Phule writer-director: ‘Cushioning ourselves behind imaginary band-aids not helping’

The film, which features Pratik Gandhi and Patralekhaa in lead roles, says Mahadevan talks about “the corrective measures” that need to be taken in our society through the story of these social reformers. “Jyotirao and Savitribai worked towards social reforms at a very young age. That’s something I find amazing,” added Mahadevan. ‘Phule’ was earlier scheduled to release on April 11.

“There are no cinematic or creative liberties taken. Everything is based on facts and research. However, recreating these characters, how they conducted themselves and how they lived was a big cinematic challenge,” Mahadevan says and adds that they referred to several books, including some written by Brahmin authors on them. “Even B R Ambedkar has written about Jyotirao and Savitribai as he held them in high regard,” shared the director of ‘Mee Sindhutai Sapkal’ (2010) and ‘The Storyteller’ (2025).

After the CBFC gave its first committee report with suggested changes/modifications, the makers of ‘Phule’ carried out 12 of them and told the board about a few scenes that they wanted to retain. “These were mainly about certain incidents and we wanted to retain them for continuity,” the director recalled.

Mahadevan, however, wishes that ‘Phule’ had been released without any changes. “There was nothing so volatile that it would have hurt people’s sentiments. It is based on history as it happened and represented in an honest manner in the movie,” he says. The director, however, believes that the CBFC members’ “hands are tied in a bizarre fashion because some previous films or incidents have shaken their confidence”.

However, some changes don’t make much sense. For example, by replacing ‘Mang’ and ‘Mahar’ with ‘choti choti’ while referring to the caste of people is also degrading, Mahadevan pointed out. “We are cushioning ourselves behind certain imaginary band-aids which are not helping in any way,” he added. “‘Phule’ shows the cruelty that man inflicts on man. For example, making the downtrodden people tie a broom on their back so that it will sweep the ground as they walk is cruel. Look at the weirdest of thoughts that we have forced on humanity in the name of purity and sanctity,” he said.

According to Mahadevan, the protests against the movie came from a place of guilt. “When someone is taking corrective measures, it is guilt that makes some people wake up and say: ‘Oh, don’t reveal what we did’,” he says while talking about Brahmin groups protesting against the movie.

The movie is relevant in today’s time, believed Mahadevan, as the gender and caste-based discrimination that Jyotirao Phule and Savitribai Phule fought against in the 19th Century is still prevalent in contemporary society. “That’s the reason their story stands the test of time,” he said.