Khiladi’s PadMan won’t be taxing in Rajasthan

Sops for khiladi Akshay's flick were coming. It was evident after Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje announced in the budget, keeping menstrual hygiene in mind, that sanitary pads would be distributed by the state at select outlets.

Meanwhile riding the populist crest, CM Raje has made the Akshay Kumar, Radhika Apte and Sonam Kapoor-starrer female hygiene drama 'PadMan' tax-free in Rajasthan. In a late night development, the Chief Minister decided to waive GST on PadMan.

She had promised this to Anganwadi workers, who came to thank her for the budget announcements devoted to their financial and social empowerment.

“I thank Akshay Kumar for making PadMan to create awareness. The movie will be tax free in the state. So, the message rendered in the movies could reach out to most women in Rajasthan,” said a statement quoting Raje. Expressing concerns over the hygiene of rural women and girls, the CM also referred to her budget announcement under which machines would be installed to distribute sanitary pads in rural areas.     

It is worth mentioning that the film, directed by R Balki, is inspired by the life of Arunachalam Muruganantham, a social activist from Tamil Nadu who introduced low-cost sanitary pads. The Padma Shri awardee has also been instrumental in spreading awareness about menstrual hygiene in rural India. Akshay’s wife – Twinkle, who had written about Muruganantham in a story titled 'The Sanitary Man from the Sacred Land' in her second book 'Legend of Lakshmi Prasad', has jointly produced the film with SPE Films India, KriArj Entertainment, Cape of Good Films and Hope Productions. The film also stars megastar Amitabh Bachchan in a cameo.

When Padmaavat had rocked the state, the sensitivity of the issue had forced politicians to maintain a guarded silence. However, knowing very well that there is no better adhesive than Bollywood that binds India together, and it is one USP we have that has been Bharat's global brand ambassador for decades. The CM rightly touched the chord that connects women of the state by and large.

Conservative beliefs/myths, weak finances, and inaccessibility to clean products are menstrual nightmares. One which women in rural India, more than their urban counterparts, consider a way of life, unfortunately.

Also, the lack of accessibility and high prices of sanitary products make things go awry and it is here that Raje managed to touch the hearts of thousands when she announced her decision to make the film tax free and provide napkins at several outlets. A populist movement that will have far reaching consequences.