Phule, starring Pratik Gandhi and Patralekhaa in the lead and directed by Anant Mahadevan has been delayed after groups belonging to upper castes started protesting accusing the makers of defaming the Brahmin community. It should be noted that the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) which is the leading film certifying body from India also demanded that the makers should make multiple edits that include caste-related references in Phule.

The movie portrays the life of Jyotirao and Savitribai Phule played by Pratik Gandhi and Patralekhaa respectively. Both Jyotirao and Savitribai Phule were the pioneers in promoting women’s rights in India and were the first to open girls’ schools in India in the year 1848.

According to several organisations and groups from Western Maharashtra, the movie has a lot of references that defame Brahmins. The Central Board of Film Certification earlier had asked director Mahadevan to cut out the reference of Mang as well as Mahar groups. Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar who wrote the constitution of India revered Jyotirao Phule and was a Mahar.

Also the Union Information and Broadcasting Ministry has demanded that the references to Manu who is considered the author behind Manusmriti as well as the reference to the Peshwa rule in Maharashtra should also be removed. The rule of the Peshwa’s had ended a few years before the birth of Jyotirao Phule.

Previous movies released in Maharashtra did not face any issue

Surprisingly, this is not the first time that a movie on Jyotirao Phule has been made. Last year Nilesh Jalamkar’s Satyashodhak was released in Marathi which also was based on the life of Phule. Before that PK Atre’s release titled Mahatma Phule in 1954 also depicted the entire journey of the social reformer and covered how he gets a heckling for attending a Brahmin wedding and how Dalits were prevented using a well in a village.

It also showed how progressive Brahmins supported Phule and his step to adopt an orphan Brahmin. Incidentally, both these movies carried similar content related to caste that Mahadevan is now being asked to remove from Phule.

Now it is not known why content that can be easily available to those in Maharashtra is being banned for pan-India viewing.