ControversyMedia reports claimed that a car being driven by Abhiram crashed into another vehicle coming in the opposite direction in the city's Manikonda area.Tnm StaffImage: Facebook/Abhiram_DaggubatiThe Daggubati family on Thursday denied reports that Abhiram, the younger brother of popular actor Rana Daggubati and the son of Tollywood producer Suresh Babu, was involved in an accident in Hyderabad and escaped without injuries. A statement was issued after media reports claimed that a car being driven by Abhiram crashed into another vehicle coming in the opposite direction in the city's Manikonda area. Pointing out that the car involved in the accident did not belong to anyone in their family, the statement appealed to people not to believe in rumours. This is not the first time that Abhiram, who was expected to make his acting debut in the coming months, has found himself in the centre of a controversy. In...
- 8/14/2020
- by Nitin
- The News Minute
ControversyA group led by actors Jeevitha and Rajasekhar accused Naresh of running the association unilaterally. Nitin B.A rift has opened up in Tollywood's Movie Artistes Association (Maa) as a meeting was held at the Telugu Film Chamber Office in Hyderabad on October 20. The meeting is reported to have witnessed ugly scenes as arguments broke out, with some members, including actors Prudhvi and Paruchuri Gopala Krishna walking out. Actor Prudhvi told reporters that some members at the meeting had behaved in an 'unruly' manner, adding, "I urge Chiranjeevi garu (the founder President of Maa) to dissolve the present association and conduct a fresh election.” At the centre of the conflict is actor-producer Naresh, who was elected as Maa President earlier this year, and was conspicuously absent from the meeting. On the other side are actors Rajasekhar, the Vice-President, and his wife Jeevitha, who is the General Secretary of Maa.
- 10/23/2019
- by Nitin
- The News Minute
Women's RightsTNM spoke to professionals from Malayalam, Telugu, Kannada and Tamil industries to understand if there has been any progress at all in how these workplaces address sexual harassment. Sowmya RajendranIt's been a year since the #MeToo movement hit the entertainment and media industries in India. In the south, several women spoke up about the harassment that they have faced over the years. While some of these allegations were made anonymously through Twitter handles supporting the movement, others put their names to their accounts. The accusations created a media frenzy and each new name that came up made it to the headlines. But have things changed substantially on ground? Tnm spoke to professionals from the four southern film industries to find out if an Internal Committee (Ic) as mandated by the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act (2013) has been set up since then. Malayalam For the women of the Malayalam film industry,...
- 10/3/2019
- by Sowmya
- The News Minute
OpinionAshok (Prabhas) only looks at Amritha (Shraddha Kapoor) as an object of desire right from the beginning, not as a colleague. Sowmya Rajendran*Some spoilers ahead. Do not read if you haven't watched the film and do not like spoilers. A man, believed to be a police officer, recruits a woman colleague because "she looks pretty". When they meet at a crime scene, he pretends that he needs help to climb over a wall and declines the assistance offered by his male colleagues. Instead, he deliberately asks the woman to give her hand so he can pull himself over. In real life, this would easily qualify as sexual harassment at the workplace. But in Prabhas’s Saaho, which released on August 30, it is what constitutes romance. It is immaterial that it is later revealed that Prabhas’s character, Ashok Chakravarthy, is not actually a cop – his colleagues believe him to...
- 9/2/2019
- by Sowmya
- The News Minute
MeTooPa Ranjith said that it was time for the film industry to accept that sexual harassment was a reality. Tnm StaffYoutube ScreengrabWhile film personalities indulging in misogyny and slut-shaming on stage is nothing new, calling out those who do so on the very same stage, is something we’ve probably never seen before. Setting the precedent is director Pa Ranjith who called out producer K Rajan’s misogyny and open threats to singer Chinmayi soon after the producer aired his repellent views. Speaking at an audio launch a few days ago, producer K Rajan had threatened to "destroy" Chinmayi for accusing lyricist Vairamuthu of sexual harassment. “I have some people with me who can destroy you,” he had said. He had also claimed that Chinmayi’s intention was to seek "publicity". Director Pa Ranjith, who came up on stage soon after, condemned Rajan’s attitude in turning the tables against...
- 4/16/2019
- by Anjana
- The News Minute
TollywoodNaresh received 268 votes while Shivaji got 199 votes.Tnm StaffThe Movie Artists Association (Maa) in Tollywood has officially elected actor-producer Naresh as its new president after elections were conducted for its official body on March 10. Naresh, who was the general secretary of Maa, defeated Shivaji Raja, the incumbent president of the association, after a close race. While Shivaji received 199 votes, Naresh received 268. Thanking all those who voted for him and worked with him during campaigning, Naresh said he would strive to take the association forward and work for the interests of all artists in the Telugu film industry. On the Naresh panel, senior actor Jeevitha Rajasekhar contested and won the post of general secretary. Jeevitha’s husband actor Rajasekhar was elected to the post of executive vice-president. While actor Kota Shankara Rao and director Haranath Babu contested for the post of treasurer and vice-president respectively, the former lost to Rajeev Kanakala...
