Phule

Book My Show is doing injustice to the audience by not making the film made on Mahatma Phool available for booking. The film is well made but I am angry with the director because the changes he has made make it seem as if the whole context has changed. But still his effort to make this film is commendable. Thanks to the entire team of Phool for bringing Mahatma Phool on screen once again. Whatever changes were made in this film, it would not have hurt any Brahmin community, but it is not good to change the history of our Mahatma's message to please someone.

But many cinema halls did not show this, which clearly shows how much they are affected by the deeds of their ancestors.

I just watched Phule and honestly, I'm surprised how so many bad reviews have piled up against it. It doesn't feel organic. Looks like there's a campaign going on.

I went to the theatre pulled by the lure of Pratik Gandhi, Anant Mahadevan, and the legend of Jyotiba Phule. But when I came out, it was Savitribai (Patralekha) who stayed with me the most. What a performance. Strong, tender, fierce - everything Savitribai deserved.

Phule is a beautiful, honest telling of Jyotiba and Savitribai Phule's lives - their struggles, the amount of hate they had to eat just to do something as simple and pure as educating girls and the so-called 'lower castes'. Watching it, you realise how much of the modern, educated India we are proud of, actually rests on the shoulders of these two.

Yeah, I heard some groups forced the makers to tone down a few words. But even then, the message shines through, loud and unapologetic. It's a well-directed, splendidly-acted film. Very real.

The practices, the tensions, the way society was wired back then - I don't think I've seen that period captured this authentically before.

In fact, during the film, my mother kept telling me little things - like how 'shudra shadows' were a real thing, how zamindars thought of themselves as gods.

The theatre was packed for an evening show, and when the movie ended, there was applause. Some guys even started chanting "Jai Phule!" My mother said it delivered its message way better than Chhaava did.

And then there's Pratik Gandhi. Man has a hypnotic presence. There's a scene - a close-up - where Phule looks straight into the camera and says: "India is an emotional country. It's easy to divide us on religion and caste. And this won't stop. People will keep trying." You could hear a pin drop in the hall. It felt like he wasn't just warning people of that time - he was warning us.

Which is why I'm honestly shocked to see some people (like The Wire) call this a 'dull' or 'neutered' biopic. Were we watching the same film?

For me, Phule sits right next to OMG 2 - both using education as a weapon for rediscovering equality.

The film is clever too - it shows how Phule could see through the British agenda of using English education to convert Hindus to Christianity. He understood it, but still used English education to arm the oppressed, to build a better future. He didn't throw the baby out with the bathwater. He was smart about it.

First half went by so fast, my mum asked me, "Interval already?" That's how engaging it was.

More than anything, Phule planted something in me - a want to read more about the Satyashodhak Samaj, about the man who lit the torch that later Babasaheb Ambedkar carried forward.

At a time when students like Rohith Vemula are still being crushed for their caste, when religious extremists are still poisoning minds, when tensions between communities are being deliberately stoked - a film like Phule becomes necessary.

There's a brilliant scene where religious leaders accuse Phule of westernising society, and he simply says - "If your religion can give your children the power to become doctors and engineers, go ahead. Otherwise, let them learn." Chills.

It's a rare feeling when a movie feels like a personal win. For me, Phule did. And I'm glad I watched it.

"Phule" is more than a film-it's a tribute to one of India's most revolutionary social reformers. Jyotirao Phule, along with Savitribai Phule, courageously challenged the deeply entrenched Brahmanical dominance in 19th-century India. At a time when caste oppression and patriarchy ruled every aspect of life, Phule fought for the rights of the oppressed, opened the first school for girls in 1848, and established the Satyashodhak Samaj to promote social equality. He fearlessly questioned the Manusmriti and other religious texts that justified untouchability and gender discrimination. Phule's intellectual fire and moral courage laid the foundation for social justice in modern India. This film does justice to his legacy by bringing his forgotten revolution back to public consciousness. A must-watch for anyone who values truth, equality, and courage."

And this movie beautifully portrays its importance. This movie had a certain feel to it that made me want to watch it, it might be because of the time period, the revolutionaries or the cause, but there was a feeling inside me that I just might love the film. Now, after having watched the film, I can safely say that I absolutely loved it!

Right from the start, we are introduced to the wailings of the oppressed society, and to a man and a woman who wanted to relieve them of their woes. The way through which their struggles and efforts are portrayed to the audience, it all feels relatable and makes us reflect on the difficulties that the lower castes must have felt due to the arbitrary norms imposed upon them. Though less spread, these social evils still persist in our society.

I will start with the negatives first as this would help in clearing out the clutter before delving into the core goodness and importance of the film. Now, these flaws aren't dealbreakers by any means but I thought that I might mention them nonetheless.

1. At the start of the film (for about 15-20 minutes), there are many set pieces and cuts and the characters moving from one place to another place, at a rapid pace. This is bound to take you out of the experience for the time being.

2. A kind of soap opera-like music implementation, where every set piece begins with a transition-like music.

3. Patralekhaa's acting and dialogue delivery, which fall short of the impact to be achieved for some brief moments during this timeframe.

4. Then, a slight pacing problem. From the start, things rocket off but as you cross the 15-20 minute mark (again), things start slowing down, and then the film suddenly gets into a place where almost exactly appropriate attention is given to each of the situations arising from the plot. There are a few hiccups here and there, where the viewer would have felt that certain moments should have lingered for longer, but it never gets jarring. At the end, you come to the conclusion that the runtime couldn't have been increased by much and that 2h 9m was sufficient.

