PadMan, an Indian film about a man’s struggle to provide inexpensive sanitary napkins to the rural women of India, has been banned in Pakistan as it is based on one of society’s considered taboos.
What’s really shocking is that this film didn’t even get a fair chance for approval as the members of Pakistan Censor Board were too hesitant to watch something relating to menstrual hygiene. Not only this, but film distributors were also criticized by the local film producers for purchasing Indian films that are ruining Islamic traditions, history, and culture as if Muslim women don’t menstruate, pfft.
When asked about their personal opinion, a senior executive from Pakistan said: “Well, you know how the mentality is in our Asian men towards periods and they don’t want to discuss this as it’s a taboo. Sadly.”
Padman is a story about a man, who upon realizing the extent to which women are affected by their menses, sets out to create a sanitary pad machine and to provide inexpensive sanitary pads to the women of rural India.
As part of the promotional campaign for the movie, celebrities uploaded a picture with a pad. Malala joined the campaign and was criticized by many.
Here is what people are saying about the ban:
