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R Balki on unfair ‘PadMan’ ban in Pakistan

While director R Balki’s ‘PadMan’ (2018) is receiving a lot of acclaim for starting a discussion about the taboo subject of menstrual hygiene all around the world, Pakistan has decided to ban its release in theatres. Balki recently spoke out on this issue at an event organized by Unicef and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

“It has been banned in Pakistan alone. I think they have their own reasons but I think they are wrong reasons. You cannot ban a film like this. If you are banning this film, then you are actually being unfair to women and humanity. It’s not just because of the movie, it’s because of a story of this man’s life and what issue its addressing.”, said Balki, pointing out that the film is doing extremely well in other countries. “The Middle East has welcomed this film. The film’s biggest success is in the Middle East, strangely. It’s the first film to be screened in Iraq and in countries where Hindi cinema has not gone before. In countries you think are so conservative, this film is doing really well. So it’s just one odd place, and I am sure there will be a lot of public pressure there (Pakistan) too, to kind of want to see the film because this is not political kind of stuff. It’s a simple film for humanity.”, Bollywood Life reported.

Adding on to his comments, Twinkle Khanna said, “I think women menstruate no matter where you put a boundary, a border. We menstruate this side. We menstruate that side, and it is important for them to see it (the film) as well. I wish that they’d change their mind and show the movie.”