Actor Kutti Padmini says sexual harassment is rampant in Tamil film industry

Chennai:

The ripples of the massive uproar in the Malayalam film industry over massive allegations of sexual exploitation have reached neighbouring Tamil Nadu. Popular actor and television serial producer Kutti Padmini has now alleged widespread sexual harassment in the Tamil television show industry and said that many women have “committed suicide” because of it. In an exclusive interview with NDTV, she also expressed her concerns over the ban imposed by the Tamil film industry on singer Chimayi and actor Sri Reddy, who had made allegations of sexual harassment in the past.

“This is a profession like any other – doctors, lawyers, IT people. Why does it have to be a meat trade? It’s very wrong,” she said.

“Directors and technicians demand sexual duties from female artists in TV serials,” Kutti Padmini told NDTV. “Many women do not complain because sexual harassment cannot be proven. Some women tolerate it because they earn well,” she added.

Moreover, being a whistleblower inevitably has negative consequences, she said. Complainants are ostracized by the industry, she added, citing the cases of singer Chinmayi and actor Sri Reddy.

Chinmayi was banned by actor Radha Ravi after she supported those who named him. The action was on the grounds that she had not renewed her membership. Sri Reddy was denied a membership card for the acting fraternity, which means she cannot even work for television serials.

To make matters worse, there is no progress in investigations into allegations of sexual harassment in Tamil cinema, she added. “I read that Suresh Gopi has said ‘Where is the evidence?’. How can anyone provide evidence? They can conduct lie detector tests like the CBI does,” she said.
State Minister Swaminathan told reporters that authorities have not received any complaints of sexual harassment from the industry.

Kutti Padmini said even she was sexually harassed as a child. “I was thrown out of a Hindi film when my mother raised the issue,” she said, explaining the difficulties in gathering evidence against perpetrators.

The Malayalam film industry is facing a major crisis after the Justice Hema Committee report on harassment of women in the industry was made public earlier this month. It included reports accusing women professionals of harassment, exploitation and assault. It was followed by a series of allegations from several women artistes and other workers.

The government has formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the case. “The SIT has been strengthened by adding additional women officers. All related cases registered with local police stations are being handed over to the SIT for further investigation,” the Kerala Police said in a statement.