Vairamuthu – the Greatest and highly influential Poet has been caught into sexual harassment, exploitation and sexploitation!

Vairamuthu – the Greatest and highly influential Poet has been caught into sexual harassment, exploitation and sexploitation!

In high-tech industries how sexploitation breeds: Indian, for that matter, any film industry has been a place of exploitation and sexploitation place only. In earlier times, the actresses and other women associated with films might not have expressed their sufferings openly. Or such sexual harassment narratives might have been confined to the film field and gossiping. With the rise of media and social media etc., people get awareness and stated expressing their views opinion and perspective anonymously or openly using social media. Government of India has passed strict legislation to prosecute the sexploiters at working places. In government offices, definitely, women have started coming out, as full support is extended to them. However, in sophisticated industries, including IT sector, most of the sexploitations, harassments and even crimes are suppressed, oppressed and buried with high-tech compromises. Of course, cine-field has been more sophisticated by other means, yet, some of them have come out to pinpoint the sexual animals hiding behind virtuous masks.

“Me Too” exposing sexual animals prowling in cinema industry: While the MeToo movement goes on in India, three anonymous women have accused Vairamuthu, a popular lyricist in Tamil Cinema, of sexual harassment, while another woman accused veteran actor Radha Ravi[1]. Vairamuthu, with political clout reigns supreme and controls all his critics. Though, recently, caught in “Andal controversy” he could manipulate and escape from legal action initiated. Now, started accusations against him by cine-field women. Two female singers spoke of their instances where they were invited to Vairamuthu’s house-cum-office. Both were 18 years old when they were harassed by him[2]. While one of the women said that he hugged and kissed her, the other shared that he closed the room and touched her[3]. Journalist Sandhya Menon tweeted the victims accounts on their behalf[4].

After NanaPatekar and all, now Vairamuthu: After allegations of sexual harassment by Bollywood actress Tanushree Dutta on Nana Patekar kicked off the #MeToo movement in India, the campaign has hit Tamil cinema, too, with lyricist Vairamuthu being accused of alleged sexual abuse by a woman, who requested anonymity[5]. This has prompted several others to come forward with their stories on the award-winning lyricist. Singer Chinmayi Sripada, who has been sharing various other #MeToo stories on her social networking page, has reacted and shared the stories on Vairamuthu, too[6]. An anonymous woman has accused the lyricist of sexual harassment at workplace when she was just 18 years of age. Chinmayi shared the story on social media and added, “The industry knows; the men know. #TimesUp The time is bloody up.” The industry knows; the men know. #TimesUp The time is bloody up. https://t.co/UuZpaNQBhm

— Chinmayi Sripaada (@Chinmayi) 1538995949000

Chinmayi’s Sripada’s open tweets pointing Vairamuthu: After the first allegation surfaced against Vairamuthu, many others started sharing their story as well. A female singer has alleged that she was asked to join Vairamuthu and a producer at a hotel to spend the night with them, in turn, promising her an opportunity to sing in the producer’s movie.  She accused Tamil poet lyricist Vairamuthu of harassing her when they were both in Switzerland for an album launch or a book launch (she’s not sure) in 2005 or 2006. What she recorded, “Sharing her story on social media, the National Award-winning singer said[7]: “Year 2005/2006 maybe… Veezhamattom, an album for Sri Lankan Tamizhs that I had sung in, as had Manikka Vinayagam sir… We went to Switzerland… We sang… We performed… Everyone left. Only my mother and I were asked to stay back. The organizer (I don’t remember his name) asked me to visit Vairamuthu sir in a hotel in Lucerne. I asked why. He told me to cooperate. I refused. We demanded to be sent back to India. He said ‘You won’t have a career!’ My mother and I both put our foot down… demanded an earlier flight to India and came back.””

Adding another victim’s story. https://t.co/ZrId3wPfrO

— Chinmayi Sripaada (@Chinmayi) 1539056335000

18-years girl harassed by Vairamuthu: Another girl has shared her story, too, and according to her, Vairamuthu called her to his office to appreciate her work and tried to touch her inappropriately.