- 3/11/2019
- by Priyankar
- The News Minute
OpinionWhile men accused in #MeToo continue to sign new films and be part of prestigious projects, the fallout has been for the women who stood up against them.Sowmya RajendranNawazuddin Siddiqui is in the cast of Karthik Subbaraj's Petta, starring Rajinikanth in the lead role. Dileep has just signed a new film with B Unnikrishnan. Arjun Sarja is in Priyadarshan's ambitious film Marakkar: Arabikadalinte Simham, which has Mohanlal playing the title role. All of these men have been accused of some form of sexual harassment or abuse, and as if to shut up the ‘oh-but-what-about-their-careers’ whataboutery, there is literally no break in the work they get. In fact, it is as if the #MeToo movement, which created much noise in the last few months, never took place. The #MeToo movement had been incubating in the south Indian film industries for a while, before it exploded in October this year.
- 12/10/2018
- by Sowmya
- The News Minute
TollywoodSri Reddy had accused the director of sexual harassment among many other powerful men in the industry.Digital NativeSri Reddy levelled some serious allegations against top film personalities stirring the hornet’s nest a few months ago. She had named some top directors and actors for asking sexual favours for finding work in the industry. And one name that figured was that of the noted actor – director – producer – choreographer, the multi-talented Raghava Lawrence. Soon after this allegation surfaced, Raghava Lawrence had called Sri Reddy for an open audition, promising a role in his upcoming film if she was up to the mark. Keeping his promise, Sri Reddy recently auditioned for a role in Raghava Lawrence’s upcoming film and bagged an offer. The controversial actor is happy with the recent developments that she couldn’t stop raving about Raghava Lawrence. In a post online, she has lauded the social service...
- 10/18/2018
- by Priyankar
- The News Minute
Sexual Harassment Very few from the Telugu industry have expressed their support for #MeToo and there seems to be little clarity on the redressal mechanisms in place.Priyanka RichiAs the #MeToo movement is taking the country by storm with a large number of women calling out men for sexual harassment at workplaces, a number of organisations have been in the dock for not having a proper redressal mechanism to address employees’ grievances. Film bodies have been slammed time and again for not providing adequate representation to women who face harassment on film sets. Taking cognisance of the matter, the Telugu film chamber, in a major move, has made it mandatory for all production houses in Tollywood to constitute an Internal Complaints Committee (Icc). Speaking to Tnm, producer Tamareddy Bharadwaj confirmed the decision and further added that the law will be put into force only in big production houses that produce movies throughout the year.
- 10/18/2018
- by Shilpa
- The News Minute
KollywoodThe actor spoke on film reviews, piracy and actor Karunas' arrest during the audio launch of his upcoming film 'Sandakozhi 2'.Tnm StaffWhile actor Vishal awaits the release of his 25th film, Sandakozhi 2, the film’s audio launch was held in Chennai on Monday. Speaking at the event, Vishal requested "digital media friends" to refrain from putting up reviews immediately after the film’s release. “Please share your reviews three days after the film’s release. Films may be good or bad, and I understand you have your freedom of expression but everyone’s human here. Those three days will give the producers and filmmakers an opportunity to save their films,” he said during the launch. Vishal further added that he only meant certain members and not the entire fraternity. “I’m only speaking to my digital media friends. I don’t have any qualms against newspaper or television reviewers.
- 9/25/2018
- by Anjana
- The News Minute
ControversyMany activists, who stood by her when she spoke of the rampant sexual harassment in Tollywood, have now disassociated themselves from her.Balakrishna GaneshanPriyanka RichiActor Sri Reddy’s comments on the Chicago sex racket has drawn much flak from women’s rights activists, many of whom have now disassociated themselves from her. Sri Reddy, who has been credited with bringing the conversation about the rampant sexual harassment in the Telugu movie industry out in the open, has insinuated in her Facebook post that over 30 well-known women associated with the industry worked with the couple that headed the racket. Kishan Modugumudi and Chandrakala were arrested by the Us authorities in April for allegedly forcing actors to undertake sex work by luring them to the country under the pretext of cultural programmes organised there. Sri Reddy's list, which features several prominent actors, is similar to the sensational allegations that she has been making for months now. The actor has not come forward with any evidence so far, but has been making several insinuations that are passed around on social media as the "truth". While a few celebrities from Tollywood have threatened to file defamation cases against her, Sri Reddy's latest act has drawn condemnation from even those who initially supported her. Her comments come in the heels of the Telugu media facing a massive backlash over its reportage of the high-end sex racket. “What Sri Reddy did is condemnable. We have been appealing to the media to not speculate on the victims and here she is, revealing names along with photographs,” said activist Sandhya. “Though we consider her as a victim of this structural sexual exploitation in the industry, we cannot tolerate such behaviour. She has been working against our cause … Even when she abused Pawan Kalyan, we had asked her to desist from making such irresponsible comments. Our stand is to stop this naming and shaming campaign by revealing names of alleged victims, whether Sri Reddy does it or someone does it, we condemn them,” she added. Activist and journalist Sajaya Kakarla too slammed the actor. “This is very unfortunate. We do not want to associate with Sri Reddy in this particular act, where she has resorted to naming and shaming the alleged victims. We do not accept that, we condemn it. Whether it is Sri Reddy or any media outlet, anyone resorting to naming and shaming the alleged victims would be condemned," she said. Sajaya added that Sri Reddy’s recent behaviour could be attributed to the trolling she has faced in the last few months. "We explained to her (Sri Reddy) about gender sensitivity, but she is paying no heed to us. I think she is in a phase where she has been subjected to so much trolling and so many threats that she is just venting out her frustration," she said. Sri Reddy hit national news after her protest outside the Telugu Film Chamber of Commerce in April against the unacknowledged ‘casting couch’ (a euphemism for sexual exploitation) culture. The National Human Rights Commission taking notice of this, slammed the Movie Artists Association for denying her membership and also asked the state to investigate her allegations. The Nhrc further asked the state government if there was a mechanism in place to report sexual harassment against women in the Telugu film industry.
