Singer Chinmayi slams Kamal Haasan's 'silence' in Twitter outburst, triggers online backlash

Singer Chinmayi Sripaada has criticised Tamil superstar-politician Kamal Haasan, accusing him of remaining silent on the alleged mistreatment she faced in the Tamil film industry. Chinmayi's remarks came in response to Kamal's tweet expressing solidarity with women wrestlers who have been protesting in Delhi for over a month, demanding the arrest of Wrestling Federation of India Chief, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.

Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who also happens to be a BJP Lok Sabha MP, faces allegations of sexually harassing seven women wrestlers, including a minor. Kamal had shown support for the protesting wrestlers earlier in the week. In his tweet, he questioned the priority given to the safety of national sporting icons versus a politician with a checkered criminal history. 

Also Read: Opinion | 2018 movie: The Kerala story that humanises statistics

"Today marks 1 month of protests by athletes of the wrestling fraternity. Instead of fighting for national glory, we have forced them to fight for personal safety. Fellow Indians ,who deserves our attention, our national sporting icons or a politician with an extensive criminal history?," Kamal tweeted. 

In a tweet, Chinmayi pointed the ban she faced in Tamil Nadu for speaking out, with no significant response from Kamal or others in the industry. 

"5 years of a singer in Tamilnadu being banned for naming a molester right in front of their eyes and not a pip about it since the poettu has their respect. How does one trust politicians who speak for women’s safety while they ignore harassment right under their noses? Just. Asking. Now while my timeline will blow up with abuse, shouting and yelling imma gonna exit. Buhbye!," Chinmayi wrote on her Twitter account. 

Chinmayi's membership in the South Indian Cine, Television Artistes and Dubbing Artistes Union (SICTADAU) was cancelled in 2018 after she showed support for the #MeToo movement. Despite obtaining a stay on the ban, she continues to face alleged restrictions within the Tamil film industry. Chinmayi has previously accused renowned lyricist Vairamuthu of sexual harassment during the height of the #MeToo movement. Her reference to "poettu" in her recent tweet relates to Vairamuthu.

Chinmayi's latest tweet has stirred up a hornet's nest, evoking both admiration for her courage to speak out and a barrage of trolling aimed at her.