5. One thing that I also must add is that some people might find this film to hold your hand (for brief moments) in some places where the characters state the obvious or explain something for the audience to understand.

These were the problems which I think slightly affected the overall experience, and frankly, this is an achievement in itself. For a film that set out to achieve so much as to portray Jyotiba and Savitribai's life on the big screen in just about 2 hours, these can be considered just some hiccups rather than glaring cons.

Now, that's all the negatives, time for the positives that make this movie such a treat to watch.

1. Let's start with the sets and costumes. This has to be among the top designs I have ever seen in movies. It all feels so authentic which ultimately makes the viewer extremely engrossed in their world and form a bond with it.

2. This authenticity is further added to by the dialogues. They are genuinely one of the best written dialogues that I have heard in a Hindi movie since the past few years. The impact lines are actually hard-hitting or hoot-worthy by themselves, without any dependence on the background music (which we have seen in so many movies). The emotions of the characters are so well-reflected by the dialogues while still adhering to the vocabulary of those times.

3. This brings me to the screenplay, the way characters interact, seem very responsive and natural i.e. It doesn't feel like that they are following a set of directions rather they are actively discussing things or just taking in the moments. This sort of realism just makes the film that much more relatable.

4. The solid acting of the whole cast just helps bind these technicalities together so well that you start feeling for each and every bit of their worries and wish for their alleviation.

5. The background score and the songs help this movie tap into the core of the viewers' emotions as it conveys what words cannot, and that too, beautifully.

6. The stew of emotions (joy, sadness, anger, proud, etc.) that it brews in you are its biggest strengths but they cannot be reciprocated in such a way that would do justice to the film.

After coming out of the theatre, I was left with a sense of guilt for the oppressions that the people of the lower castes had to face in their lives, how much Jyotiba Phule and his wife and those associated with him had to endure for such a cause, and how some of us still keep on encouraging that kind of an inhuman behaviour. It made me reflect deeply on today's society's treatment of women and the downtrodden, I felt apologetic for their hardships due to a system that was created against them. It was a truly humbling experience. The film beautifully captured its resolution (or at least an effort toward it) and provided the viewers the inspiration and motivation to carry on Phule's legacy. This is a film that should be watched by everyone as it imparts the idea of humanity and how we are all in this together, ignoring the boundaries of arbitrary systems created by those who deprived the downtrodden of their freedom for their own benefit.

This show courageously tackles some of the darkest realities of Indian society - the deep-rooted caste system, the discriminatory Varna system, and the oppressive ideology of Brahminism. It fearlessly pulls back the curtain on practices that have been normalized for centuries but are fundamentally unjust and inhumane. The show does not shy away from exposing how systems like untouchability and caste-based segregation have perpetuated inequality and suffering for generations.

What stands out most is how the series challenges the myth of "Hindu unity" - a notion often propagated in political and cultural spheres. By depicting the lived experiences of people from oppressed castes, the show reveals that the so-called unity is often a facade, papering over the brutal realities of social hierarchies and exclusion. The narrative makes it painfully clear that many marginalized communities have been historically excluded from the promises of equality and dignity, despite rhetoric claiming otherwise.

The depiction of Brahminism here is particularly bold and unflinching. It is not treated as a benign cultural tradition but shown for what it often becomes in practice: a tool for social control and discrimination. The show rightly distinguishes between faith and the exploitative structures built around it. It exposes how Brahminical supremacy has been maintained through myths, rituals, and systemic control over knowledge and resources. By doing so, it challenges viewers to rethink assumptions that have been passed down without question.

Another powerful aspect is how the show gives voice to the oppressed. Instead of romanticizing suffering or offering token representation, it lets the marginalized speak their truth. Their anger, their grief, and their resistance are given center stage. It's a breath of fresh air compared to the mainstream narratives that either ignore or sanitize these harsh realities.

In terms of storytelling, the series is hard-hitting and uncompromising. It does not dilute its message to appeal to broader audiences, nor does it resort to unnecessary melodrama. Instead, it presents a raw, honest portrayal that forces the viewer to confront uncomfortable truths. Every scene feels charged with purpose - to educate, to awaken, and to demand change.

This kind of work is rare in Indian media, where the mainstream often glorifies ancient systems without critical examination. The courage shown by the creators deserves immense appreciation. They have taken significant risks in choosing to expose the fraudulence and brutality inherent in Brahminism and the caste system. It is a bold act of truth-telling, and it will undoubtedly spark necessary conversations.

At the same time, it's important to recognize that the show is not an attack on individual faith or spirituality. It draws a clear line between personal belief and systemic oppression. The criticism is directed at the caste-based discrimination institutionalized through social and religious practices, not at any particular individual's right to their faith. This distinction is crucial and handled thoughtfully throughout the series.

In conclusion, this show is a must-watch for anyone who wants to understand the harsh realities of caste in India beyond sanitized textbooks and propaganda. It dares to say what needs to be said: that discrimination is woven deep into social structures, and true equality demands confronting these uncomfortable truths head-on. It is an eye-opener, a conversation starter, and a brave step toward dismantling age-old injustices.

Highly recommended for those who value truth, justice, and real social progress. Bravo to the creators for their fearless and much-needed work.