- 6/25/2018
- by Monalisa
- The News Minute
Entertainment According to the latest buzz, Nani is charging about Rs. 10 lakhs per episode which is far lesser that his predecessor Jr Ntr who charged Rs 50 lakh per episode Digital NativeWhen it was revealed that the Tollywood star Jr Ntr would be hosting the Bigg Boss Telugu last year, there were enough speculations on what he would charge per episode. Later, it was revealed that the star was paid Rs. 50 lakh per episode. Therefore, expectations were high about Bigg Boss 2. It was disclosed recently that Nani was signed up to host season 2 and naturally there were various speculations about this remuneration. According to the latest buzz, Nani is charging about Rs. 10 lakhs per episode which is far lesser that his predecessor. Also, there are reports that season 2 would run longer than season 1. Sources say that the show’s producers were in talks to Ram Charan Teja and Allu Arjun earlier with plans to rope them in but their remuneration demand was almost in sync with that of Jr Ntr. Further, both the stars were committed to various projects and could not allot time for hosting Bigg Boss. The Bigg Boss season 2 will be premiered on Star Maa on June 10th. While there are a lot of expectations for this show, there is a buzz that film stars such as Sri Reddy, Raj Tharun and Charmme Kaur may be housemates among others. The sets for the new season have been built in Hyderabad, unlike the first season which was shot in Lonavala. The Bigg Boss house has been constructed at the popular Annapurna Studios where the contestants will stay during the entire course of the show. Speaking at the launch of the show, Nani is reported to have told, “I am excited to be a part of the show and looking forward towards this new experience. A house full of celebrities with cameras all around watching their every move. There will be varied emotions like love, friendship, drama making it more entertaining with Inkoncham Masala. But most importantly on this show everything is Unscripted. Like I said in my promo yedeini jargachu.” (Content provided by Digital Native)...
- 6/7/2018
- by Monalisa
- The News Minute
Controversy In a video, Ram Gopal Varma admitted that he had given Sri Reddy the idea of abusing Pawan Kalyan to gain attention for her cause.Tnm StaffThe controversy unleashed by actor Sri Reddy has taken another turn. The actor had recently abused superstar and politician Pawan Kalyan. And now, she has apologised to him on Twitter. Pawan Kalyan had said that Sri Reddy should go to the police with her allegations rather than approach the media. After facing much backlash for her abusive comment and offensive gesture against Pawan Kalyan, Sri Reddy has issued an apology. The actor wrote, “I apologize wholeheartedly to Pawan Kalyan’s mother. I didn’t do it deliberately, but what I did was definitely wrong, hence asking for an apology.” పవన్ కళ్యాణ్ అమ్మ గారికి నేను మనస్పూర్తిగా క్షమాపణ కోరుతున్నాను నేను కావాలని చేయలేదు కానీ నేను చేసింది ముమ్మాటికి తప్పే అందుకే క్షమించమని కోరుకుంటున్నాను — Sri Reddy (@MsSriReddy) April 18, 2018 In yet another twist to the tale, it has now emerged that it was director Ram Gopal Varma who instigated Sri Reddy to abuse Pawan Kalyan. Reportedly, the director offered Rs 5 crore for abusing Pawan Kalyan. After the revelation, Ram Gopal Varma admitted that it was he who had asked Sri Reddy to hurl abuses at Pawan Kalyan. He released a video on Facebook, admitting to the accusation and asking for an apology. “It was my idea to abuse Pawan Kalyan,” the director said, and went to justify it by linking it to dialogues from the Telugu hit Arjun Reddy. He claimed that the abuse words had been accepted when spoken by the male protagonist in the film but not when Sri Reddy said the same. “It was my suggestion, hence I am to be blamed. It wasn’t Sri Reddy’s idea. If somebody has to apologise, it is me. Because… although I didn’t abuse Pawan Kalyan, I influenced Sri Reddy to do so,” the director said. He also added that if the actor wanted more attention for her cause, it would be better if she makes some controversial statements targeting a big star. He gave an explanation by giving the example of Mahesh Kathi, Telugu film critic, who received a lot of attention because of his criticism on Pawan Kalyan and his fans, previously. “Nobody knew who Kathi Mahesh was, just because he made controversial statements against Pawan Kalyan, he got a lot of focus and attention,” he said. The director also gave clarification on the Rs 5 crore offer. Shockingly, he said that the Rs 5 crore offer was to stop Sri Reddy from filing cases against producer Suresh Babu’s son Abhiram, as it would taint the image of Suresh Babu’s family. “Though I know that Suresh Babu wouldn’t agree to this. I thought that someone from his family would give the money and stop Sri Reddy from further harming their family’s reputation," he claimed. The director, however, clarified that Sri Reddy did not agree to the offer. He said that though he offered such a big amount, Sri Reddy didn’t budge and that he was so moved by her determination that he wanted to help her. The "help" he offered was the idea to abuse a big star like Pawan Kalyan.
