India-Based ‘Period. End of Sentence’ Wins Oscar for Best Doc

India-set documentary on menstruation wins an Academy Award.

A still from Period. End of Sentence.

The 26-minute documentary, Period. End of Sentence, directed by Iranian-American filmmaker Rayka Zehtabchi, won an Oscar at the 91st Academy Awards in the Best Documentary (Short Subject) category. The film is co-produced by Guneet Monga’s Sikhya Entertainment, which earlier co-produced films like The Lunchbox and Masaan.

Set in India, Period. End of Sentence, revolves around women who are fighting against the stigma of menstruation and also the work of Arunachalam Muruganantham, the real ‘Pad Man’.

Speaking to the media earlier, Zehtabchi, had said that just seeing how ingrained the stigma of menstruation was for women was life-changing for her while making the film. "Some of the craziest moments during filming would be when we talked to older women—who had gone their entire lives menstruating and should have been talking to their daughters about menstruation—but couldn’t even tell us why it happened every month, or why they got it. It breaks your heart because if they’re so afraid of the thing that makes them women, then I can’t imagine what else you would be afraid to do or talk about," said the 25-year-old filmmaker.

Speaking to the press before the Oscars, Guneet Monga said that she was happy with the recognition that the film had received, “It is a surreal feeling. I feel so proud and excited. I would say it is just a great intention being rewarded.”

The film was competing with other films like Black Sheep, End Game, Lifeboat and A Night at the Garden. The Oscar winning Period. End of Sentence is now streaming on Netflix.