Balki dedicates National Award to the real Pad Man

Mumbai: Filmmaker R Balki is happy that his film Pad Man won the National Film Award for Best Film On Social Issue because, more than just a critical achievement, the honour indicates the start of a conversation on menstrual hygiene. This, Balki, believes, was the dream of Arunachalam Muruganantham, the man whose life inspired the film.

"For me, the biggest validation is the film has worked as a conversation starter worldwide. Menstruation hygiene is a topic that has not been addressed in the mainstream cinema around the world. Our film is the first one. Of course, a National Award is an honour for all of us, but the happiness lies in the fact that the film has served its purpose of creating awareness. Men and women have started talking about sanitary pads on public platforms, and that has not happened before," Balki said.

He added that the award truly belongs to Muruganantham.

"The first thought that came to my mind (on hearing the news of the victory) was that this National Award belongs to Muruganantham."