- 4/19/2018
- by Monalisa
- The News Minute
Sexual harassment With allegations flying thick with every passing day, the movement has descended into a free for all slug fest. Sowmya RajendranActor Sri Reddy has not made any friends in the Telugu film industry with her explosive allegations. What started off as a protest against sexual harassment in the film industry, a legitimate cause, has turned into a free for all with allegations flying thick and fast with every passing day. While Sri Reddy’s statements to the media did not move the Telugu industry much, her strip protest caught international attention and forced Tollywood to take note. Their first response was to slut shame the actor and boycott her. However, with the media attention and the National Human Rights Commission stepping in, the Telugu industry agreed to set up a grievance redressal mechanism and also withdraw the ban on the actor. She was further given a membership in the Movie Artistes Association (Maa). But the resentment that her allegations has created continues to be on the boil and the actor is increasingly being isolated. With actor and politician Pawan Kalyan stating that Sri Reddy should have gone to the police and not the media with her allegations, the voices speaking against the junior actor have only grown louder. Actors like Jeevitha and Maadhavi Latha have launched an attack on Sri Reddy for allegedly making personal comments on them. Maadhavi Latha has joined a few Pawan Kalyan fans to hold a silent protest, condemning Sri Reddy’s response to Pawan Kalyan’s remarks. The media circus It does not help that Telugu channels are turning the issue into a slug fest by having participants fling serious allegations at each other on live debates. A TV9 debate had a junior artiste Sunitha accuse film critic Mahesh Kathi of sexually assaulting her. Mahesh Kathi promptly said that he’d file a defamation case against her – a response similar to Shekar Kammula’s when Sri Reddy indirectly accused him in a Facebook post of harassing her. Mahesh further alleged that Sunitha was a tool in the hands of the powerful Konidela family (to which Chiranjeevi and Pawan Kalyan belong) and that this was their way of getting back at him for supporting Sri Reddy. On Mahaa News, activist Sandhya and actor Jeevitha had a spat after the former suggested that the “casting couch” was rampant in the industry. Jeevitha has reportedly filed a police complaint against Sandhya for making “personal remarks” and “baseless allegations”. She has also slammed Sri Reddy for allegedly making false accusations about her. While the allegations of sexual harassment and exploitation are sensational and provide much fodder to viewers and social media followers, there is no serious follow-up on them. The “evidence” so far has been a few leaked WhatsApp conversations and pictures – none of which have been verified as yet. A petition submitted by women activists to the Telangana government had demanded that there should be an investigation into the issue. But as of now, there is no sign of any such development. No police complaint has been filed by Sri Reddy as of now. Sri Reddy’s dramatic allegations made on TV shows are borderline theatrical and if she wants to be taken seriously, there needs to be a better strategy in place. Is this Tollywood’s Weinstein moment? The Weinstein scandal and the #MeToo movement in Hollywood have had an impact in the Indian film industries too. More women actors have started speaking up about the kind of sexism, misogyny and harassment that they face in the film industry. However, so far none of them has taken any names. The Women in Cinema Collective, formed in the Malayalam industry in the aftermath of the abduction and sexual assault of a prominent woman actor, has thrown its weight behind the survivor but it hasn’t led to an outing of names or a collective levelling of allegations. The reason for this, as actor Parvathy told Tnm in an interview, is that it’s near impossible for an individual to take on the industry because nobody else will stand up with her. The Wcc is still fighting fire for daring to form such a collective in the first place. Even though Sri Reddy’s protest saw other junior artistes come together and speak up against sexual harassment on Sunday, they don’t carry the power that more established stars have. Their accounts are easily dismissed as “publicity stunts” or attempts to win movie offers by becoming famous overnight. The top women stars of the industry are either silent or have denied that they’ve experienced any kind of sexual harassment. In a press meet called to condemn the comments of a TV anchor who asked if the film industry didn’t have “whores” and “brokers”, actor Rakul Preet categorically said that the Telugu film industry was very good and that nobody had ever misbehaved with her. Others at the event like Manchu Lakshmi also defended the industry. Top stars like Nayanthara and Anushka Shetty have stayed out of the debate. While the junior artists squabble, the ones whose voices will really matter have chosen not to weigh in. In Hollywood, several A-listers, including names like Angelina Jolie, Gwyneth Paltrow and Salma Hayek, came out in a concerted effort to speak up against sexual harassment. They used the privilege that their names carry to lend voice to a form of exploitation that had become the norm in the film industry. The case against Weinstein was made strong by multiple testimonies, painstaking efforts to document his history as a sexual predator and harasser, including police complaints. In Tollywood, Sri Reddy’s efforts, however problematic they may seem, have resulted in some promises. But without the legitimacy that the testimonies of established stars will bring, the movement, if one can call it that, is likely to be derailed. That is all the slug fest currently seems to be accomplishing.
