There has been no response to the National Commission for Women’s letter issued to IPS officer TK Rajendran seeking action against singer Chinmayi’s allegations of sexual harassment by lyricist Vairamuthu. Dated March 1, the letter asked for appropriate action to be taken in 15 days. Chinmayi told Silverscreen that she has still not received any response from TK Rajendran or the NCW.
She tweeted the letter on May 20. It read that “The complainant has raised concerns over police inaction in the matter including non-registration of FIR. She has also shared the details of unnecessary harassment meted out to her at the workplace because of the allegations made.”
Chinmayi tweeted, “Considering so many of the outed predators and rapists have powerful friends or are politicians themselves, nothing will happen. But I am glad I outed him and warned others. I wish I had been warned but no one did.”
Considering so many of the outed predators and rapists have powerful friends or are politicians themselves, nothing will happen.
But I am glad I outed him and warned others. I wish I had been warned but no one did. pic.twitter.com/bo4YOKvVz2— Chinmayi Sripaada (@Chinmayi) May 20, 2019
She also added, “Vairamuthu had some people call me for a ‘compromise’/apology,” and wished she had recorded those calls.
Mr Vairamuthu had some people call me for ‘compromise’ / apology and I was an idiot to not record the calls. Anyway I hope those big people can live with their conscience.
I hope for a future where people of all genders and sexes can coexist in trust, compassion, love and peace.— Chinmayi Sripaada (@Chinmayi) May 20, 2019
NCW’s letter was issued after Maneka Gandhi, the Union Minister for Women and Child Development, responded to Chinmayi’s tweet that said she was banned by the South Indian Cine, Television Artistes And Dubbing Artistes Union after she called out lyricist Vairamuthu of sexual harassment in the MeToo movement last year. Maneka Gandhi said she had forwarded the complaint for the NCW to take up.
Chinmayi had told ToI she was thankful for the response and would wait to see if action was taken. “The NCW has been given complaints before. They just need to take cognizance of complaints and set up an enquiry commission.” She said, “They could have easily set up a fact-finding committee and called us and the offenders for an enquiry. We don’t know whose door to knock on.” She added that there were other women who had similar experiences, but were afraid to speak up fearing backlash. “So many playback singers have anonymously taken names of their offenders, but since there’s no action, they are not willing to speak up.”
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In October 2018, she accused lyricist Vairamuthu of sexual harassment, and came out in support of several women who accused the president of the dubbing union, Radha Ravi of sexual harassment. In November 2018, she was terminated from the dubbing union for allegedly not paying her the annual union dues. She is currently fighting a case against her termination. While she was granted an interim stay on the ban from a civil court in Chennai in March, she said that it was going to be an uphill task with union president Radha Ravi taking every step possible to not let her back until she apologised and paid Rs 1.5 lakh as fine.
She told Silverscreen yesterday that was still not getting dubbing offers in Tamil films. About the status of the case, she said, “I’ll know when courts reopen. My interim injunction stays till June 6.”