#PadMan –RealMan Indeed!!!

#PadMan –RealMan Indeed!!!

R Balki breaks into the Taboo, Akshay Kumar lives it and I could witness an audience clapping and hooting in a theater in Aurangabad. Something I would not have witnessed in Mumbai; a core metro where everybody runs but reaches nowhere, includes me too. The real Padman comes from a village, breaks into the taboo and reaches millions of hearts with his art of making pads. The interior connect would be high. Amitabh Bachchan roars right in his guest appearance stating India should not be seen as a country with billions of population but should be seen as the country with billions of great Minds.  Arunachalam Muruganantham is one such great mind, the real Padman that makes India Proud, makes a pathway for many and this reel adaptation too that Balki makes on his biography it quite interesting.

R Balki’s Padman is subtle and hits the right audience chord. He doesn’t lose the crux of the journey of the Padman, the message in the satire has a good hold and than the satire alone. The story is simple and Padman echoes what we have heard million times “Necessity is the mother of all inventions” even the WhatsApp reply button for that matter. Akshay Kumar is the new age Manoj Kumar without hiding his face –pun intended. He brings in the subjects that are closer to our soil from swachh Bharat to personal hygiene he puts in the soul in his performances. His art has become a cake walk for him, give him anything and he shines; even if the subject doesn’t he leaves his impact. Padman rides on him completely and he delivers. Radhika Apte a great actor the kind of act she displays, Padman doesn’t really give her much opportunity to perform other than sobbing and yet she fits the bill perfectly and is believable in her screen presence. Sonam Kapoor is a good fill; with little to do, she too fits in perfect as a support cast and brings in the fresh breeze in the second half where story moves at a faster pace.

Akshay Kumar’s New York speech is one of the high points of the film, simple, humorous, motivating and emotional. Language is just the catalyst; emotions speak with no barriers. This is where Akshay Connects with his audience strongly. He succeeds to showcase a journey of a socio-entrepreneur making impossible possible.

The invention made by the real Padman Arunachalam Muruganantham are available today in 23 states of India, empowering women not just on their personal hygiene, creating jobs too for these women. Padmashree Arunachalam Muruganantham take a bow and so do Akshay Kumar and Balki for making Padman an interesting watch than a mere Bollywood documentary; making it reachable to larger audience.

Padman is inspiring. It’s a moving cinema.

Verdict: Silver Plus 3.5*s