Hoping For A Big Change Post The Grand Win at OSCARS

The last few days, social media has been brimming with posts, celebrations and cheers for a grand win at Oscars. An Indian short documentary, about a very sensitive and hush-hush topic, 'menstruation', has been awarded Oscars at the 91^st Academy Awards. Period - End of Sentence, directed by Iranian American director Rayka Zehtabchi, co-produced by Indian Film Producer Guneet Monga, who is also the producer of Masaan and Lunchbox, have now given a big reason to consider the topic which is in dire need of attention.

It surely brings a big reason to cheer as the little documentary from India, directed by women and most importantly about a topic, which is considered to be taboo has made it big. The film is an attempt to make menstruation, a taboo-free subject, which will help improve female health and hygiene as a whole.

The film is about a group of women in a small rural village in Hapur, Uttar Pradesh who learn to  operate a machine that produces low cost bio-degradable sanitary pads which they sell to other women under the name of FLY. For years these women didn’t have access to sanitary pads which lead to severe health issues among females and girls who  end up missing school or dropping out entirely. It’s a sad scenario to even think about it, that women have to deal with so much of pain and inconvenience for a natural  health condition. The plight of these women is unfathomable, and in immediate need of attention. Due to the social stigma and age old unfounded myths attached to the topic, women and young girls are trapped in the web of ill health.

The silence and ignorance on this subject is the reason for constant harming of health and dignity of women. Thankfully, with the rise in the awareness about the topic ,the unscientific beliefs surrounding the topic are being broken with good reason. It is now considered as a preventable threat to health and people have begun to eradicate the stigma. The big win of this movie will now accelerate the wheels in the right direction in radically bringing about a change and improving the lives of women.