Actor Pratik Gandhi has voiced his disappointment over the postponement of the film Phule, stating that he had hoped it would premiere on its initially scheduled date, April 11, coinciding with the 197th birth anniversary of the revered social reformer.
The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) granted the film a ‘U’ certificate on April 7, requesting several changes including the removal of words like ‘Mang’, ‘Mahar’, and ‘Peshwai’, as well as modifying the phrase ‘3,000 saal purani ghulami’ to ‘kai saal purani ghulami’. According to director Ananth Mahadevan, these revisions were carried out.
Following the trailer’s release on April 10, a section of the Brahmin community objected to certain depictions, which led to the decision to reschedule the film’s release to April 25.
Gandhi, who portrays the iconic Jyotirao Govindrao Phule in the film, shared that although the team missed the significant April 11 release, he remains optimistic moving forward.
“I was on set filming when I heard about the two-week delay. I felt saddened immediately. But after speaking with the team, I understood the reasons behind the decision… Some matters are just beyond your control,” Gandhi said in an interview with PTI.
“What made it more disheartening was that April 11 marked Jyotirao Phule’s 197th birth anniversary. Releasing the film on that date would’ve been historic. It held a special significance. But I believe everything happens for a reason,” he added.
Gandhi noted that the filmmakers were asked to make “some adjustments” in the final version.
“There were elements that needed to be softened or conveyed differently. From what I’ve been told, they made the changes while maintaining the essence of the film. The integrity of the story remains intact,” he explained.
“There was also a sudden reaction from a group who felt the content opposed their beliefs or identity. In that context, April 25 became a more viable date for both distributors and producers,” Gandhi continued.
Known for his performances in Scam 1992: The Harshad Mehta Story, Do Aur Do Pyaar, and Madgaon Express, the actor expressed his eagerness to view the final version of Phule.
He also urged members of the Brahmin community not to form opinions based solely on the trailer.
“I was taken aback by the response, but I can see their perspective. I just want to ask them to watch the complete film before passing judgment. The trailer shows only snippets, and those can be misinterpreted out of context,” Gandhi said.
Earlier, director Mahadevan had told PTI that the controversy surrounding the film was unwarranted, emphasizing that all of CBFC’s recommendations had been addressed.
He added that the release was pushed to allow time for the controversy to subside, clarifying that the film contains no offensive content.
Also featuring Patralekhaa as Savitribai Phule, Phule is produced by Dancing Shiva Films and Kingsmen Productions and will hit theatres via Zee Studios on April 25.