MeToo In Mollywood: Actress Kutty Padmini Flags Sexual Abuse In Tamil Cinema, Says 'Victims Attempted Suicide'

Sharing her own experience, Kutti Padmini revealed that she faced sexually harassement as a child artist during the shoot of a Hindi film.

Kutti Padmini expressed her dismay over the bans imposed on singer Chinmayi Sripaada and actor Sri Reddy by the Tamil film industry, both of whom had previously spoken out about sexual harassment.

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Amidst the shockwaves created by the Hema Committee report, which exposed widespread allegations of sexual exploitation in the Malayalam film industry, popular actor and television serial producer Kutti Padmini has brought attention to similar issues plaguing the Tamil television show industry. In a recent interview with NDTV, Padmini alleged rampant sexual harassment, claiming that numerous women have even resorted to suicide due to the harassment they faced.

She expressed her dismay over the bans imposed on singer Chinmayi Sripaada and actor Sri Reddy by the Tamil film industry, both of whom had previously spoken out about sexual harassment. "This is a profession like any other—doctors, lawyers, IT professionals. Why does it have to become a flesh trade? It is very wrong," Padmini stated, as per the report, highlighting the troubling demands made by some directors and technicians in the television industry. She added that many women do not complain since sexual harassment can't be easily proven while some women tolerate it because they earn well.

Sharing her own experience, Kutti Padmini revealed that she was sexually harassed as a child artist. She recounted that her mother had raised the issue, but they were subsequently removed from a Hindi film project.

Reacting to Padmini's statements, Chinmayi Sripaada remarked, "Finally, someone from the Tamil film industry agrees that sexual harassment is rampant in the industry."

However, State Minister Swaminathan stated that the authorities have not yet received any formal complaints of sexual harassment from the Tamil television or film industry. The Minister stated, "Unlike the sexual abuse complaints in the Kerala film industry, no such complaints have been reported in Tamil Nadu. If any do arise, appropriate action will be taken."

Earlier, Hema Committee Report findings on Malayalam film industry painted a grim picture of the misogyny and power imbalances.