Phule Review: You must have read about Jyotirao Phule and Savitribai Phule in school textbooks. But, it was just maybe a chapter that was not much in detail. Now, a biopic on them has been made titled Phule which has hit the big screens today (April 25, 2025). The movie stars Pratik Gandhi and Patralekhaa in the lead roles and is directed by Ananth Mahadevan. Well, the film surely showcases their journey beautifully. Read on to know more.
The movie is set in 1800, and back then, no one wanted to educate their girl child, because according to them, women were only suitable for doing household chores and giving birth to children. However, Jyotirao Phule (Prratik Gandhi) and Savitribai Phule (Patralekhaa) dream to educate girls, and they start a school. They face a lot of hurdles in their journey, and the fight is not just for the education of girls, but also against the caste system, which was there in India earlier. How they fight all the odds, forms the rest of the story...
When it comes to period films in Bollywood, we have got a habit of watching grand-scale movies with huge sets, dance numbers, beautiful costumes, and more. But Mahadevan has taken a different route to narrate Phule. His narration is sweet and simple, mainly concentrating on the authenticity of that era and the social work that Jyotirao Phule and Savitribai Phule did. From opening schools for girls to starting Satyashodhak Samaj, the movie showcases everything that they did for the people of Poona (now Pune) and Maharashtra.
While Mahadevan's narration is not over the top, one negative element about the movie is the pace. The first half is very slow, and even in the second half, a lot of times the film loses its momentum.
Phule Review - Actors' Performances
Mahadevan has got the casting perfect! Pratik Gandhi as Jyotirao Phule leaves a very strong mark. The Hindi audience knows him for his performance in Scam 1992 and Madgaon Express. But, in Phule, you will get to watch a different Pratik, and he impresses once again.
While Pratik is, of course, very good in the movie, the show stealer is Patralekhaa. The movie is filled with some super strong scenes featuring Savitribai Phule, and the actress has nailed it in them. After watching this film, you will surely become a fan of Patralekhaa; she has given an award-winning performance. In the supporting cast, it is Akshaya Gurav as Fatima who grabs our attention with her performance.
Phule Review- Music
The music of Phule is decent, and it suits the film's theme. But, apart from Saathi, there are no songs that will stay with you once the movie gets over.
Phule Review - Final Verdict
Overall, Phule is a good film, and Pratik and Patralekhaa's performance is the highlight of the movie. It showcases the journey of Jyotirao Phule and Savitribai Phule wonderfully, but remember the pace is quite slow, and this is not a glossy period drama.
Ratings: 3 stars
P.S. Phule has nothing objectionable, it just shows the truth that we have read and heard about earlier.
