Chennai:

Celebrated singer Chinmayi Sripaada, a key face of the “MeToo” movement in India, has expressed hope that the Hema Committee Report’s exposure of the dark underbelly of Kerala’s film industry will encourage more women survivors of sexual violence to come forward and report it. “Siddique and Ranjith, who have resigned, are not the only two in the Kerala film industry facing allegations of sexual offences,” she told NDTV in an exclusive interview. 

The Justice Hema Committee report — providing sordid details of sexual abuse, systemic harassment, and a “criminal nexus” within Mollywood — has opened a Pandora’s box of more complaints against senior artistes and directors. 

Shortly after its contents were made public, director Ranjith Balakrishnan and actor Siddique, resigned from their positions in the Kerala Chalachitra Academy and Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA), amid allegations of misconduct.

On Monday, a junior artiste in the Malayalam film industry accused award-winning actor and director Baburaj of rape. Baburaj, who is the Joint Secretary of the Association of Malayalam Movie Actors, or AMMA, has denied any wrongdoing.

Chinmayi highlighted the difficulties survivors face in seeking justice, including loss of livelihood and challenges in proving sexual offences. 

She underscored the need for a swift and sensitive justice system, citing her own experience of being banned from dubbing and facing a badly hit singing career after levelling molestation allegations against lyricist Vairamuthu and actor Radha Ravi.

The system, she said, makes it difficult for survivors to file police complaints, sharing her own experience of being molested several years ago and the taboo surrounding police stations at the time and the long period of trial.  

She praised the actors in Kerala who have spoken out against sexual abuse and expressed her desire for other people in industries to follow suit. 

Asked about women in many cases not coming forward to file police complaints, she said, “Most of it is circumstantial evidence. Even bruises get healed in a few days”. 

“We need a swift sensitive legal system from the very beginning. We can’t be carrying bodycam all the time. Violations like molestation happen in a jiffy,” she said. 

The ICC system was brought in to make the system faster but hasn’t worked, she said, underscoring that they “expected a lot from the National Commission for Women”. 

The political class and the film industry, she said, continue to associate with those facing “MeToo” allegations. “Politicians support men facing sexual harassment allegations because they are vote banks,” she added.

New Delhi:

Singer Chinmayi Sripaada has reacted to the alleged gang-rape of a Spanish tourist in Jharkhand’s Dumka district and said that all Indians should be “ashamed” by the incident. 

The woman from Spain was allegedly gang-raped at Kurumahat in the Hansdiha police station area last Friday when she was spending the night in a makeshift tent along with her husband. The couple had reached Dumka from Bangladesh on two motorcycles and was en route to Bihar and then Nepal.

Taking to her official X account, Ms Sripaada said, “If all Indians can be proud when ‘few’ Indians win an Olympic medal, all Indians can also be ashamed when ‘few’ men rape.”

If all Indians can be proud when ‘few’ Indians win an Olympic medal

All Indians can also be ashamed when ‘few’ men rape.

— Chinmayi Sripaada (@Chinmayi) March 4, 2024

Actors Dulquer Salmaan and Richa Chadha were also among those who expressed shock over the alleged gang-rape and demanded that perpetrators be brought to justice.

Mr Salmaan said he was “crushed” to hear the news.

“You both recently visited Kottayam where close friends hosted you for a meal. This should not happen to anyone anywhere (sic),” the actor wrote on his Instagram Story.

Ms Chadha termed the act “shameful”.

“Indians are treating foreigners like they treat their own women. Shame on our rotten society,” she said.

The police have arrested eight people in connection with the case. 

“Don’t Blame People But Criminals” 

The Spanish woman on Tuesday said that she has no complaints against the people of India as she has safely travelled around 20,000 km across the country.

Speaking to reporters before leaving for Nepal via Bihar along with her husband on their motorcycles, she said she would continue her world tour.

“People of India are nice. I don’t blame the people, but I blame the criminals. People of India have treated me very well, and were very kind to me,” the 28-year-old woman said.

“We chose the place for the night stay because it was calm and beautiful. We thought it would be okay if we lived there alone,” she said.

The woman said that she has been travelling for more than six years.

“We have been in India for the last six months and travelled around 20,000 km. We did not have any problems anywhere. This has happened for the first time,” she said.

“I have good memories from India,” she added.