"Only twelve percent women in India are able to afford sanitary pads", the reason why these women retort towards using dirty clothes, newspapers, leaves and in some cases even ashes during their menstrual cycle. 'Padman' is the story of Padma Shri Mr. Arunachalam Muruganantham who was able to provide the solution to this adverse problem.
Lakshmikant Chauhan(Akshay Kumar), a newly-wed machine tool operator resides in a small village of Madhya Pradesh with his wife, mother and his sisters. Lakshmi has a knack of understanding the mechanism of machines. This helps him in creating daily-use tools using any object. One day when he learns about the menstrual problem of his wife Gayatri(Radhika Apte), he suggests her to use sanitary pads instead of a dirty cloth. Women in early days were not allowed to live inside the house during their five-day cycle. But like most women she is not able to afford them and hence asks him to return those.
After learning about the dangerous health problems of such negligence, he takes it upon himself to make sanitary pads. In his attempt to understanding the quality of these pads he takes the help of his wife, sisters and medical college students. But when they refuse to cooperate he himself tries this process after which his mother disowns him and his wife leaves him.
But this doesn't deter Lakshmikant who leaves his village thus starting his journey to find the correct formula. When he finally discovers how the pad-creating machine operates, Lakshmi decides to make his own low-cost machine using his sharp skills. Aiding him in this effort is Pari(Sonam Kapoor), daughter of an IIT Professor who not only tries the pad herself but also helps in distributing the affordable pads village-to-village.
Kudos to R Balki and Twinkle Khanna(who has previously written a book, 'The Legend on Lakshmikant Prasad' on the same man) on bringing this hard-hitting story to the silver-screen. 'Padman' is an inspiration, a story of a man who broke the social taboos in our country just by staying true to his vision. Some moments in the movie could have been exploited better and there is also a forced love story in between but nothing takes the spotlight from this praiseworthy effort. The first half of the movie takes a bit more time in building the story which makes the second half feel rushed.
The movie has been carried on his shoulders by Akshay Kumar who portrays the struggles and failures of the character in such demeanour that you relish every small success he achieves. He has been well supported by a graceful Sonam Kapoor and and abject Radhika Apte. Radhika gives another performance to cherish after 'Parched' about a woman brought-up in an environment where women are ashamed of talking about a natural activity even with her own husband.
There are movies which are able to do justice with the true visionaries of our world and 'Padman' is one such tale. We wish Mr. Muruganantham achieves his dream going forward and wish luck for his future adventures.
Lakshmikant Chauhan(Akshay Kumar), a newly-wed machine tool operator resides in a small village of Madhya Pradesh with his wife, mother and his sisters. Lakshmi has a knack of understanding the mechanism of machines. This helps him in creating daily-use tools using any object. One day when he learns about the menstrual problem of his wife Gayatri(Radhika Apte), he suggests her to use sanitary pads instead of a dirty cloth. Women in early days were not allowed to live inside the house during their five-day cycle. But like most women she is not able to afford them and hence asks him to return those.
After learning about the dangerous health problems of such negligence, he takes it upon himself to make sanitary pads. In his attempt to understanding the quality of these pads he takes the help of his wife, sisters and medical college students. But when they refuse to cooperate he himself tries this process after which his mother disowns him and his wife leaves him.
But this doesn't deter Lakshmikant who leaves his village thus starting his journey to find the correct formula. When he finally discovers how the pad-creating machine operates, Lakshmi decides to make his own low-cost machine using his sharp skills. Aiding him in this effort is Pari(Sonam Kapoor), daughter of an IIT Professor who not only tries the pad herself but also helps in distributing the affordable pads village-to-village.
Kudos to R Balki and Twinkle Khanna(who has previously written a book, 'The Legend on Lakshmikant Prasad' on the same man) on bringing this hard-hitting story to the silver-screen. 'Padman' is an inspiration, a story of a man who broke the social taboos in our country just by staying true to his vision. Some moments in the movie could have been exploited better and there is also a forced love story in between but nothing takes the spotlight from this praiseworthy effort. The first half of the movie takes a bit more time in building the story which makes the second half feel rushed.
The movie has been carried on his shoulders by Akshay Kumar who portrays the struggles and failures of the character in such demeanour that you relish every small success he achieves. He has been well supported by a graceful Sonam Kapoor and and abject Radhika Apte. Radhika gives another performance to cherish after 'Parched' about a woman brought-up in an environment where women are ashamed of talking about a natural activity even with her own husband.
There are movies which are able to do justice with the true visionaries of our world and 'Padman' is one such tale. We wish Mr. Muruganantham achieves his dream going forward and wish luck for his future adventures.