Fans of Akshay Kkumar celebrate after watching the movie Padman at a theatre in Bhubaneswar, Friday
POST NEWS NETWORK
Bhubaneswar:Padman, the most awaited movie of the year, was released in the theatres Friday. The Akshay Kumar starrer was in the news for its socially relevant message about menstruation and the need to use sanitary pads. The film, scheduled for release January 25 along with Sanjay Leela Bansdali’s controversial Padmavat, was put off by two weeks.
Soumya Mallick, a student, who watched the first day’s first show at Maharaja theatre, said Akshay Kumar had done great work as Lakshmikanata Chauhan with supporting characters Radhika Apte and Sonam Kapoor. Akshay Kumar who was associated with socially relevant movies such as Airlift, Rustom, Joly LLB 2, Toilet-Ek Prem Katha in recent times has given the audiences themes with dynamism and commitment to art.
Debaprasad Dash, another film goer, said Padman showcased to what extent an actor can go to portray a character so methodically and meticulously. He said the film was
based on the life of Arunachalam Murganatham who had created low cost sanitary napkins. “How many actors can do what Akshay has done in the film to promote sanitary pads? He has portrayed his role in a most hilarious way and has proved that he can reinvent himself on social and patriotic issues.”
Jasmine Rath, a fan of Akshay Kumar, said the film brilliantly focuses on non-availability of sanitary napkins to economically weaker section women in the rural areas and the superstitions associated with this. She said since the movie is about a man making sanitary pads for women, it boldly takes on the taboos surrounding menstruation and launches an open discussion about the issue. Meanwhile, fans of Akshay Kumar celebrated the film’s release event by cutting a cake and garlanding a huge cutout of the actor at the city theatres. Rajat Rout, a member of Akshay Fan Club said promotion of the movie was done in a large way as part of the Padman Challenge campaign in which several film stars participated.
Film buff Ameet Mohanty said the movie is based on the character of Akshay Kumar who dominates the whole scenario and overshadows other characters Radhika Apte and Sonam Kapoor.
Film reviewer Sriram Ray thinks Padman could be Akshay’s sixth successive movie to gross more than `100 crore. His last five movies which collected more than `100 crore are Airlift, Housefull 3, Rustom, Jolly-LLB-2 and Toilet-Ek Prem Katha
