If Abhishek Saxena’s Phullu had seen even half of the support and enthusiasm for menstrual hygiene that PadMan’s witnessing, perhaps this new-found euphoria among celebrities and common folk alike wouldn’t have been so difficult to digest. But if this what we must bear in order to create better awareness about sanitary pads – and the lack thereof in rural areas – then so be it.
The reigning flag-bearer of patriotism in Bollywood, Akshay Kumar’s upcoming film PadMan, traces the real life story of Arunachalam Muruganantham who invented a low-cost sanitary pad machine after witnessing the struggles of his wife. As the film gears up for release, the cast, crew and even the inspiration behind the film are doing their best to promote it. Arunachalam kickstarted the #PadManChallenge by asking people to take photos with a sanitary napkin in their hands, telling them that it’s nothing to be ashamed of.
Yes that’s a Pad in my hand & there's nothing to be ashamed about. It's natural! Period. #StandByHer
Copy, Paste this & Challenge your friends to take a photo with a Pad!
Here I am Challenging @akshaykumar @mrsfunnybones @sonamakapoor @radhika_apte pic.twitter.com/ULJuJmSeZN
— A Muruganantham (@murugaofficial) February 2, 2018
The tag challenge has been taken up by Bollywood with much gusto and everyone from an upside down Alia Bhatt to a rugged-looking Hindostani (geddit?) have complied promptly:
Just hanging around in the gym.. with a pad 🙂 no biggie! Thank you @akshaykumar for the challenge.. I shall challenge my fellow gym-ers @YasminBodyImage @Sophie_Choudry & @impoornapatel #PadManChallenge pic.twitter.com/xHLaSwt39Q
— Alia Bhatt (@aliaa08) February 2, 2018
Thank you for tagging me @murugaofficial
Yes, that’s a Pad in my hand & there's nothing to be ashamed about. It's natural! Period. #PadManChallengeCopy, Paste this & Challenge your friends to take a photo with a Pad!
Here I am Challenging @aamir_khan @AzmiShabana @hvgoenka pic.twitter.com/QXYBwVfYV0
— Twinkle Khanna (@mrsfunnybones) February 2, 2018
Thank you for tagging me @murugaofficial
Yes, that’s a Pad in my hand & there's nothing to be ashamed about. It's natural! Period. #PadManChallengeCopy, Paste this & Challenge your friends to take a photo with a Pad!
Here I am Challenging @deepikapadukone @imVkohli @aliaa08 pic.twitter.com/KperUmkSGw
— Akshay Kumar (@akshaykumar) February 2, 2018
Thank you @mrsfunnybones
Yes, that’s a Pad in my hand & there's nothing to be ashamed about. It's natural! Period. #PadManChallenge. Copy, Paste this & Challenge your friends to take a photo with a Pad. Here I am Challenging @SrBachchan , @iamsrk & @BeingSalmanKhan pic.twitter.com/lY7DEevDmD— Aamir Khan (@aamir_khan) February 2, 2018
The Internet too is mighty taken up with the goings on and has enthusiastically responded to the challenge. Some have taken this as an opportunity to talk about sustainable and bio-degradable sanitary pads available in the market. Which is as massive a win as can be possible. Check them out:
#PadManChallenge
Yes, that’s a pad in my hand, made by #PadWomen of @stc_india project. Say #BootoTaboo and yes to ending #PeriodPoverty
I challenge @sharmasahebh @alkasingh7 @devendratak @GeetaLama to take a photo with a Pad and post pic.twitter.com/DAQI9KbWmH— Pragya Vats (@pragyavats) February 2, 2018
We accept #PadManChallenge because #SanitaryPad is our best friend for those crucial days of every month. Because menstruation is a biological cycle & there is nothing to shy off! @mrsfunnybones @MrOmkarKulkarni @RidlrMUM pic.twitter.com/ubn018Vu1i
— Somita Pal (@somitapal) February 2, 2018
first tym purchased sanitary pads for my sister
feeling responsible after taking this step
its not a thing that guys should b ashamed
wsh i could have done dis b4@akshaykumar@mrsfunnybones#PadManChallenge pic.twitter.com/etGTd5HkW2— Ashray Kumar Gupta (@Ashraygupta11) February 2, 2018
Because men play an equally important role in breaking period stigma. Dear men, take a picture with a pad or repost this. Go on, don't be shy.#padmanchallenge #donthideitperiod #menstruationmatters #periodpositive #periodpower #heforshe #standbyher #standforher @mrsfunnybones pic.twitter.com/qtJzKqX8Iy
— donthideitperiod (@dnthideitperiod) February 2, 2018
Thanks @sharmasahebh, yes that's a pad in my hand and #menstruation is natural! Period. #padmanchallenge #boototaboo #padman
I challenge @Shibika_Suresh and @harshilbhardwaj pic.twitter.com/FNEHcQnsMV— Sreepoorna (@Sreepoorna31) February 2, 2018
Flaunting my dioxin free,bleach free,organic cotton reusable cloth pads. #padmanchallenge
Periods are not gross.And,washing your cloth pad is completely Hygienic.Make switch towards healthy& #sustainablemenstruation by using biodegradable disposable/cloth pads.#nodioxin pic.twitter.com/KYIy7v7BJI— Tulika Srivastava (@PhilomelaTulika) February 2, 2018
Not everyone is as pleased with the challenge as fans seem to be however, with this one account raising a pertinent point.
Cute how bollywood celebrities start doing stupid trends like #PadManChallenge but automatically lose their spine when asked to take stand on Padmavat or when @ReallySwara was being slut shamed. Such hypocrites!
— Siddharth Patni (@aageSeLeftLelo) February 2, 2018
HOWEVER, in a country where women’s rights are constantly on the back-burner, sanitary pads are not not only taxed but are also not available to an alarmingly large number of women, we’ll take whatever we get thank you very much.
PadMan which is directed by R Balki, also stars Sonam Kapoor, Radhika Apte and scheduled to release on February 9.