- 4/18/2018
- by Monalisa
- The News Minute
Sexual Harassment Despite the numerous kinds of grievances that the artists face, there is no agency or body where they could take them up for redressal.Ayesha MinhazAnger, disgust, and agony were the dominant emotions that filled the auditorium at the Somajiguda Press Club of Hyderabad on Sunday. Tears rolled down the faces of those assembled as artists from the Telugu film industry narrated their experiences of the "casting couch" and the financial exploitation. However, the artists didn't despair and appeared resolved about moving forward and intensifying their protests. “I once saw an advertisement on TV about casting and went for the audition. The director asked if I was a genuine transgender person and I told him that I had even undergone gender-affirming surgery. The disgusting director then made me undress and show the same to him,” transgender artist Sona Rathod said as she broke down on the stage. Allegations about the 'casting couch' culture and its prevalence in Tollywood by actor Sri Reddy and her protest outside the office of the Telugu Film Chamber of Commerce on April 7 had set wheels in motion for this discourse. Over the last week, several other artists from the industry came forward to speak, some going as far as naming the alleged perpetrators on live TV. For the uninitiated, ‘casting couch’ is a euphemism for the sexually predatory behaviour and sexual exploitation by those in positions of power within the entertainment industry, in return for promises to provide opportunities in films or TV shows. To take the discussion forward, a roundtable on “Sexual and financial exploitation in Telugu film Industry” facilitated by joint action committee of women’s rights organisations was held in Hyderabad, with women and transgender artists taking centrestage. Social activist K Sajaya, Sandhya (Progressive Organization of Women), Sujatha Surepally (Bahujana Prathighatana Vedika), cultural activist Devi, Tejaswini Madabhushi (Hyderabad for Feminism), Satyavati Kondaveeti (Bhumika collective), advocate Vasudha Nagaraj, retired professor Padmaja Shaw and several others expressed their solidarity with the movement and assured support to the exploited artists. From calling out the big stars of Tollywood for their continued silence on the issue of sexual exploitation and violence to discussing the need for unionization, doing away with the middlemen, better pay, body-shaming, addressing disproportionate masculinity in movies to demanding better amenities such as drinking water and toilets in the workspaces, the artists had several demands lined-up. They stressed on the fact that despite the numerous kinds of grievances that the artists face, there is no agency or body where they could take them up for redressal. Why aren’t the seniors speaking up? "Behind all the glitz of the movie world and the makeup, there is a lot of distress, suffering, and sexual exploitation. Despite my attempts to address the issues since over a month, there hasn't been any response from the elders of this industry. Instead, attempts were made to gag dissent and it backfired with so many of us coming forward to speak about our sufferings," Sri Reddy said amidst cheers from the fellow artists. "An issue which has garnered the attention of even the international media still sees no response from the local politicians or the heroes of this industry. Every hero who doesn’t come forward to talk on this is a zero," Sri said. The opinion that the lead male actors of the industry should act responsibly and at least discuss the issue found widespread approval. The comment by Pawan Kalyan asking the women to approach police instead of media houses didn’t go down well with the protesting artists. “Our heroes are a very obvious display of problematic hypermasculinity and heroism on screen. Let’s talk about the utter lack of humanity. Every person who hasn’t spoken about this is either committing the crime or abetting the crime. Every person who has the privilege and is not speaking out is responsible,” said Meera Sanghamitra, national convener of National Alliance of People's Movements. “Where are the heroes of our industry who are shown as beating up hundreds of thugs to protect the sisters? Why are all these brotherly figures absent when the women are publicly speaking against the atrocities? Come and sit with us and do justice. We are going to fight relentlessly till the same is achieved,” said transgender artist Chandramukhi Muvvala. Chandramukhi also criticised those calling the semi-nude protest by Sri Reddy problematic. “Those who are shaming Sri Reddy are the same people who have ogled at scantily clad actors like Silk Smitha, Jaya Malini and Jyothi Lakshmi, and made the movies run for 100 days. If that was not semi-nude, neither is her protest which was the result of pent-up frustration.” The need for a union While allegations about sexual exploitation formed a major part of the discussions, artists and activists also spoke about the need for the unionization of the artists. “We are probably the only workers without a union. If we are united, the roles would come on their own. We lack unity and when some people from among us join as coordinators, they start exploiting the weaker ones. They act as brokers and coerce the women artists into giving sexual favours and the artists find themselves having nowhere to go. This discussion shouldn’t end here and we should form a union,” said a former artist Sri Vani. The activists too stressed on the formation of a union. Numerous comments body-shaming the