The actor claimed that such cases are prevalent only in Malayalam cinema and never existed in the Tamil film industry.
Published Sep 04, 2024 | 12:44 PM ⚊ Updated Sep 04, 2024 | 12:44 PM
Chinmayi criticises Jiiva for dismissing sexual harassment in Tamil cinema. (Instagram)
Singer Chinmayi Sripaada has criticised actor Jiiva for dismissing the prevalence of sexual harassment and abuse in the Tamil film industry.
In the wake of the publication of the Justice Hema Committee Report in Kerala, a few reporters recently questioned Jiiva if there was a need for setting up a similar committee in the Tamil industry.
However, Jiiva claimed that “sexual harassment was prevalent only in the Malayalam film industry” and “there were no such instances in Tamil cinema”, thus implying that there was no need for constituting a committee in Kollywood.
During the same interaction, when a journalist questioned him further on the issue, Jiiva became aggressive and picked up a heated debate with the former.
Reacting to this issue, Chinmayi Sripada expressed shock and anger as to how a prominent actor like Jiiva could turn a blind eye to the existence of sexual harassment in the Tamil film industry. She shared the video of Jiiva entering an argument with the reporter to share her thoughts on the issue.
During the 2018 MeToo movement, Chinmayi was one of the prominent voices against sexual harassment in Tamil cinema, leading to her being banned by the South Indian Cine Television Artists and Dubbing Union.
She returned to the industry after five years with the Vijay’s Leo (2023).
I really do not understand how they are saying sexual harassment does not exist in Tamil Industry.
HOW?! https://t.co/sm9qReErs0
— Chinmayi Sripaada (@Chinmayi) September 1, 2024
Earlier, Superstar Rajnikanth stated that he didn’t know anything about the Justice Hema Committee Report.
When a reporter asked him for his opinion on the report, and if a similar committee should be established in Tamil cinema, Rajinikanth looked surprised and said he didn’t know anything about the Hema Committee Report.
“I am sorry, I am not aware of such a report. I don’t know anything about that,” he told the media.
Released on 19 August after four-and-half years, the Justice Hema Committee report opened Pandora’s box in Mollywood, as expected. It brought to light a deeply entrenched culture of sexual harassment, discrimination, and misconduct that’s been prevalent in Mollywood for decades, in what is being referred to as “adjustments” or “compromises”.
(Edited by Y Krishna Jyothi)
