When it comes to awareness regarding social aspects that revolve the natural cycle, the South Asian countries still consider the subjects as ‘taboo’. Subjects such as menstrual cycle, sex education, marital rape and various more societal subjects are considered as the “no-no” topics in the community.
We live in a society where the menstruation cycle of a woman is a topic which is frowned upon. Women have to purchase their sanitary napkins in a brown bag as if you are buying something which is illegal, such as booze, which is sold in a brown bag to make sure they are hidden.
On the other hand, while the urban female population is well-aware of the sanitary knowledge and have the necessities, the rural area women are not. They use unhygienic means to address their menstruation needs.
To address this matter, India film Padman was released, starring Akshay Kumar and Sonam Kapoor.
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With the Aim of Biographical Film to Create Awareness in Countries Such as India and Pakistan, Padman is Doing Well on the Box Office
Pad Man is twinkling away with all these splendid reviews and gleaming gold stars 🙂 Hurrah! #PadMan pic.twitter.com/oB5WDY4vcm
— Twinkle Khanna (@mrsfunnybones) February 10, 2018
However, the Pakistani Censor Board has Banned the Film in the Country!
The reason is exactly what is wrong with our country’s progressiveness
Pakistan bans Padman.
The Censor Board says, “the film deals with taboos such as menstruation which are against our traditions & culture thus can’t be released in Pakistan.”
Menstruating is against the culture? Basically, everything is against the culture except for terrorism.
— Sonam Mahajan (@AsYouNotWish) February 10, 2018
Sanam Saeed Shares her Concerns on the Banning of the Film in Pakistan
A man changed the lives of women across India, he made them aware of their unhygienic practices. He found a way to provide them with affordable sanitary napkins. But let’s not share that story because it has something to do with #MenstrualHygiene. Tobah! # padman #menstrualman
— Sanam Saeed (@sanammodysaeed) February 10, 2018
Same Happened in Verna Which Displayed Rape, Remember?
Padman is banned in pakistan and im not even surprised. We like to ban every drama/movie which can raise awareness among people who think that topics like sexual abuse and menstrual hygiene are considered 'taboo' in our society.
— Miss miss (@naheinyaar) February 10, 2018
LOOL
If Padman was wrapped in black shopper, censor board wouldn’t have banned it ??♀️
— Laraib Mehtab (@laraibmufc) February 11, 2018
Indeed!
.#Pakistan censor board bans #Padman stating that it's about a 'Taboo subject'… can't get more ridiculous than that!!!! pic.twitter.com/bLG4w12vVi
— Faridoon Shahryar (@iFaridoon) February 11, 2018
The Film Hasn’t Been Viewed by the Censor Board
The decision to issue an NOC by the Ministry of Information Broadcasting National History and Literary Heritage is yet to be taken on the release of a foreign feature film "Padman" as the film has not yet been pre-viewed by the Central Board of Film Censors. pic.twitter.com/NExGsWGV8M
— Govt of Pakistan (@pid_gov) February 11, 2018
Let’s wait to see if the outrage by the Pakistani audience leads to the display of the film which exposes nothing, but the knowledge that is required by the society.
Padman reflects the struggle of a man who devoted himself towards the needs of women’ menstrual necessities. First of all, it is a great initiative by the Indian cinema to produce a film which sheds light on such an important subject. Pakistani cinema, which is way behind in the film industry, may not be able to work on such a subject, which is essentially why we need to allow our locals to see such films.
