#MeToo movement: Actress Sruthi Hariharan accuses Arjun Sarja of "lewd" behaviour
Bengaluru, Oct 20: Actress Sruthi Hariharan Saturday accused prominent south Indian actor Arjun Sarja of "lewd and complete unprofessional behavior" with her during the shooting for a bilingual film in 2016.
The actress, who has essayed roles in several Kannada films, in a post on her Facebook page praising "#metoo" movement has shared about the incident that left her "startled" and took a while for her to "recover".
Sarja, a multi-lingual actor, has said he is pained by the allegation and would file a case.
Narrating the incident that she alleged happened in 2016, Sruthi said, she was shooting for a bilingual film which starred Arjun Sarja, a man whose movies she grew up watching, and was excited about the opportunity.
"The first few days seemed normal, I played his wife in the film and that day we were to do a romantic scene where we had to hug each other after a brief dialogue.
During the rehearsal, we delivered our lines and Mr Arjun hugs me. With no forewarning or permission, he runs his hands intimately up and down my back," her post said.
"He pulls me closer with my body taut against his and asks the director if we could use this idea of foreplay in the scene. I was aghast," she said in the post.
Sruthi said she was all for depicting realism in cinema, but this felt "absolutely wrong."
"His intent seemed anything but professional. I hated that he did it and angry that I didn't know what to say then,"she said, adding that every actor she has worked with before and after Arjun Sarja, have never resorted to this.
Further noting that the director sensed her "discomfort", Sruthi said she made sure that she let the direction department know that she was not interested to be a part of rehearsals and would come directly for takes.
She also shared the incident with her make up team right after, Sruthi said in her post.
"The incident happened in front of at least 50 people on a shooting set- it happened at my workplace.
I wanted nothing but to stay away from him rather than be tolerant and put up with his lewd and complete unprofessional behavior,"she said.
She said she continued shooting as a "professional," During the course of production, every "smutty innuendo" he made, created an "unpalatable" work environment for me, the post said.
"His salacious invitations to meet him after work appalled me. Looking back I remember attempting to normalise his behaviour and ignore his comments- lest there be issues in the production of the film in entirety.
I maintained a cordial distance. All the while knowing he was wrong and wondering why he never stopped," Sruthi said.
Explaining about her intention to come out now, she said "henceforth I think Mr Arjun Sarja needs to make sure he doesn't cross the thin line between two actors and use his position of power to cause another person discomfort or hurt.
"I choose to do this publicly- cos this movement is more than you and me and our individual experiences. It is a collective voice to question an existing system of power play and to call a spade for what it is," the actress added.
In his reaction to the charge to a local Kannada news channel that has been posted on Arjun Sarja's Facebook post by his team, he said, "..I don't have the cheap mentality, keeping the profession as the medium. I'm deeply pained.
I don't know how to react to this, but hundred per cent I'm going to file a case against this."
The actor said he has great respect for womanhood from childhood, adding he has never involved in any incident that is disrespectful of women or embarrass them.
He said he respects "#metoo" and values it, but cautioned about it being misused, leading to the movement losing its value.
He said in 150 movies that he has acted in, he has shared screen space with 60-70 actresses and has good relationship with all of them.
"If somebody is making such allegation against me, I feel pity for her. What to tell this girl.She had expressed intentions that she wants to act more films with me. I'm surprised," the actor said.
He also questioned as to why Sruthi did not react, if she felt that he misbehaved with her.
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Karnataka Maritime Board announces plans for Mangaluru Water Metro Project
Mangaluru (Karnataka), Nov 4: After being endowed with multi connectivity facilities like three national highways, port and airport, Mangaluru city is now looking at a significant move towards sustainable urban mobility as the Karnataka Maritime Board (KMB) has announced plans for the Mangaluru Water Metro Project (MWMP), officials said on Monday.
This ambitious initiative aims to transform public transportation in the state, utilising National Waterways to connect areas along the Nethravathi (NW-74) and Gurupura (NW-43) rivers, they said.
Set to become India's second-largest water transport system after Kochi, the project promises an eco-friendly, economical and efficient mode of travel, the officials said.
According to officials, the MWMP will connect isolated communities from Bajal to Maravoor, enhancing accessibility and promoting the holistic development of these regions. The initiative is expected to boost local livelihoods and improve the standard of living through integrated transport networks.
According to the project report available with PTI, the MWMP will be rolled out in phases, with the initial stretch covering 30 kilometres along the Nethravathi and Gurupura river backwaters.
The priority route, beginning at Bajal on the Nethravathi and extending to the Maravoor Bridge on the Gurupura, will feature around 17 modern Metro stations.
Key locations such as Someshwara Temple, Ullal and the New Mangalore Port are included in the proposed route. State-of-the-art electric and diesel catamaran boats will be deployed, equipped with essential amenities to ensure a high standard of comfort and operational efficiency.
A comprehensive Feasibility Report (FR) will assess the project's viability, presenting a detailed cost-benefit analysis, market potential, operational strategies and environmental considerations.
"The report will objectively evaluate the project's merits and challenges, providing crucial information for decision-makers, stakeholders and investors," they said.
Officials in the port and fisheries subdivision told PTI that key areas of analysis has been based on assessing the potential to decongest old port areas, exploring the feasibility of cargo movement using Roll-on/Roll-off (Ro-Ro) water metros, examining water level variations influenced by tidal flows, integration with feeder services to ensure seamless last-mile connectivity, demand forecasts over a 25-year period, based on extensive socio-economic research of usage and utility of the MWMP.
The project's Terms of Reference (ToR) emphasise sustainable development, involving thorough site identification, user demand assessments and environmental impact studies. Comprehensive surveys such as LIDAR mapping, bathymetric studies and topographical analysis will ensure accurate planning and implementation, the officials told.
Furthermore, technical collaborations with national institutes of repute will support studies on wave tranquillity, vessel height clearance and infrastructure recommendations for jetties and repair facilities, they said.
A detailed environmental monitoring programme will assess air and water quality, noise levels and aquatic biodiversity in line with Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MOEF&CC) guidelines, the officials added.
The officials of the Maritime Board said the MWMP promises significant economic and environmental benefits, from easing traffic congestion to reducing air pollution. The project will also explore non-fare revenue streams and develop models to ensure financial sustainability.
A socio-economic impact assessment will measure the project's contribution to regional development, backed by projected revenue from passenger fares and ancillary services, a senior official said.
The Board also aims at championing cleaner and greener transportation and to set a precedent for sustainable urban mobility, positioning Mangaluru as a progressive city that leverages its waterways, he added.