protesting women and calling them “not beautiful enough” to be a part of the industry can be found on the social media. “Stop body shaming and stop ridiculing the complexion of the Telugu women” was the message that the artists had for them. Susie Tharu, professor, writer and women’s rights activist said “The marginalisation and the dismissal of people because they are considered less than beautiful is a very important issue. All over the world, for several years, only white people were considered beautiful. This situation has changed because of the movements of black people who call themselves black very proudly. We will have to take it up at such a level too.” Those who do cross the countless barriers on their way to get even a blink-and-miss role complain of financial exploitation by the middlemen. One of the major demands of the artists was to rid the industry of the middlemen called coordinators. "Whatever roles I find is from my friends or the coordinators. However, the coordinators take a large percentage of our earnings, which is very wrong and exploitative," said artist Shobhita. “I have come in front of the media to speak about all the disgusting details. Not everyone can do this. They have families and children about who they have to think about before coming out in open,” says artist Shruti. Back in her seat after speaking about the financial exploitation in the industry, Shruti turns around to share her fear with the people around her, “As such, there were only a few roles for us. Now that we have spoken, I am concerned we might not get any roles at all.”...
- 4/16/2018
- by Ramanathan
- The News Minute
OpinionWhether one agrees with Sri Reddy's strip protest or not, she has succeeded in getting Tollywood's bigwigs to listen to her demands.Sowmya RajendranFacebook/Sri ReddyActor Sri Reddy's protest, which saw her stripping before the Telugu Film Chamber of Commerce, a few days ago, was dismissed by many as a publicity stunt. From Tollywood's bigwigs to media channels and the public, several asked why the actor had to resort to such "cheap" means to make her point. Whether one agrees with Sri Reddy's methods or even believes in the allegations made against specific people in the film industry, it is worth noting that the impact her protest has had signals an important change. The support that Sri Reddy managed to garner despite being a nobody in the Telugu film industry is indicative of the kind of conversations and debates that the #MeToo movement and Weinstein scandal unleashed. Not only has the Movie Artists' Association (Maa) lifted the ban on Sri Reddy (on paper anyway), it has also announced that it will set up a Committee Against Sexual Harassment which will meet once in three months. The move comes after women activists submitted a memorandum to the Telangana government, questioning Maa's actions and the lack of a mechanism to address workplace sexual harassment in the Telugu film industry. Allegations of sexual harassment in the film world are not new. Previously referred to rather glamorously as the 'casting couch' - so much so that we have TV and web shows named after the euphemism - it is only in recent times that coercing women into providing sexual favours for work in films has been recognised as a criminal act. This, although the law against workplace sexual harassment came five years ago and the Vishaka Guidelines was in place since 1997. Sri Reddy's protest has managed to do what statements by more established women actors have failed to do in the past. While several south Indian women actors have admitted that they were expected to "adjust" and "compromise" to get work, none of them named and shamed the perpetrators. The acknowledgement that workplace sexual harassment exists in the film industry, in itself, has been a giant leap. Many women from the industry have been reluctant to make this admission because it raises questions on their own morality and leads to vicious victim blaming. Their assertion that yes, this is a reality, therefore comes with a price. In the Malayalam film industry, the members of the Women in Cinema Collective are often targeted for their decision to take on the powerful men who control the industry. They face abuse not only from fans but also their own colleagues in the industry who don't lose any opportunity to slam them. In the Tamil industry, actor Varalaxmi Sarathkumar has launched the Save Shakti initiative to tackle workplace sexual harassment but none of the top women stars in the south have publicly come out in support of the move. Sri Reddy, who has said herself that she has nothing to lose, has not just made specific allegations, she has also leaked screenshots of WhatsApp chats and photographs. While one cannot vouch for their authenticity, it's clear that her willingness to walk the talk has shaken up Tollywood. Besides, their attempt to slut shame Sri Reddy for her protest has backfired, with the little known actor getting support from several people. For a woman to get a powerful and male dominated industry like Tollywood, which routinely makes films that objectify women, listen to her demands is no easy task. Whether the sexual harassment committee is a mere eyewash or becomes a potent tool remains in the hands of the more prominent members of the Telugu film industry, especially the women. When the means of production are so overwhelmingly controlled by men, it will take many more years and many more debates to truly establish a safe and gender equal work space. However, there is no denying that Step 1 has been accomplished, thanks to Sri Reddy.
