Menstrual Hygiene Day is a global reminder that menstruation is not a taboo, but a reality that deserves attention, education, and dignity. It’s a moment to reflect on the cultural stigmas that still persist around periods back home in India. Few films have managed to bring this conversation to the forefront quite like Pad Man.
Inspired by the life of Arunachalam Muruganantham, Pad Man tells the extraordinary story of a man from rural Tamil Nadu who dared to question age-old stigmas and invented a low-cost sanitary pad machine to help women manage their periods safely and affordably. Played powerfully by Akshay Kumar, the protagonist’s journey is one of empathy, innovation, and relentless determination; challenging not just societal taboos, but systemic inaccessibility to menstrual products for millions of women.
The film was groundbreaking in its treatment of a subject so rarely discussed in Indian households, schools, and even healthcare spaces. It paved the way for nationwide dialogue and also served as a reminder that the onus of change shouldn’t rest solely on women. Men, too, have a role to play in dismantling period stigma.
This Menstrual Hygiene Day, Pad Man remains a relevant and compelling watch. The film is available to stream in 190 countries globally on ZEE5 Global, offering viewers a chance to revisit or discover a story that continues to resonate deeply with the realities of millions of women in India and beyond.
