The R Balki directorial film PadMan, which released on February 9, is winning hearts of the audience. Also, the social drama is doing a decent business at the box-office. The Akshay Kumar starrer film has hit half century on the fifth day of its opening. Film critic and trade analyst Taran Adarsh took to Twitter and said, “#PadMan crosses 50 cr mark... Fri 10.26 cr, Sat 13.68 cr, Sun 16.11 cr, Mon 5.87 cr, Tue 6.12 cr. Total: ₹ 52.04 cr. India biz”.
PadMan's rival Padmaavat is still in theatres and has raked in moolah. The Akshay Kumar starrer will face competition from Sanjay Leela Bhansali's film, however, the viewers are likely to turn to R. Balki's film in search of a fresh content. PadMan has got rave reviews from film critics for its subject and performances.
Coimbatore-based Arunachalam Muruganantham invented low-cost sanitary napkin making machine and brought revolution in the field of women empowerment. The story largely takes its plot from a short story in Twinkle Khanna's book The Legend of Lakshmi Prasad. Twinkle is also co-producer of the movie.
PadMan is based on the life of Tamil Nadu-based social activist Arunachalam Muruganantham (played by Akshay Kumar), who manufactured low-cost machine for sanitary napkins in rural India. Radhika Apte plays the role of Akshay's wife in the film.
Radhika credits director R Balki for handling the subject of menstrual hygiene in an entertaining way. "It is a relatable film. I hope people will connect with it emotionally. We have made the film with a lot of thought and emotion. The aim is not to bring about a revolution but to make people openly talk about it”.