Pad Man
Upon realizing the extent to which women are affected by their menses, a man sets out to create a sanitary pad machine and to provide inexpensive sanitary pads to the women of rural India.
Despite its limited budget of $10.0M, Pad Man became a commercial success, earning $23.0M worldwide—a 130% return.
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
Pad Man (2018) demonstrates deliberately positioned narrative architecture, characteristic of R. Balki's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 2 hours and 20 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 6.8, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Lakshmi is a devoted husband in a rural Indian village, riding his bicycle to bring his wife home, establishing his caring nature and simple life before marriage.. Notably, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 15 minutes when Lakshmi discovers Gayatri using unsanitary rags during menstruation due to inability to afford sanitary pads, risking her health. This revelation shocks him and disrupts his worldview.. At 11% through the film, this Disruption aligns precisely with traditional story structure. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 35 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This reveals the protagonist's commitment to Lakshmi is ostracized by his family and village for his obsession with menstruation. Gayatri leaves him. He makes the active choice to continue his mission despite losing everything., moving from reaction to action.
At 71 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Structural examination shows that this crucial beat Lakshmi successfully creates a working low-cost sanitary pad and demonstrates it at a university event. False victory: he gains recognition but still faces the challenge of mass production and distribution., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 104 minutes (74% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Lakshmi faces potential defeat when he learns his invention might be taken over by corporations, losing his mission to help rural women. His personal isolation reaches its peak - separated from both Gayatri and facing uncertainty with Pari., shows the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 112 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Lakshmi realizes his mission is to empower women by teaching them to make pads themselves, not to sell machines. He synthesizes his rural roots with modern knowledge to create a social enterprise model., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Pad Man's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs proven narrative structure principles that track dramatic progression. By mapping Pad Man against these established plot points, we can identify how R. Balki utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Pad Man within the comedy genre.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Bad Guys and Lake Placid.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Lakshmi is a devoted husband in a rural Indian village, riding his bicycle to bring his wife home, establishing his caring nature and simple life before marriage.
Theme
Lakshmi's mother or elder woman states that "some things are not meant to be discussed" regarding women's health, establishing the cultural taboo that drives the film's conflict.
Worldbuilding
Introduction to Lakshmi's world: his relationship with wife Gayatri, his work at a factory, traditional village life, and the deep-rooted stigma around menstruation in rural India.
Disruption
Lakshmi discovers Gayatri using unsanitary rags during menstruation due to inability to afford sanitary pads, risking her health. This revelation shocks him and disrupts his worldview.
Resistance
Lakshmi debates how to help, faces resistance from his wife and society, tries buying pads from the store (embarrassing encounter), attempts to make his own pads, and faces mockery from the community.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Lakshmi is ostracized by his family and village for his obsession with menstruation. Gayatri leaves him. He makes the active choice to continue his mission despite losing everything.
Mirror World
Lakshmi meets Pari, an urban, educated woman who becomes his partner in testing pads. She represents the modern India that embraces change and challenges taboos.
Premise
Lakshmi experiments with creating affordable sanitary pads, works with Pari, faces numerous failures, learns about the manufacturing process, and gradually improves his design.
Midpoint
Lakshmi successfully creates a working low-cost sanitary pad and demonstrates it at a university event. False victory: he gains recognition but still faces the challenge of mass production and distribution.
Opposition
Lakshmi struggles to scale his invention, faces financial difficulties, navigates the business world, and deals with pressure from both traditional society and modern commerce. Relationship tensions with Pari develop.
Collapse
Lakshmi faces potential defeat when he learns his invention might be taken over by corporations, losing his mission to help rural women. His personal isolation reaches its peak - separated from both Gayatri and facing uncertainty with Pari.
Crisis
Lakshmi reflects on his journey, questions whether his sacrifice was worth it, and contemplates his true purpose - is it about the invention, profit, or genuinely helping women?
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Lakshmi realizes his mission is to empower women by teaching them to make pads themselves, not to sell machines. He synthesizes his rural roots with modern knowledge to create a social enterprise model.
Synthesis
Lakshmi travels across India installing machines and training women, receives national recognition including meeting the UN, returns to his village with his achievement, and reconciles with Gayatri who now understands his mission.
Transformation
Lakshmi stands honored at a public ceremony, transformed from a ridiculed village outcast to a national hero. Women across India now have access to affordable sanitary products and dignity. The taboo has been broken.