Padman's Director planning a special screening of his film for Malala?

Padman's Director planning a special screening of his film for Malala?

Desk Report

"We need powerful voices like Malala’s to carry the message forward," said R Balki

A special screening of film Padman is being planned for Malala.

The Nobel Peace Prize winner had earlier expressed her support for the film and its message, meeting Twinkle Khanna at Oxford and showing appreciation for the idea. Now, according to IANS, the film's director R Balki is working towards a special screening of Padman just for her.

He confirmed the news, saying, "We are definitely showing it to her at the earliest, as soon as the logistics are worked out."

"What can I say about Malala coming forward to support our film? We are blessed and honoured. It is voices like hers that would carry our message in PadMan forward. Menstruation must not be swept under the carpet anymore. And we need powerful voices like Malala’s to carry the message forward," he added about Malala's support,

Balki also revealed that he was unsure about making Padman, not because of the taboo, but the fact that "this is a story of a real-life character Arunachalam Muruganantham.

"The fact that he really exists initially daunted me," he said. "I don’t like making films about people who exist; especially those who are alive, as this puts tremendous pressure on the film-maker to replicate the real person without any offence to anyone. I would rather go into life stories that I conceive for cinema rather than a life that pre-exists."

But it was the taboo surrounding the film's message and the importance of spreading that message that changed Balki's mind.

"I decided to make an exception this time. I decided to do Padman because the story of the man who thought of making the sanitary pad affordable to the middle class really inspired me. When Twinkle Khanna came to me with the idea, I was hooked."

Padman has still not been released in Pakistan. The film is rumoured to be banned.