Patralekhaa and Pratik Gandhi’s Phule has been released in the theatres amid much controversy. The Ananth Narayan Mahadevan directorial is a biographical film tracing the lives of social reformers Mahatma Jyotirao Phule and his wife Savitribai Phule, who worked tirelessly for the upliftment of women and oppressed castes. It unfolds more like a documentary than a traditional cinematic experience. The film had a rather slow opening at the box office, despite its compelling subject.
Phule Box Office Day 1
Phule did not manage to pull the masses to the theatre. As per Sacnilk, the film was off to a slow start and earned only Rs 24 lakh on its first day, April 25. Notably, Emraan Hashmi’s Ground Zero, which was released on the same date, did not earn much either. The film minted only Rs 1 crore. Besides Ground Zero, Phule will also be facing competition from Akshay Kumar, R Madhavan and Ananya Panday’s Kesari 2. The numbers are expected to rise owing to the weekend, however, the film became one of the lowest openers of this year. Meanwhile, Phule’s release date was delayed after the Brahmin organisation in Maharashtra criticised it and accused it of spreading casteism. It was finally released after going through several cuts.
Filmfare’s Review of Phule
Filmfare rated Phule 3.5 out of 5 and said, “While the film deserves praise for its historical accuracy and its sincere tone, it occasionally falls into a dry, report-like rhythm. There’s a palpable absence of dramatic tension that may make it difficult for some viewers to stay fully engaged. That said, a few scenes rise above the restraint: the fiery confrontation between Jyotiba and orthodox Brahmins, and Savitribai’s bold resistance when she slaps a would-be molester, inject the film with much-needed spark. One wishes there had been more such moments to break the documentary-like structure and truly bring their story to life.”
See Also: Savitribai Phule’s Biopic Phule To Release on THIS Date
