Akshay Kumar’s Padman has finally hit the screens today. While so much is being talked about the movie, we can’t deny that fact that movie has sparked conversation about the importance of menstrual hygiene and the need to openly talk about it.

While some may think that only discussions and social media campaigns are happening and nothing actually worthwhile is coming out of all this, here’s the good news. Sathyam cinemas have introduced a sanitary napkin vending machine across all its properties which include Escape, Palazzo, Le Rêve Cinemas, The Cinema and S2.

And starting today, the machine in the women’s restroom at Sathyam becomes functional providing sanitary napkins for free.

“Over 3 decades back, I came across an article in the papers, in the letters to the editor column, written by a lady traveller about how she was stranded at the Chennai airport for want of a sanitary pad to meet her unprepared and unexpected menstrual emergency. This immediately sparked in me the need to develop a vending machine for sanitary napkins.” says Mr. V. Ramachandran, CEO of Glo Life Care, who was instrumental in developing the technology behind this vending machine. His first project was launched in partnership with UNICEF and also received considerable support from the Red Cross and Rotary Club.

“As a society, we’re a little late in having this important conversation but nevertheless it’s happening now. We just want to make sure that we do our bit to be there for our customers. With Akshay Kumar’s next, Padman, all set to hit screens tomorrow, there couldn’t have been a more appropriate time to launch this initiative and we’d like to thank Mr. V. Ramachandran without whom this would not have been possible.” says Bhavesh Shah, Head of Experience, SPI Cinemas.