After giving a strong performance in Toilet: Ek Prem Katha, Akshay Kumar is back with another social drama PadMan, which talks about one of the most rampant taboos in India- ‘menstruation’. The film, directed by R Balki, is inspired by the life of Arunachalam Muruganantham, a Tamil Nadu-based social activist who revolutionised the concept of menstrual hygiene in rural India by creating the low-cost sanitary napkins machine. The film also sees Radhika Apte and Sonam Kapoor in key roles. But will the film be worth all the hype? Will it be able to remove the taboo attached to periods or turn out to be Bollywood’s another preachy drama? Shrishti Negi from News18.com is inside the theatre to find out.
Feb 9, 2018 10:21 am (IST)
Radhika Apte, who plays a key role in the film, had earlier said that the menstruation taboo has not only existed among men but also among women who are conditioned for years not to talk about the natural process openly. “Mothers taught their daughters how not to talk about it openly, not to go to the kitchen or not to enter the temple. So it does not just exist among men but women as well. Though I think one film cannot bring all the changes to a practice that is happening for ages, if people start talking about menstruation comfortably, be aware of the importance of menstruation hygiene, it would be more than enough for us. And it is also about the journey of an individual who struggled through his life for a cause. It is an incredible story,” she had said in an interview.
Feb 9, 2018 10:18 am (IST)
The healing power of humour is well known but it looks like R Balki has used humour to drive home a significant message this time.
“Iska bhi test match start ho gaya.”
It’s interesting too see how humour often gives director a freedom to say what is normally unsayable (for some hypocrites). #padman— Shrishti Negi (@shrishti_03) February 9, 2018
Feb 9, 2018 10:14 am (IST)
Just before the official release, the makers of PadMan initiated a PadManChallenge on social media wherein they challenged other actors to post photographs with sanitary pads in their hands. Several celebrities including the likes of Karan Johar, Alia Bhatt, Anushka Sharma, Varun Dhawan, Aamir Khan and Deepika Padukone had accepted and participated in the challenge. While some social media users appreciated the challenge, others termed it a “marketing gimmick” and criticised the team for wasting pads just for photographs.
Thank you for tagging me @murugaofficial
Yes, that’s a Pad in my hand & there’s nothing to be ashamed about. It’s natural! Period. #PadManChallengeCopy, Paste this & Challenge your friends to take a photo with a Pad!
Here I am Challenging @aamir_khan @AzmiShabana @hvgoenka pic.twitter.com/QXYBwVfYV0
— Twinkle Khanna (@mrsfunnybones) February 2, 2018
Feb 9, 2018 10:08 am (IST)
Even in today’s time, there’s a stigma attached to menstruation and the film has gotten that part right it seems.
Neeji cheez (private stuff), Auraton ki cheez (women’s stuff)… all these words in the film depict the awkward silence around menstruation and sanitary pads. #padman
— Shrishti Negi (@shrishti_03) February 9, 2018
Feb 9, 2018 10:00 am (IST)
Akshay Kumar plays Lakshmikant, a dedicated family man, an understanding husband, and a creative innovator. His character does sound like an ideal man!
Don’t know if I should feel sad seeing how backward we are as a society or be happy that we have this supercool #padman now! Akshay Kumar as Lakshmikant is every woman’s dream man. #Pamdan
— Shrishti Negi (@shrishti_03) February 9, 2018
Feb 9, 2018 9:54 am (IST)
Interestingly, PadMan has also become the first Bollywood movie to release in Russia, Ivory Coast and Iraq on the same day as it hits the screens in India. The news was shared by the film’s producer Twinkle Khanna on Twitter.
I once told my Pad Man that I will take him places.. Well, not only will Pad Man release in 50 countries all over the world but It is Bollywood’s first film that will be releasing day and date in Russia, Ivory Coast and even Iraq #padman9thfeb @SonyPicsIndia @PadManTheFilm pic.twitter.com/JpT5nYzJ9w
— Twinkle Khanna (@mrsfunnybones) February 7, 2018
Feb 9, 2018 9:45 am (IST)
From promoting the movie via a campaign called #PadManChallenge on social media to collaborating with spoken word poet Aranya Johar for a powerful poem #BleedingRani, Akshay has so far successfully managed to create enough buzz and conversation around the film.
Feb 9, 2018 9:43 am (IST)
Feb 9, 2018 9:34 am (IST)
Feb 9, 2018 9:27 am (IST)
In case you missed out, here’s the trailer of the film that has created quite a stir on social media even before its official theatrical release.
Feb 9, 2018 9:25 am (IST)
PadMan is based on a short story in Twinkle Khanna’s book The Legend of Lakshmi Prasad and is inspired by the life of Arunachalam Muruganantham, a social activist from Tamil Nadu, who invented a low-cost sanitary pad manufacturing machine to bring a menstrual hygiene revolution for women.
Feb 9, 2018 9:22 am (IST)
R Balki’s PadMan, co-starring Akshay Kumar, Sonam Kapoor and Radhika Apte in key roles, is all set to hit the theatres today after pushing its release date to secure a solo release for Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Padmaavat.
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