Thumbs up,
by Amit Bhatia,
abplive
:
…The music by Rohan-Rohan (Rohan Pradhan and Rohan Gokhale) is subtle yet stirring. The songs are woven into the narrative, enhancing the mood rather than disrupting it. They stay with you, soft echoes of a story that doesn’t leave your heart even after the credits roll….
Thumbs up,
by Subhash K Jha,
…Phule is a film with a big heart and big dreams of a social order based on equality. Just one shot of a gaggle of young girls emerging from a dark building with their school bags filled me with so much hope; it was as though that morning dawn, which Sahir Ludhianvi had dreamt of in the song ‘Woh subah kabhi toh aayegi’, had finally arrived….
Thumbs up,
by Guruprasad D N,
…Although the director has tried to bring one of the most important pieces of Indian history on the big screen, the narrative’s impact is not as strong as the Phule couple’s radical vision….
Thumbs up,
by Devesh Sharma,
Filmfare
:
…Phule may not captivate in the traditional sense of a biopic, but it succeeds in educating and honoring two of India’s most important yet often overlooked reformers. It’s a film that opens your eyes, even if it doesn’t always grip your heart….
Thumbs up,
by Ganesh Aaglave,
…On the whole, Phule is a must-watch for all the Indians as it is a beautiful tribute to Jyotiba Phule and Savitribai Phule….
Thumbs up,
by Murtuza Iqbal,
…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….
Thumbs up,
by Sakshi Verma,
India TV
:
…Phule is a film that definitely talks about the 19th century but also shows a mirror to the current times. The film is thought-provoking, but at the same time it makes you feel grateful towards the ancestors who had to bear a lot for the freedom of all kinds. Packed with emotions, logic and strong performances, the film has everything to offer to those who dare to listen. Having its heart in the right place, Phule deserves 3.5 stars out of 5….
Thumbs up,
by Saibal Chatterjee,
NDTV
:
…Watch Phule not only because it has something to say but also because of the way it says it—with restraint and integrity….
Thumbs up,
by YATAMANYU NARAIN,
…The background score and music by Rohan-Rohan are equally searing, beautiful, and haunting. Songs like ‘Saathi’ musically immortalize the love between Jyotirao Phule and Savitribai Phule and their resolve to bring about change. Similarly, a charged anthem like ‘Dhun Lagi’ accompanies scenes highlighting their hard work and resistance….
Thumbs up,
by Hemant Waje,
Rediff
:
…In this era of sensationalism, we should appreciate director Anant Mahadevan for treating this biopic with composure and not going overboard….
Thumbs up,
by Shraddha Kumbhojkar,
…The Phules’ love and companionship on one hand and the stern opposition to all kinds of injustice on the other, remain at the heart of the film, humanising the characters while also eulogising their work….
Thumbs up,
by Nirali kanabar,
…Phule, starring Pratik Gandhi and Patralekhaa, is poignant tribute to the 19th century social reformers. A historically grounded social drama, the Ananth Mahadevan directorial serves as thoughtful portrayal of Mahatma Jyotirao Phule and his wife Savitribai Phule’s legacy. It stands out a strong message of how the revolutionaries fostered a significant change, by fighting against caste discrimination and empowering women, on basis of their educational and intellectual skills….
Thumbs up,
by Abhishek Srivastava,
…One could argue that the film might have been more aptly titled ‘Phules,’ as Savitribai’s role, if not greater, is certainly at par with that of her husband….
So-So,
by Rishabh Suri,
…Overall, Phule is a sincere, important film, dulled by an oversimplistic screenplay and treatment….
So-So,
by Sana Farzeen,
…Given how little we know of Jyotirao Phule, the first Mahatma of this country, ‘Phule’ definitely deserves a watch. And if you are not up for it, at least read up on him and Savitribai’s radical journey. They deserve a lot more recognition, respect, and glory. And just like Phule looking to the heavens for answers, perhaps it’s time we look into our own history with the same hope – that someday, stories like theirs are told with the fire they lit….
So-So,
by Shubhra Gupta,
…The Phules, who belonged to the ‘dabey kuchley varg’ themselves, fought for the right to be called ‘Dalit’, not ‘achoot’ (specific names of the ‘varna’ and ‘jaati’ appear to have been dropped in the film), and many changes have happened since. But casteism and discrimination are alive and well even today: perhaps ‘Phule’ can add to the growing discussion around these evils….
So-So,
by UDITA JHUNJHUNWALA,
…Mahadevan respectfully enforces Savitri and Jyotirao’s rock-solid partnership, their mutual respect, and unfaltering commitment to a greater cause—one that still feels pertinent….
So-So,
by Sameer Ahire,
…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….
So-So,
by Srishti Walia,
…in the climax, “I hope your story is better than ours,” one is overcome with sadness because Jyotiba and Savitribai’s sacrifice, exhaustion, grief, and tragedy in tandem with the beauty of their revolution and love for each other is wasted in Anant Mahadevan’s Phule….
So-So,
by Nandini Ramnath,
…The film itself douses the more radical aspects of Phule’s singular achievements. Pratik Gandhi is barely present, Patralekhaa marks her attendance more strongly. And so the film trundles on, from one familiar history lesson to the next….
So-So,
by Anuj Kumar,
…However, Pratik finds depth even in this creative flatness to portray the gravity of the struggle. The confident gait, the furrow on the forehead, and the transition to a man who realises that his mission will not be complete in his lifetime, Pratik coalesces different timelines and situations in his malleable frame…
So-So,
by Shubhangi Shah,
The Week
:
…In one of the most poignant scenes, a much older Jyotiba, a few days before his death, stares at the sky and asks if God would open his door for the lower caste people, as temples had remained out of their bounds. It’s a strong statement, only if the overall uninspiring film had done justice to this strong premise….
Thumbs down,
…On the whole, PHULE tells the story of a legendary social revolutionary and rests on the towering performance of Pratik Gandhi. But the film greatly suffers on account of a weak script and lacklustre direction. At the box office, it’ll largely go unnoticed….
Thumbs down,
by Divya Shah,
…Phule had everything going for it, a legendary figure, a talented actor in the lead, and a story that could’ve sparked deep thought and conversation. But what we get is a half-hearted, slow, uninspired attempt that feels more like a history lesson than a cinematic experience….
Thumbs down,
by Mayank Shekhar,
MiD DAY
:
…know it doesn’t sound encouraging for a film audience, but treat this as entry-level education on Phule, rather than entertainment or deep engagement, if you like. You’ll be much better off, that way….
