Pad Man: A Love Story
In the process of making people understand the issue that was thought not to be discussed so open, he loses his wife, family and his reputation in the village. He couldn’t convince any woman to use his handmade pads. Even he had been unsuccessful in getting feedback from the students of Girls’ Medical College. At last, exasperated Laxmikant experimented his handmade pad on himself wearing a panty which turned out to be a disaster. However, in spite of being ousted from the village and disserted by his family, Laxmikant did not give up his passion and he desperately tried to regain lost love and respect from his wife. He continued with his mission to convince her that he was on the right track to help not only her but also millions of women who were not even aware of the adverse health impact of using old dirty rags. It is a matter of fact that only 12% women in India use Sanitary Pads. He knocked every door to seek help and even got a job as a domestic help at a Professor’s house in the hope that he might show him a way forward, but the arrogant professor was too busy for his own good. However, Professor’s clever young boy felt pity at Laxmikant and offered help to find his answers in the google search. He found a company in Canada which made Pads from the Cellulose and helped him get a sample package in the name of a fake company at his father’s address. Laxmikant’s communication with the Canadian Company mediated by young boy back & forth and his appeasement of moneylender for an Rs. 90,000 loan to set up a rudimentary Pad making machine was quite entertaining.
When Lakshmikant was at the verge of losing his all hope, incidentally he bumped into a beautiful singer; Pari (fairy) played by Sonam Kapoor who after performing at a music concert was desperately looking for
a medical store to buy Sanitary Pads. Since all shops were closed at night Lakshimkant turned out to be Lord Saver. He handed over to Pari’s assistant a Pad from his pocket. Impatient as he was for a feedback, next day Laxmikant reached out to Pari in her Hotel. The interaction between them keeping the awkwardness of the subject matter was entertaining. Later Pari becomes a milestone of his success as she persuaded him to exhibit his Pad making a rudimentary machine in an annual function of best innovation of the year event which he had won. A lot of pressure was built on Laxmikant to patent his low-cost machine as many multinational companies wanted to buy his innovation for millions. Although this proposal would have made Laxmikant filthy rich he was not convinced this would make the Pads cheaper for common women. His passion was not moved profit motives. Instead, he started his own small-scale business and marketed in the local area through Pari who also helped him borrow money from the banks which generated more jobs and many self-employed small businesses. This leads Lakshmikant getting an Invitation to deliver a speech at the United Nations. His speech in broken English was an entertaining explaining business cycle in layman’s language is ups and downs for all products expect the sanitary pads which would always be up. In the latter half of the movie, Pari started getting attached to Lakshmikant but he didn't forget his wife for whom he came all the way long. Just before boarding his return flight when Pari was about to kiss him, his mobile rang. It was his wife, Gayatri. Pari quickly realized she was dreaming with open eyes which faded away with a blink of an eye.
This is reflected throughout in the movie given how awkward women are made to feel even today while buying sanitary pads from the stores. The movie is quite educational and tells the real-life story in a layman’s language and humorous manner. The social stigma makes it an important film that needs to be watched. The movie ends on a positive note that the people who are crazy enough think they can change the world often do and make a difference not only in their lives but also in lives of millions.
Prof S Deman
Although I rarely watch Indian movies because they are often
too long, have the same stories and try to fuse bit of everything; a love
story, comedy, tragedy, melodrama and the happy ending. After Padmavati, I had
an opportunity to watch another good movie at O2 in Millennium Dome, Pad
Man!
Before I comment on the movie, it is worth
sharing my own ignorance about the Pads which traditionally are known as
Sanitary Towels. I was 21 and a lecturer in 1974. One of my friends owned a
general store near the university. One evening I happened to be at that store
chatting with my friend after a brief break from left-wing politics. A few
girls, perhaps the university students showed up at the store appearing bit shy
and reluctant, perhaps due to my presence. On the other hand, my friend
appeared too curious. I witnessed a fusion of opposite minds but found myself
completely confused and misplaced. Before the girls could ask about the
product, as shy & awkward they were, the owner picked up a pack labeled
as Sanitary towels showed them, they said yes. He hid the Pads in a paper bag
and handed them to girls. Being intrigued, I curiously asked my friend what
they are going to do with such small towels! He laughed at me and told me,
“Maybe wash their faces!” Although I had a sister, sister-in-law, a lot of
cousins I was dumbfounded about women’s so-called “course” due to cultural
taboos. This was my first introduction to Pads!
The movie Pad Man is a real-life story of Arunachalam Muruganantham whose cast name is Laxmikant Chauhan, played by Akshay Kumar, a poor man who notices his wife using filthy rags instead of Pads during the monthly cycle. Laxmikant was worried about the adverse impact of unhygienic rags on his wife due to lack of sterilization and could cause death in extreme cases. The more shocking for his wife, Gayatri (Radhika Aapte) was the exorbitantly high price of sanitary pads then Rs. 55 per pack. Laxmikant could not convince his wife to use high-cost pads though it was alright for his superstitious wife to give Rs. 51 to a Priest for his blessings. He could not believe that due to a high cost of Pads his loving wife, sisters and other women will have to bear life-threatening consequences. Laxmikant’s love and care for his wife turned into a passion and his life’s only mission was to provide sanitary Pads to all women at very low cost. However, his village community perceived him a misfit and pervert man trying to experiment homemade Sanitary Pads on his wife, sisters and even on a teenage neighbor’s daughter who attained the age of puberty. Kids in the neighborhood humorously nicknamed monthly cycle as “Beginning of the 5 days test match.”
In the process of making people understand the issue that was thought not to be discussed so open, he loses his wife, family and his reputation in the village. He couldn’t convince any woman to use his handmade pads. Even he had been unsuccessful in getting feedback from the students of Girls’ Medical College. At last, exasperated Laxmikant experimented his handmade pad on himself wearing a panty which turned out to be a disaster. However, in spite of being ousted from the village and disserted by his family, Laxmikant did not give up his passion and he desperately tried to regain lost love and respect from his wife. He continued with his mission to convince her that he was on the right track to help not only her but also millions of women who were not even aware of the adverse health impact of using old dirty rags. It is a matter of fact that only 12% women in India use Sanitary Pads. He knocked every door to seek help and even got a job as a domestic help at a Professor’s house in the hope that he might show him a way forward, but the arrogant professor was too busy for his own good. However, Professor’s clever young boy felt pity at Laxmikant and offered help to find his answers in the google search. He found a company in Canada which made Pads from the Cellulose and helped him get a sample package in the name of a fake company at his father’s address. Laxmikant’s communication with the Canadian Company mediated by young boy back & forth and his appeasement of moneylender for an Rs. 90,000 loan to set up a rudimentary Pad making machine was quite entertaining.
When Lakshmikant was at the verge of losing his all hope, incidentally he bumped into a beautiful singer; Pari (fairy) played by Sonam Kapoor who after performing at a music concert was desperately looking for
This is reflected throughout in the movie given how awkward women are made to feel even today while buying sanitary pads from the stores. The movie is quite educational and tells the real-life story in a layman’s language and humorous manner. The social stigma makes it an important film that needs to be watched. The movie ends on a positive note that the people who are crazy enough think they can change the world often do and make a difference not only in their lives but also in lives of millions.
Prof S Deman
No comments:
Post a Comment