Akshay Kumar's 'PadMan' is doing well in theatres, much like we expected, however, the film was banned by the Central Board of Film Censors in Pakistan and has been viewed as a film that is “ruining Islamic traditions, history and culture" that too, without being watched! R. Balki, who is currently in Maheshwari, a city in Madhya Pradesh, where 'PadMan' was shot, said that it is a shame that a film is being seen in a negative light since it endeavours to eradicate the stigma towards menstrual hygiene.
“I am disturbed by this prejudiced pre-judgement. I believe the Pakistan Censor Board didn’t even bother to see the film. They refused to have anything to do with it, arguing that such films threaten Islamic culture and history. Pray tell, how does a film about the health concerns of women harm any culture in the world? It is truly saddening that we still look at a normal, monthly physiological occurrence as something not to be spoken about," he said.
A source from Pakistan said 'PadMan' was being served up an example of the country’s censorial austerity. “By being liberal over 'Padmaavat', the Pakistan censor board has incensed a powerful lobby in Pakistan’s politics, which is now threatening a ban on all Indian films in Pakistan. 'PadMan' is suffering a collateral damage,” said the source. Balki believes that the decision to not release 'PadMan' in Pakistan had nothing to do with politics. He concluded, “I urge the Pakistani censor board to view the film. They will realise how deeply empathetic it is to the culture of the Asian subcontinent where women die due to a lack of menstrual hygiene.”
