Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on Thursday watched the newly released biopic Phule — based on the lives of 19th-century social reformers Jyotirao and Savitribai Phule — at City Centre Mall in Patna, Bihar. The screening was attended by Dalit and OBC citizens, social media influencers, civil society members, and Congress supporters.
As Gandhi entered the cinema hall, he was greeted with slogans of “Jai Bheem.” After the film, he interacted with social media influencers and said, “Social justice is the need of the country, and no one can stop it.”
The Bihar Congress had invited around 400 people to the special screening, issuing exclusive passes bearing photographs of Rahul Gandhi and Bihar Congress president Rajesh Ram.
Ashar Sada, a social activist from Darbhanga, told PTI, “I am not associated with any party but have attended all recent events of Rahul Gandhi in Bihar. This is my first opportunity to watch a movie with him.”
Uday Chandravanshi, working president of the Patna (Rural) District Congress Committee, said, “By watching the movie with people from deprived sections of society, Rahul Gandhi has sent a strong message that he is committed to fighting for the rights of Dalits, tribals, and OBCs — from the streets to Parliament.”
However, the event wasn’t without controversy. Some invitees created a commotion outside the cinema hall, claiming they were denied entry despite holding valid passes. “I belong to the Mali community, a descendant of Jyotiba Phule and Ramabai. Yet I am being stopped from watching the film with our leader Rahul Gandhi,” said one agitated person.
The film Phule itself has also faced controversy. The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) reportedly demanded several cuts, including the removal of caste-related words like “Mahar,” “Mang,” and “Peshwai,” as well as references to the Manusmriti-based caste system. In one notable change, a scene showing a man carrying a broom was replaced with visuals of boys throwing cow dung at Savitribai Phule. These modifications have drawn widespread criticism from activists and filmmakers alike.
