Pratik Gandhi on Phule controversy: 'I wasn’t entirely surprised'

Pratik Gandhi

Two weeks ago, Pratik Gandhi was at the same point where he is today, on the cusp of a movie's release. Unfortunately, Phule - a biopic on Mahatma Jyotirao Phule - didn't hit the theatres then as some sections of the Brahmin community opposed the film, believing it showed them in poor light. The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) demanded certain changes, too. Today, as the Ananth Mahadevan-directed venture lines up for an April 25 release, the leading man says the resistance didn't surprise him.

"Given the sensitive nature of the subject and the current climate, I wasn't entirely surprised by the possibility of some form of reaction," he smiles sardonically, before adding, "When you're dealing with historical figures and social issues that are still relevant and sometimes contentious, different perspectives are bound to arise. Our intention was never to create unnecessary controversy, but to tell an honest and factual story. We approached it with a sense of responsibility."

Pratik Gandhi with Patralekhaa in the film

Phule, also starring Patralekhaa, chronicles how the 19th century social reformer and his wife Savitribai Phule fought against the rampant casteism and championed women's education. Gandhi admits that the deferral of its April 11 release disappointed him. "We were aiming to coincide it with Jyotirao Phule's 197th birth anniversary. That was a way to honour his legacy. So, the postponement, due to a combination of certification changes and the initial reactions, was a setback. However, my primary concern was always that the film's message should reach people effectively."

Even as two centuries separate the social reformer and us, the actor believes that his ideas depicted in the film have "immense" relevance today. "While the film is set in the 19th century, the core issues it addresses - caste discrimination, the fight for equal rights, and the importance of education - are still very much alive in our society. Phule's emphasis on reason, questioning social norms, and striving for a more egalitarian society continues to be relevant in a world divided by prejudice and misinformation," he states.

As we continue to fight different forms of social ills, is there a social reform he'd like to see today? "The eradication of all forms of discrimination, whether based on caste, religion, gender, or any other social marker," Gandhi says, in a heartbeat. "We've made progress, but the subtle and sometimes blatant ways in which discrimination still operates in our society is concerning. I believe in fostering an equitable society, where every individual is treated with dignity and respect, regardless of their background."

April 11
The date when Phule was to initially hit the theatres

Changes in the tale

The makers complied with the CBFC's changes and removed the terms, Mahar, Mang and Peshwai. The board also objected to a scene that depicted a Dalit man carrying a pot to collect spit. In another sequence, the line, ‘Teen hazar saal se chal raha anyay' was changed to ‘Kai saal se chal raha anyay'.