Director, technicians demand sexual favours from women artists in Tamil TV industry, alleges Padmini
Chennai: As the Malayalam film industry faces intense scrutiny amid allegations of sexual abuse, popular actor and television producer Kutti Padmini has now brought similar accusations to light within the Tamil television industry.
In an interview with NDTV, Padmini revealed that directors and technicians in the Tamil television industry often demand sexual favours from female artists. She noted that many women do not speak out about these abuses because proving sexual harassment can be difficult. Furtermore, Padmini also alleged that many women "have committed suicide" over it. "This is a profession like any other—doctors, lawyers, IT person. Why it has to be a flesh trade? It is very wrong," she asserted.
Padmini highlighted the negative repercussions faced by those who come forward with complaints. She pointed out that they are often blacklisted by the industry, citing the examples of singer Chinmayi and actor Sri Reddy. Chinmayi faced a ban imposed by actor Radha Ravi after she supported individuals who had accused him, with the ban justified on the grounds of her not renewing her membership. Similarly, Sri Reddy was denied a membership card for the actors' association, effectively preventing her from working in television serials.
Padmini also noted that investigations into sexual harassment allegations within Tamil cinema have made little progress. She criticised statements from figures like actor-turned-politician Suresh Gopi, who has reportedly questioned the availability of proof. "How can anyone provide proof? They can do lie-detector test like the CBI is doing," she suggested.
Kutti Padmini also shared that she experienced sexual harassment as a child artist. "I was thrown out of a Hindi film when my mom raised the issue," she said, highlighting the challenges in gathering evidence against perpetrators.
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MBBS course in Chhattisgarh to be offered in Hindi: CM Vishnu Deo Sai
Raipur, Sep 14: The MBBS course in Chhattisgarh will be offered in Hindi from the ongoing academic session, Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai said on Saturday.
Speaking to reporters at his residence on the occasion of 'Hindi Diwas', Sai said his government was happy to implement Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision to impart medical education in Hindi which he had expressed during a rally in Uttar Pradesh in 2022.
"Our government has taken a big decision on Hindi Diwas. The MBBS course will now also be taught in Hindi. Books in Hindi will be introduced in the first year from this session (2024-25). The health department has been asked to arrange books and study materials," he said.
The move was part of efforts to "change our education policy at every level from the old Macaulay imperialist education policy", he said, adding the National Education Policy had been fully implemented in Chhattisgarh.
"The move will benefit students from rural areas since they mostly come from Hindi medium schools and face difficulty in medical courses despite being talented due to the use of English language. Studying in Hindi will strengthen their basics, help them develop a deep understanding of the subject and make them good doctors," Sai asserted.
Hindi Diwas commemorates the historic decision taken by the Constituent Assembly on September 14, 1949 to designate Hindi, written in the Devanagari script, as the official language of the Union of India.
