We’re not aware of the reason why Pad Man didn’t just adapt Arunachalam Muruganantham’s life straight up. The biopic replaces their names, but the general story is the same, with Lakshmi creating a cheaper way to make sanitary napkins despite social stigma. Admittedly, it has all the cheesy biopic story beats. It gets frustrating to see society find even the mention of menstruation impure, to the point they’re willing to let women die from infection. However, this familiar approach makes sense for a topic that still retains some stigma around the issue. While the film plays it safe, Pad Man at least ensures that the real guy’s story is spread.
Upon realizing the extent to which women are affected by their menses, a man sets out to create a sanitary pad machine and to provide inexpensive sanitary pads to the women of rural India.
After marrying his wife Gayatri, Lakshmi Chauhan is surprised when Gayatri keeps herself banished from the house because of her menstruation. Because of this, Lakshmi tries to create a cheaper way to create sanitary napkins for their village.
The third act. The protagonist’s sincere devotion to his wife is what would easily win people over, so the whole dynamic with Pari feels a bit awkward.
It is a bit cheesy, but I’d rather have cheese than not share this story at all.
