It's been seven years since Akshay Kumar and Bhumi Pednekar featured in the comedy social drama Toilet: Ek Prem Katha. Shree Narayan Singh directed the film, which became an instant hit just days before Independence Day 2017. The film promotes better sanitation in India and aims to end open defecation, particularly in rural regions. Neeraj Pandey and Akshay Kumar co-produced the film. You can stream the film on OTT, as it's available on Netflix and ZEE5 (OTTplay Premium).

Toilet: Ek Prem Katha plot and real-life inspiration

Toilet: Ek Prem Katha is based on the true story of Keshav (Akshay Kumar) and Jaya (Bhumi Pednekar), two people from different parts of Mathura who fall in love despite cultural and social differences. The story takes an unexpected turn when the couple faces the biggest hurdle of their lives: a toilet. To this day, millions of women in rural India still risk rape or kidnapping every time they have to go to the toilet, which means they have to trek a few kilometres away from their houses at dawn or twilight. A satirical, eccentric, funny, and whimsical take on the subject, the film aims to touch the hearts of all lovers who are prepared to do anything for their beloved. 

The story starts with Keshav and Jaya's marriage and takes place in two villages close to Mathura, where 80% of the families lack access to a toilet. Disagreement arises on the very first day of their marriage when Jaya permanently departs from Keshav's residence upon realising that there is no toilet. Feeling devastated and hopeless, Keshav embarks on a quest to regain his love, but he must contend with the deeply ingrained customs, beliefs, and values of his homeland. 

Throughout the film, we follow Keshav's journey from jugaadbaaz to standing up for a cause, touching on topics such as the panchayat, the sanitation department, the role of the government, and the superstitions of the people. During this journey, he might learn about the difficulties associated with frequently using the toilet at home. Can the unyielding peasants ever change their minds? Is Jaya going to cave to Keshav's love and change? Will this nation stay unchanged? Can you change someone's mindset? Simply installing bathrooms in India would not make the country safer for women. What happens next is anybody's guess.

Cultural and religious sensitivities

The film draws attention to the fact that cultural and religious sensitivities in India are to blame for the country's toilet problem. This essential need remains unmet, leading to frustration and sexual harassment for women in rural India. The narrative supposedly revolves around the true story of Anita Narre of Madhya Pradesh, who, upon returning to her husband Shivram's house, discovered that there was no toilet. This led her to refuse to go back.

Critics largely praised the writing and performances of the lead actors upon the film's release on August 11, 2017. Domestically and internationally, especially in China, it was a commercial smashing success. With a total of ₹311.02 crore, it became Kumar’s highest-grossing film ever and the fourth highest-grossing Indian film of the year.

Impact and recognition

According to Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised the initiative as a positive step towards spreading the cleanliness message. As one of six positive things that happened in 2017, Bill Gates included Toilet: Ek Prem Katha in his December 2017 list.

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