiba Phule but there’s not much variation in his performance in different scenes and with different moods. Patralekha is so-so as Savitri Phule. Vinay Pathak hardly gets any scope as Govindrao Phule. Sushil Pandey is alright as Raja Ram Phule (Babaji). Darsheel Safary is average as Yashwant. Joy Sengupta is alright in the role of Vinayak Deshpande. Amit Behl has his moments as the panchayat head Brahmin. Jayesh More is okay as Usman Sheikh. Akshaya Gurav makes her presence felt as Fatima Sheikh. Asit Redij makes a mark as Vishnupant Thatte. Vishal Avhad (as young Jyotirao Phule) and Gauri Dharane (as young Savitri) are impressive. Suresh Vishwakarma (as Dr. Vishram Ghole), Dhananjay Mandrekar (as Lahuji Raghoji Salve), Vishal Tiwari (as Tatyasaheb Bhide), Abhinay Patekar (as Narayan Meghaji Lokhande), Akanksha Gade (as Kashibai), Abhinav Singh Raghav (as Mangal Deshpande), Harish Kotwani (as the Brahmin priest), Mahesh Mohgaokar (as the Brahmin priest), Akshara Padwal (as Radha), Sandeep Malani (as lawyer Kamal Shastri), Aishwarya Kale (as the shudra girl), Arham Pinto Oswal (as little Yashwant), Laxman Davbhat (as Dhondi), Vikrant Singh (as Rodhe), Umedh Singh (as the Brahmin lawyer), Arjun Lonari (as the imam), Alexx O’Nell and the others pass muster.
Ananth Narayan Mahdevan’s direction is very ordinary. The film has been made in a docu-drama style and this will hardly appeal to even the class audience. Rohan Rohan’s music is melodious but not of the popular variety. Kausar Munir (Saathi) and Sarosh Asif’s (Dhun lagi) lyrics are weighty. Rohan Rohan’s background score is average. Sunita Radia’s cinematography is quite nice. Santosh Phutane’s production designing is okay. Rounak Phadnis’ editing is fairly sharp.
On the whole, Phule has bleak commercial prospects as it will be found to be dull and boring like a History book for many among the audience.
Released on 25-4-’25 at Inox (daily 2 shows) and other cinemas of Bombay by Zee Studios. Publicity & opening: poor. …….Also released all over. Opening was weak everywhere.
