The Real PadMan’s Life Is as Entertaining as ‘Sholay’: R Balki

R Balki is a big fan of Arunachalam Muruganantham, the real PadMan, and here’s why.

Akshay Kumar, Twinkle Khanna and R Balki with the real hero of PadMan, Arunachalam Muruganantham.

Photo courtesy: Twitter/@mrsfunnybones

PadMan, an upcoming Hindi film that focuses on menstruation and women's health, will be as high on entertainment as the evergreen Sholay, says the film’s director R Balki, who believes that there's no point in being preachy to the audience.

Inspired by the life of Coimbatore-based Arunachalam Muruganantham, who found a way to make cheap and affordable sanitary napkins for women in his village, PadMan features an ensemble cast including Akshay Kumar, Sonam Kapoor and Radhika Apte.

Of late, the world of Hindi cinema has been bringing some never-spoken-about subjects into the frame, be it open defecation with Toilet: Ek Prem Katha, menstruation with PadMan or erectile dysfunction with Shubh Mangal Savdhaan.

Has it become a new formula of sorts to merge social messages with a dose of entertainment in Bollywood today?

I don’t know about that, but I was just fascinated by the life of the man on whom the film is based. I also feel (that) sanitary napkins as a subject has not been touched in this country. It’s a revolutionary thing, what he did. It must be spoken about... People are so shy about it.

R Balki, Filmmaker

But Balki, who was in the capital for an event held by Ficci Ladies Organsiation (FLO), refused to describe PadMan as a ‘social or message-based' film.

His (Muruganantham’s) life itself is equal to <i>Sholay</i>. It is as entertaining as the biggest masala entertainers... And when you have a life that is so entertaining, why do I need to add entertainment?

R Balki

He stressed that cinema should never be preachy.

Balki, who has had a long and fulfilling career in the field of advertising, started his journey as a feature film man with Cheeni Kum, a film about the romance between a 64-year-old man and a woman half his age. He followed it up with Paa, a heartwarming film showcasing a unique father-son relationship. Thereafter came Shamitabh, the story of a mute hero, following which came Ki & Ka, a romantic drama that turns gender stereotyping on its head.

What makes PadMan different for Balki is that it is the first time he is making a movie on someone else's life. All his other films have been based on fictional characters.

I would like to always do original stuff. This is the first time I am doing something based on someone else’s life. I would never like to base a film on a book. If the product would not have been this -- sanitary pads -- I wouldn’t have done this film. I felt there will never be a chance again to do such an interesting subject... I prefer to write original content. Sometimes, fiction is a lot more interesting... you don’t know where it goes and you can dream up whatever you want to.

R Balki

Having said that, Balki believes that the core of adapting someone's life story for the screen is about "respecting the life that person has led".

But it doesn’t mean you have to stay faithful to it. You have to fictionalise it sometimes. Like I was speaking to Arunachalam Muruganantham, and he was saying, ‘I wish bits and parts of this film were what I lived like’. So, it (the fictional bits) add to his life... Anything that adds to his life and makes it more interesting, who is going to say no to it? Fundamentally, I feel that, as a filmmaker, you must respect the person and his life.

R Balki

PadMan will hit theatres on April 13, 2018.

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