ONE MORE Allegation against @vairamuthu https://t.co/Pj13sHQ0Lb

— Chinmayi Sripaada (@Chinmayi) 1539060310000

I cannot stop shaking. My Friend will remain anonymous. @vairamuthu Why people cannot share at the risk of thei… https://t.co/kc6VLGO8oZ

— Chinmayi Sripaada (@Chinmayi) 1539021725000

Story of an RJ on @vairamuthu https://t.co/0Uht9lPqCU

— Chinmayi Sripaada (@Chinmayi) 1539078928000

Siddharth supports for the cause: Actor Siddharth, who has been proactively tweeting about the #MeToo movement catching up in the Indian film industry, alsobacked Chinmayi Sripaada and tweeted[8]: “Multiple women are speaking out against #Vairamuthu. Without judging anyone, they must be heard. When somebody of Chinmayi’s stature who has so much to lose, stands by the accusers, that’s huge!”

 

Samantha and Varalaxmi too support: Samantha, who has increasingly been speaking out against gender discrimination, took to Twitter and wrote[9], “I am so happy that more and more women are finding the strength to say #MeToo. Your bravery is commendable. I am sorry though that some people, even other women themselves will shame and burden you with the question of proof and doubt. Just know that you are saving many little girls with your voice. I support the #MeTooIndia movement.” She further appreciated singer Chinmayi for her courage to call out Vairamuthu. Actor Varalaxmi Sarathkumar also tweeted in support of the #MeToo movement[10], saying that it was “alarming” to hear these stories. She said that she’d stood up for #MeToo last year and that she wanted more women to come forward and speak up.

Vairamuthu, intellectuality, virtuosity: Vairamuthu, with the political support  reigning supreme in film industry, though, he has less talent than Kannadasan. He has been parading as “Great Poet” and got state and national awards with political recommendations.  The “Andal controversy” exposed his intellectuality of perversity and duplicity. Now comes the sexual harassment accusation. It pierces his virtuosity veil.

• Virtuosity is used particularly to describe musicians, but also often for writers, actors, dancers, and athletes. A virtuoso is a highly skilled performer, and a virtuoso performance is one that astonishes the audience by its feats.
• Psychologically there were no doubt good reasons for my attempt; and it was worth while, if only to see of what excesses I was capable in that sort of virtuosity
• The Law Enforcement Technology Advancement Centre (LETAC) has developed SID version 6.7: a Sadistic, Intelligent, and Dangerous virtual reality entity which is synthesized from the personalities of more than 150 serial killers.
• Virtuosity is a 1995 American science fiction action film directed by Brett Leonard, and starring Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe. Howard W. Koch, Jr. served as an executive producer for the film.

In any case, he gets exposed. Better, he stops his advice, discourses etc., given to society and enjoy his life within his private rooms and parlours. The society does not need such spoilers.

© Vedaprakash

10-10-2018

[1] Indian Express, #MeToo: Popular Tamil lyricist Vairamuthu, actor Radha Ravi accused of sexual harrasment, Published: 09th October 2018 02:14 PM  |   Last Updated: 09th October 2018 04:11 PM.

[2] http://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/2018/oct/09/metoo-popular-tamil-lyricist-vairamuthu-actor-radha-ravi-accused-of-sexual-harrasment-1883182.html

[3] India Today, Lyricist Vairamuthu faces sexual harassment allegations, October 8, 2018

UPDATED: October 9, 2018 10:23 IST.

[4] https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/regional-cinema/story/lyricist-vairamuthu-faces-allegation-of-sexual-harassment-1358726-2018-10-08

[5] Times of India, #MeToo movement: Vairamuthu accused of sexual abuse,TNN | Updated: Oct 9, 2018, 16:12 IST

[6] https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/metoo-movement-vairamuthu-accused-of-sexual-abuse/articleshow/66130320.cms

 

[7] NDTV, Singer Chinmayi Sripaada Names Poet Vairamuthu In #MeToo Story; Siddharth Tweets Support, Written by Divya Goyal | Updated: October 09, 2018 22:48 IST

[8] https://www.ndtv.com/entertainment/singer-chinmayi-sripaada-names-poet-vairamuthu-in-metoo-story-siddharth-tweets-support-1929438

[9] TheNewsMinute, After Chinmayi tweets on Vairamuthu, Samantha and Varakaxmi stand up for ‘Me Too,’ Tuesday, October 09, 2018 – 12:46

[10] https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/after-chinmayi-tweets-vairamuthu-samantha-and-varalaxmi-stand-me-too-89673