PADMAN- a story worth watching
If there is an award for making movies with social intent and a message, R Balki will win it hands down with PADMAN. His earlier initiatives Cheeni-Kum, Ki & Ka, and PA have a similar framework. Now with the enlarged canvas of aspirations and confidence, he presents the real-life story of Arunachalam Muruganantham, a social entrepreneur from Coimbatore. The man who single handily created a social enterprise of low-cost sanitary pads.
Padman will help raise awareness about periods, sanitary packs and associated hygiene. It will raise questions about the taboo associated with the subject. Maybe it will impact male psyche about those days and the solution. And break the humiliation and hesitation in asking and talking about this essential product.
I think PadMan movie should be Tax-Free. But, it is a foolish expectation from a government that taxes sanitary pads.
I have heard Arunachalam Muruganantham story live in a forum. The man always inspires with his passion and mission. A dream that started with wanting to make clean hygienical pads for his wife grew into serving millions of women across the nation. He went through many obstacles and failure, ridicule and being isolated to chase the dream and succeed in finally making possible a low-cost sanitary pack.
PadMan the movie fails in creating even 25% of the energy passion and emotion that Arunachalam Muruganantham delivered through his talk many years back. So, maybe I am biased.
Before I share anything else, let me make a request. Go, watch the film with the ladies in the house. Sorry, let me rephrase the last sentence in the right perspective, Please go and watch this movie with all the adult and teenager males in your family and kill the silly stupidity and mystery around the subject
The film lacks a defined rhythm of narration. It is a roller coaster ride, where the big wheel never comes. The climax lacks the energy you want the story to end with. On the other side, PadMan is a reasonably decent treatment and balance for a subject that comes with its problem and issues.
Akshay Kumar plays Lakshmikant Chauhan’s ( screen name for Arunachalam Muruganantham ) and does a superb job of it. For the umpteenth time, he ends up surprising the audience with his versatility and range. There is enough for him in the story to demonstrate a range of emotions.
Ever-dependable Radhika Apte (playing his wife Gayatri) helps to amplify the impact. Her depiction of shame associated with of the subject, realisation of love and care and negotiating a truce with her husband are some of the highlights. Sonam Kapoor plays Pari, who helps in making Laxmi’s product and success a reality. She fulfills the scope given to her.
Once again my request. Please go and watch this movie with all the adult and teenager males in your family and kill the silly stupidity and mystery around the subject.
STARCAST: Akshay Kumar, Sonam Kapoor, Radhika Apte. DIRECTOR: R Balki.
BLOG/7/Movie/2/2018
