Censor board asks ‘Phule’ to drop caste terms; Release delayed
Mumbai: The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has directed the makers of Phule—a biopic on social reformers Mahatma Jyotiba Phule and Savitribai Phule—to remove several caste-related terms, following objections raised by Brahmin community associations.
The film, directed by Ananth Mahadevan and starring Pratik Gandhi and Patralekha in the lead roles, was initially scheduled to release on April 11, 2025, to mark Mahatma Phule’s birth anniversary. However, following the controversy, the release has been rescheduled to April 21.
The CBFC's directive includes the removal of terms such as ‘Mahar’, ‘Mang’, ‘Peshvai’, and ‘Manu’s system of caste’, which are considered 'sensitive'. The move comes after the Brahmin Federation, led by President Anand Dave, alleged that the film promotes casteism and portrays Brahmins in a negative light.
Dave argued that while the film highlights caste-based discrimination, it ignores the contributions of Brahmins who supported Mahatma Phule’s reform efforts. “The story is one-sided. We are not against showing the truth, but it should be inclusive. The film could stoke caste-based tensions,” he said.
Reacting to the objection, Nationalist Congress Party (SP) MLA and former minister Jitendra Awhad said on social media, “History cannot be erased, it can only be learned from. Whatever is shown in the movie Mahatma Jyotirao Phule is a historical truth—truth cannot be denied or altered. Among the social reformers of this country, the names of Mahatma Phule and Savitribai Phule stand at the forefront. What is true must be shown.”
Awhad added that those who supported Phules should certainly be acknowledged, but removing key historical facts would defeat the purpose of the film. “Filmmakers must not bow to pressure. Society moves forward by accepting and learning from the mistakes of history,” he said.
Director Ananth Mahadevan also responded to the controversy, defending the film's content. He said the biopic was made after extensive research, drawing from multiple books and historical sources. Mahadevan maintained that, like all filmmakers, he had exercised cinematic liberty, but ensured that the portrayal remained true to historical facts.
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Maharashtra sets up state vaccination task force to strengthen immunisation programme
Mumbai (PTI): The Maharashtra government has set up a State Vaccination Task Force to strengthen the regular immunisation programme and review the progress of related campaigns, a health department official said on Monday.
The State Vaccination Task Force will comprise at least 29 members and will be headed by the administrative head of the health department, he informed.
The government has also constituted separate district-level and municipal vaccination task forces to improve implementation and address challenges at the grassroots level, he said.
Municipal task forces, chaired by respective civic commissioners, have been constituted in view of the vast urban population in Maharashtra and the role of civic bodies in implementing different health programmes.
The district-level task forces will function under the chairmanship of collectors.
"Complete immunisation of children at the appropriate age is an extremely simple, cost-effective and highly effective measure to reduce child mortality and the prevalence of diseases among kids. Immunisation is a powerful tool for reducing illness in children," maintained the official.
To ensure full vaccination of all children, the state government implements various campaigns from time to time as per the central government guidelines, he pointed out.
"Active participation and cooperation of other relevant government departments are essential (in making these campaigns successful)," according to the official.
The state-level body will review the regular immunisation programme, associated campaigns and vaccine-preventable diseases in detail. It will also conduct focused assessments of high-risk districts and municipal corporations, including vacancies at district, municipal and sub-district levels, availability of cold chain equipment, resource gaps and training requirements, he noted.
The state task force will review allocation and utilisation of funds for immunisation and ensure timely action by officers concerned based on reports from district and municipal task forces and state-level monitoring mechanisms, the official said.
It will also ensure active coordination and participation of other government departments in immunisation drives, while district and municipal task forces will carry out similar functions at their respective levels, the official added.
