Phule

In 19th-century Maharashtra, Jyotirao Phule and his wife Savitribai set out to challenge the rigid caste and gender hierarchies of their time. Convinced that education is the key to dignity and freedom, they open one of the earliest schools for girls and for children from oppressed communities, defying threats and ostracism from those determined to preserve the old order. The film follows their partnership and perseverance as they build a lifelong movement for social reform, laying foundations that would shape generations to come.

Phule was directed by Anant Mahadevan, who co-wrote it with Muazzam Beg, and produced under the Dancing Shiva Films and Kingsmen Productions banners with distribution by Zee Studios. The film was photographed by Sunita Radia and edited by Raunak Phadnis, with a runtime of about 129 minutes. Its release, originally set for April 11, was pushed to 25 April 2025.

The music and background score were composed by the duo Rohan-Rohan, underscoring the film’s period setting and the emotional weight of the Phules’ struggle.

Phule released on 25 April 2025 and earned around ₹6.21 crore. Critics generally responded positively, praising the lead performances of Pratik Gandhi and Patralekha and the film’s educational value, while some found the screenplay simplistic and the direction restrained.