Sourav Das

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.

How can one rate this movie any less than 5 star? Yes I know the costume was a rip off, the visuals were tacky, the parable was stale. But minnal murali is as fresh as spring Sunday morning. What a movie! Yes it's a hero's journey, the formula that Joseph Campbell deciphered from all mythologies. 12 steps from the beginning to the end. But the honesty with which Minnal murali approaches those 12 steps, felt so natural, that we almost forgot the 12 step structure. That is what a good movie does, hides the structure, . The motivation of the villain, the conflict between the hero and the villain, the showdown. The hero's motivation, everything was just perfect.

Being a potterhead this movie feels like reminiscence. Looking at actors who have grown on screen along with legends. It is absolutely a stunning experience to witness the entire journey that these guys have gone through throughout the years. It is also very nice to finally have the directors being appreciated on screen, for the magic that they have created for numerous children like me. It's a little disappointing that JK Rowling was not there because of the controversies that has been going through. Robbie Coltrane was absolutely adorable as he always has been. The biggest take away, the biggest fanboy moment, the biggest Easter egg that the makers of this particular documentary film have left for the Potter fans is the extremely last scene, which is THE most gut wrenching scene of the entire Harry Potter series: Severus Snape saying "Always".

This is even better than Broadchurch. Thank you Sidharth Roy Kapoor for funding this project. That's to the director, vinay waikul. Thanks to Raveena, Parambrata, Rana saheb, Zakir saheb and the entire writing team. It's a wonderful show. Gripping, hooking, and worth the binge completely. It leaves you craving for more.

As a film, this is really well done. However if someone can explain to me, why is it so important to know if indeed he was or wasn't Gumnaami baba. And why hasn't it been proven yet?

Defending Jacob is beautiful. The cinematography and direction seems to urge the viewer to feel what the characters are feeling.

My review is not for this film, but for the various pretentious review faced ramblings that fills the google reviews. Their review reflects a delusional cocoon they think google reviews are, where they get offered a seat at the table with big stars. They sip coffee while the whole world oggles at them, keen for them to drop their precious wisdom on the movie. Sometimes, they seem to disagree with their own star ratings, and they go on to describe what made them change their mind, assuming that we all give a ____ to their 28-page-review-front-and-back post. Finally I would have given them a 5 star, had they abridged their review to just 5 words.

Sorry critics. We're not listening to your puritan worldviews today. This is probably the best cinematic depiction of the new age of hero's. So you can keep your condescending shoddy reviews to yourself and a select few who eye roll at the biggest fan movement ever.

Can't believe ignorant souls have rated it so low. I'd suggest read the book, watch the 1996 tv movie, get some context, you'd thoroughly enjoy the joyride of this series. How cultural and emotional appropriation has been done. Kudos to the makers. Indra was a nice touch. Too bad because of some agnostic critics this show misses out on a season 2. Harry Lloyd is a descendant of Charles Dickens, how cool is that, moreover he was daenarys' brother in game of thrones. Completely unrecognisable. Kudos to his brilliant acting. Couldn't have had a better Bernard Marx. Hannah John-Kamen, is ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️. All the actors did a really fine job actually.

This movie should be searched on a Soma holiday.