1 week Ago
Ananth Mahadevan says he had no fear of a possible casteism-oriented backlash or dissent while making Pratik Gandhi starrer Phule. The release of Pratik Gandhi and Patralekhaa starrer Phule, a biopic of Jyotiba Phule and Savitribai Phule, has been pushed from April 11 to April 25. Reason being, the film is embroiled in a controversy after Brahmin Federation President, Anand Dave, alleged that it promotes casteism.
He also demanded that the contribution of the ‘black Brahmin’ community in aiding the Phules should be acknowledged in the Ananth Mahadevan directorial and that it should be more objective and inclusive. Recently, the makers of Phule also met with former state minister Chhagan Bhujbal to discuss the matter. Amid this, Mahadevan exclusively speaks to News18 Showsha and reacts to the controversy the film is facing.
Quiz him if he had an inkling that a film made on a sensitive subject like caste would draw dissent and he says, “We don’t get into a film with these kinds of doubts and fears in mind. When you’re talking about a fearless couple like Jyotiba and Savitribai, if you’re going to harbour those kinds of fear, then you don’t deserve to make the film." Emphasising on how he steered clear from resorting to cinematic liberties and stuck only to the truth, he refutes Dave’s claims and states, “What you can do is make it honestly, stick to the facts, research, don’t exaggerate and don’t make it look unrealistic in anyway because their lives have been so dramatic that you don’t even need to take any cinematic liberties.
In fact, you’ve to underplay a lot of things because it’s so dramatic!" According to Mahadevan, his identity as a Brahmin, in fact, is enough to vet the film. “I’m a Brahmin myself. If I’ve to make a film on caste differences, I’ll naturally be questioning myself first whether I’m doing the right thing or not.
I wouldn’t be leaving it to the Brahmins of the world to come and question me and doubt my intentions. They should know that you cannot be questioning the doctor who’s treating the patients. The doctor would want the welfare of his patients," he remarks.
The Dil Maange More director reiterates how he had ‘no fear in mind’ about a possible backlash and that his intention behind helming Phule was just to draw attention to the ‘social ills’ that still exists. “I only wish to clear these little cobwebs in their mind. It has stemmed from judging the trailer, which isn’t the right way to judge a film in its entirety.
Somewhere, everyone realises that these social ills haven’t been solved yet. Although we’ve educated women now and the woman is an independent entity by herself today, even in the smaller areas and mofussil towns, we’ve gender and caste discrimination," he says. Mahadevan further adds, “We’ve so much difference in classes that somewhere what Jyotiba and Savitribai started in the mid-1800s, unfortunately, still holds good today.
It can’t be eradicated in the next 100-200 years. It will take time because it requires the mindset of people to change. And I don’t think it’s changing in a positive way.
There’s still a lot of indifference. This film couldn’t be more relevant today than at any other time.".
