Trigger warning: This article contains references to assault that may be triggering for some readers.
Singer Chinmayi Sripada is being trolled on social media after she publicly criticized actors Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan for congratulating poet and lyricist Vairamuthu on receiving the prestigious Jnanpith award. The singer, who was one of the women who took Vairamuthu’s name during the MeToo movement in 2018, recently addressed the backlash and defended her decision to question Tamil superstars.
Chinmayi called Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan
Chinmayi explains why she believes she has the right to express her frustration towards influential figures in the industry. The singer, who had earlier spoken about her own experiences, openly criticized Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan for praising the lyricist on social media, resulting in her being heavily trolled by a section of her fan base.
Responding to the criticism, Chinmayi shared a note on X explaining that she once admired both the actors but felt compelled to speak out. Chinmayi wrote, “Many of you are generally upset because I called out Rajini sir and Kamal sir. I was also a fan.” She elaborated on why she believes public figures should be held accountable, adding, “I have a right to express my disappointment with people I foolishly and naively expected to do better – especially one of them being an MP – as if the characters they play in the movies are a punch line to doing the right thing.” (Thus)
Chinmayi was criticized after both actors publicly congratulated Vairamuthu for the honour. Rajinikanth wrote in Tamil, “My hearty congratulations to my dear friend, the esteemed poet Vairamuthu, the recipient of the great Jnanpith Award of our Indian nation. @Vairamuthu #JnanpithAward,” to which Chinmayi replied, “Ayyyyyy!!! Puriyave Puriyaadha (What a riddle)???” Kamal Haasan also praised the lyricist in a message, writing, “Tamil literature, with its long tradition, has received the prestigious literary award, Jnanpith, for the third time. A quarter of a century after the last Jnanpith went to Jayakanthan, my uncle the poet-emperor @Vairamuthu has added this great honor to Tamil. With poetic words "The sky is the bodhi tree for me; Every day it gives me a message," I feel proud to congratulate this friend who reached my ears, entered my heart and merged into friendship.”
Chinmayi replied sharply: “For God’s sake. PS: Men with so much power in cinema who are coming into politics are completely ignoring the words of women who say on record that they were molested by “their uncle-mentor”, they should remind the women who vote – that men will never be on our side. The strangest thing – one of the women from her own party publicly took the poet’s name. The Day At the end of the day, men will stand with their brothers, uncles, fathers, friends, mentors. Who cares if many women have been hurt?”
As the debate continues online, neither Rajinikanth nor Kamal Haasan have publicly responded to Chinmayi’s comments.
Disclaimer: "If you know someone who is a victim of abuse, anxious, going through depression, or suffering from any serious mental illness, contact the nearest doctor, mental health expert, or an NGO for immediate help. There are many helplines available for this."
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