MUMBAI, August 27: 'PadMan', an upcoming Hindi film that focuses on menstruation and women's health, will be as high on entertainment as the evergreen 'Sholay', said its director R Balki, who believes there's no point in being preachy to the audience.

Inspired by the life of Coimbatore-based Arunachalam Muruganantham, who found a way to make cheap, affordable sanitary napkins for women in his village, 'PadMan' features an ensemble of actors like Akshay Kumar, Sonam Kapoor and Radhika Apte.

Of late, the world of Hindi cinema has been bringing some never-spoken-about subjects into the frame -- be it open defecation via 'Toilet: Ek Prem Katha', menstruation via 'PadMan' or erectile dysfunction through 'Shubh Mangal Savdhaan'.

Has it become a new formula of sorts to merge social messages with a dose of entertainment in Bollywood today? "I don't know about that, but I was just fascinated by the life of the man on whom the film is based. I also feel sanitary napkins as a subject has not been touched in this country. It's a revolutionary thing, what he did. It must be spoken about... People are so shy about it," Balki told IANS here.

But Balki, refused to describe 'PadMan' as a "social or message-based" film. "His (Muruganantham's) life itself is equal to 'Sholay'. It is as entertaining as the biggest masala entertainers... And when you have a life that is so entertaining, why do I need to add entertainment," asked Balki, who shot the film in rustic settings in Indore. He stressed that cinema should "never be preachy".
The film is slated to release next year. 

 
• r. balki: real padman's life as entertaining as 'sholay'