Phule Review: Pratik Gandhi Delivers a Career-Best Performance in a Subpar Biopic

RATING - ⭐ ⭐ ✨ 2.5/5*

Phule Review Movie Talkies:

I'm fully convinced that Ananth Mahadevan can't make a bad film. Phule isn’t his best work—not on the level of Me Sindhutai Sapkal, and not even as good as The Storyteller—but it’s still a decent, one-time watch. And honestly, that’s rare these days. Based on the life of the legendary Mahatma Jyotiba Phule and his wife, Savitribai Phule, the film covers most of the key events but lacks emotional depth and dramatic tension. It unfolds more like a straightforward narrative, told in a plain and simple manner. And that’s where it falls short in terms of cinematic impact. Still, rest assured, it’s not a waste of two hours. Compared to this Friday’s OTT clutter and theatrical releases, Phule stands out as the best offering available.

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Phule Story:

The film follows a chronological format, opening with Savitribai Phule’s final moments before flashing back to her childhood. A young, married Savitri dreams of studying, and her husband Jyotiba supports her wholeheartedly. Called “cheap” for their low caste, young Jyotiba (played by Pratik Gandhi) and Savitribai (Patralekhaa) fight against the oppressive caste-driven rules imposed by the Brahmin community. All they seek are basic human rights: equality, freedom, and education. But in 19th-century India, those were radical demands. Brahmins treated inequality as divine commandment, while lower-caste people were forced to live like slaves. The Phule couple changed that, pioneering girls' education and even promoting widow remarriage. The film touches on all the revolutions they initiated—and the hardships they endured.

It’s frustrating to reflect on how regressive society once was. Brahmins acted as oppressors, ruling over lower-caste communities as if they were subhuman. The Phule couple bravely stood against centuries of injustice and helped transform society. If your daughter, sister, wife, or mother is educated today, don't forget that all the credit goes to them. They even opened a well (water) for low-caste people—something unthinkable back then. The film captures these inspiring moments, but the director’s overly restrained vision holds it back. Pacing is an issue. The love story between Jyotiba and Savitri is overemphasized, dragging the film down, and the songs add to the sluggishness. Had it been more emotionally charged and tightly paced, I’d be calling it a must-watch. The story is a must-know—whether you watch it, read it, or hear it elsewhere. Just make sure you learn it.

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Phule Cast:

Pratik Gandhi delivers the best performance of his career. I’ve noticed his accent feels off in other films, so I was skeptical about him portraying a Marathi character from the Mali caste. But he was a pleasant surprise—not just in accent, but in every expression. Easily his finest work yet. Patralekhaa didn’t feel convincing at first, mostly due to her accent, but she grew into the role as the film progressed. Alexx O'Nell, as Ribbs, had a solid accent, and Vinay Pathak gave a decent performance. The Marathi girl, Akshaya Gurav, in a Muslim role as Fatima, was a delightful surprise, and Darsheel Safary, though he appears late, did well. The rest of the cast was satisfactory—not exceptional, but not bad either.

Phule Movie Review:

Where Phule falters is on the technical front, which impacts its overall cinematic appeal. The cinematography is average, the music uninspiring, and the background score lacks impact. On the positive side, production design and costumes were decent, and the locations felt authentic. Anant Mahadevan is a much more capable storyteller than what’s reflected here. After a masterpiece like Me Sindhutai Sapkal, expectations were bound to be high. Phule, while decent, falls far short. Him making Phule after Me Sindhutai Sapkal is like Rajkumar Hirani making Dunki after 3 Idiots—you get the idea. Still, I recommend Phule because the story deserves to be told, even if the film doesn’t do it full justice. Mahatma Phule’s vision was too vast to be captured in such a modest attempt. Well, at least they tried.

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