Actor and writer Rohini Molleti recently asked filmmakers not to show women’s bodies as commercial commodities. She said that films must help bring a change in the way women were perceived.
“I have a request to all my film maker friends… please don’t make a woman’s body a commercial commodity. Show how a woman should be treated. Let’s bring a change in the way women are seen,” she wrote on Twitter.
I have a request to all my film maker friends… please don’t make a woman’s body a commercial commodity ??? show how a woman should be treated. Let’s bring a change in the way women are seen
— Rohini Molleti (@Rohinimolleti) March 13, 2019
Her tweet has come in light of the Pollachi sexual assault and blackmail cases which have left people shocked. Rohini asked for punishment of the offenders in the case, and shared helpline numbers urging women to report cases of abuse.
இப்படி ஒரு கொடுமை…தாங்கமுடியல.#PunishPollachiRapist
— Rohini Molleti (@Rohinimolleti) March 11, 2019
பொள்ளாச்சி கொடுங்குற்றத்தை மூன்று பேர் கொண்ட குழு விசாரிக்க உள்ளது.
பாதிக்கப்பட்ட பெண்கள் இனி தைரியமாக வெளியில் வந்து புகார் helpline ( 044-2855155, 04428592750)
-மாநில மகளிர் ஆணைய தலைவர் கண்ணகி பாக்கியநாதன் IAS அறிவித்திருக்கிறார்.#Voice4PollachiVictims— Rohini Molleti (@Rohinimolleti) March 14, 2019
The case that was handled by the Pollachi police has now been transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), following a recommendation by the Tamil Nadu state government. This comes days after the video of an assault was leaked online, leading to outrage by people.
On February 24, a case was filed by a college student who had been assaulted and blackmailed. Three persons – Sabarirajan, Sathish and Vasanthakumar – were arrested the next day, and the police caught the fourth member of the gang, Thirunavukkarasu, on March 5. They have been in custody since then.
From the phones of the accused that have been seized, the police believe that the gang is a part of a racket that has assaulted and blackmailed many more women in Pollachi. Forensic reports of the details from their mobile phones are yet to confirm this.
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Meanwhile, the AIADMK party member, A Nagaraj, who was arrested for allegedly threatening the survivor’s brother was let on bail along with four other complainants accused. After pressure from the public, AIADMK removed Nagaraj from the party. They have not asked for his arrest yet.
Rohini Molleti, who has worked as an actor, lyricist, screen writer, dubbing artist and director in Tamil and Malayalam films, is one among the few celebrities, such as Varalaxmi Sarathkumar, Aishwarya Rajesh, Khushboo, Kamal Haasan and GV Prakash, who have demanded justice in the case.
Rohini is the first person to have called out to filmmakers and artistes to take responsibility for their work, and portray women in the right manner. The Sthree actor has over 130 films to her credit, and has also written scripts for Tamil TV serials and shows, including Vijay TV’s Kelvigal Aayiram.
She has also directed a feature film called Appavin Meesai which is yet to release.
Image Courtesy: Rohini Molleti Twitter Handle