- 4/13/2018
- by Monalisa
- The News Minute
TollywoodTaking to Fb, Maadhavi asked other women in Tollywood to inbox her with their problems and said that a meeting would be held soon with all victims.Tnm StaffImage: Facebook/Maadhavi LathaEven as the National Human Rights Commission (Nhrc) issued notices to the Telangana government and the I&B Ministry over actor Sri Reddy’s allegations of sexual exploitation in Tollywood, another actor has now announced support for Sri Reddy. Actor Maadhavi Latha announced a ‘satyagraha’ against the ‘casting couch’ – a euphemism for sexual harassment – in the Telugu film industry. Taking to Facebook, she asked other women in Tollywood to inbox her with their problems and said that a meeting would be held soon with all victims of sexual harassment. Speaking in a TV9 debate on Thursday, Maadhavi said, “My fight against the issue will be a long and slow battle, instead of shouting on television channels. Some people have already been named in this whole issue. Many women are waiting to see what action will be taken. If the authorities are willing to act, many more of us will come forward and reveal names.” In the same debate, she also said that she feared to divulge the names because some of them might ruin her chances in the industry. “I don’t have enemies in the industry and I have always been polite. Still some persons have snatched chances away from me. I love to act and being an actor was my dream from when I was a child. I want to last in the industry and I still love Tollywood. I’m not saying everyone, but some people, if they are named, will ruin my chances,” Maadhavi said. “It is about our passion and existence. We want to be here. We don’t want to get scared and run away. I like being here and I still managed to get some success with one or two films. What about the new women who are coming now? We have the talent, but they should give women the chance to prove it. I fear naming the people, as my chances in the industry will go,” she added. Speaking in the debate, human rights activist Babu Gogineni asked Maadhavi to reconsider her decision not to name the men in Tollywood who ask for sexual favours. “The longer you hide names, you are allowing this to happen. You are not causing it, but you are allowing it to happen. Kindly revisit that. Sexual favours being expected and demanded is unlawful and people who make sexual advances are criminals,” he said. Last week, actor Sri Reddy created a sensation by doing a semi-nude protest outside the office of the Telugu Film Chamber of Commerce. The protest set off a domino effect with several debates on Telugu channels. The Movie Artists' Association (Maa) had not only dismissed her allegations but also declared that she would not be given membership under any circumstances. It also said that action would be taken against any artiste who shares screen space with her. On Thursday evening, the Nhrc issued notices to the Telangana government and the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, seeking a report with details of what mechanism exists in place to deal with sexual harassment of women actors. The notice sought a response within four weeks. Hours after the notices, Maa lifted the ban it had placed on Sri Reddy and said that all 900 members of Maa were free to work with the actor. It also announced setting up of a Committee Against Sexual Harassment which would meet once in three months. Maa President Shivaji Raja said the committee, comprising senior actors and filmmakers of Telugu film industry, would look into any complaints of sexual harassment.
- 4/13/2018
- by Nitin
- The News Minute
Sexual harassment Though several women actors have, in the recent past, spoken up about sexual harassment in south Indian cinema, film associations are in denial.Tnm StaffActor Sri Reddy has kicked up a storm recently by alleging that she was sexually exploited by several prominent members of the Telugu film industry in return for work. Sri Reddy had been making these accusations without taking any names for a while now. However, on Sunday, the actor took off her top outside the Telugu Film Chamber of Commerce in protest, making it impossible for people from the industry to ignore her any longer. Sri Reddy also put up screenshots of WhatsApp conversations she allegedly had with men from the film industry. Calling it 'Sri Leaks', after the infamous 'Suchi Leaks' controversy that shook the Tamil film industry in March last year, the suggestive and sexually explicit chats were put up for a while and later deleted. Director Sekhar Kammula threatened to take legal action against her for suggesting that he too had sexually harassed her. However, Sri Reddy has neither pulled down the post nor put up any proof about her allegations. At a press meet called to condemn the remarks of a TV5 anchor who asked if the Telugu industry did not have "whores" and "brokers", actors like Rakul Preet Singh and Manchu Lakshmi defended the film industry. Rakul, in fact, said that nobody from the Telugu industry had ever misbehaved with her. While the allegations that Sri Reddy has made against specific persons are yet to be proven, the question remains what effective mechanisms are in place to address sexual harassment of members of the film industry at the workplace. Considering that several women have spoken up about the issue, isn't it time that film associations like Maa and Nadigar Sangam acknowledge the elephant in the room? In the Malayalam film industry, the shocking sexual assault of a prominent woman actor led to the formation of the Women in Cinema Collective (Wcc). Members of the Wcc have time and again asserted that the sexual harassment is a reality in the film industry. However, the members of Amma (Association of Malayalam Movie Artists) continue to hedge, with actor and president Innocent claiming that it was only a few "bad" women who "slept around". Here's a look at the number of women actors who've spoken up about sexual harassment in the south Indian film industries: Aishwarya Rajesh In an interview to Tnm, Aishwarya Rajesh acknowledged that sexual harassment was rampant in the film industry: "It's very common. Now I've been around for five years or so. Initially, I did face this a lot. It will sound disgusting to even listen to the kinds of things people say. But I think things have changed with new directors and corporates coming into cinema. “Earlier, it was too much. To get into a film, people would say, ‘Just go for half an hour and come.’ It was so obvious. And the stuff I faced was not even for big films...for these ‘upma’ films also people expect you to do it. Adjustment, contract, agreement...all these are words they use. “But I must say that today's girls are very clear; they don't stay quiet when they're told such things. They do shout back. It's not necessary for you to do all this to come up in cinema. When you respect your profession like god, it's cheap to expect women alone to make such compromises if they're to survive. It's there in every profession...it's just more obvious in cinema. But I think it's time to give it back." Radhika Apte: On a chat show called 'BFFs with Vogue', Radhika Apte, who has acted in a few south Indian films, revealed that a big star in a Telugu film had misbehaved with her on the sets. “My first day in the Telugu film...there is a scene where I am lying [down], because I am unwell. There are a lot of people; everything is set. And the [male] actor walks in – and we’ve been rehearsing – he walks in… I don’t even know him, and he starts tickling my feet!” she narrated. “He was a big actor…I was told he is powerful. But [the person] who I am, I got up and I snapped at him in front of everybody – the whole crew, the junior artists, everybody. And I looked at him and said, ‘Don’t ever, ever do that to me.’ I was so angry, I told him ‘ever, ever!’ […] He was so shocked, because he didn’t expect that. But he never touched me again,” Radhika said. Varalaxmi Sarathkumar: Among the first women from Kollywood to blow the lid off workplace sexual harassment, Varalaxmi's 'Save Shakti' initiative looks to make the cinema industry a safe space for women. In an interview to Tnm, Varalaxmi spoke about the unpleasant experiences she has had and said, "Everybody is ashamed of it. They don't want to admit to the things they have to do to get work. And half of them don't have the choices that I or a few others have. Things like this are hushed up and we're taught not to talk about it. They say it will tarnish your image. So, when they say all this, no woman is going to come out and tell these stories. You may hear of it happening to a friend's friend's friend, but the actual victim never says anything." She further added: "I started this because I want women to know that it's all right to talk about it. They're not the ones who have to be ashamed. It's the other way round." Lekha Washington: Lekha Washington who is perhaps best known for Kalayana Samayal Sadham wrote a post on Hauterfly as part of their “Women on Top” series, sharing her experiences as an actor, artist, performer and more. She wrote: "A Tamil film director was offering me his film. He drove me around and kept asking ‘What will I get in return?’. I sort of played dumb, and said, ‘Maybe a good actor.’ But he kept persisting and finally, I snapped and said, ‘You know I am not going to sleep with you.’ He was quite taken aback, but kept trying to convince me. “Needless to say, I didn’t get the role, but I’m glad he brought it up at the onset. And I was fine with it because it meant not having to deal with continuous harassment during the shoot. Later, I found out that he went for the film’s shoot in a foreign country with the lead actress of the same film, and died of a heart attack caused by an overdose of Viagra. I thought that was so perfect! I mean, that’s karma for you. So yeah, that happened." Lakshmi Ramakrishnan Actor and director Lakshmy Ramakrishnan detailed her experiences of sexual harassment and misogyny in the film industry in an interview to Tnm. She said, "It was a bitter experience. I was sitting with the director in a room, next to the monitor. Since I was interested in direction, I always used to watch the monitor whenever I didn't have a shot. During one such time, he casually put his hand on me. At that time, I didn't make a big deal out of it. It didn't strike me as something wrong and I assumed that he'd done it by mistake." But the next time he did it, Lakshmy pushed his hand away immediately. The director then asked her if she didn't like it. "I was shocked," says Lakshmy. "I said this is not acceptable and I walked out. After this, my life was made miserable on set. It's not like he pulled my hand and harassed me, but things became difficult. Sometimes, you might put up with it because you don't want to make a scene, people are watching...or you don't want to miss the opportunity. But I couldn't put up with it. I was very blunt." Lakshmy goes on to detail what happened after that: "He would make me do 25 takes for one shot. He'd speak in an insulting way in front of everyone. When I'd walk past, he'd join with an actor and pass comments on me. But I turned around and gave it back to him then and there. I couldn't take it after a stage. I started weeping on the set." Parvathy: Parvathy, who has never shied away from speaking up about sexism in the film industry, has time and again shared her views on sexual harassment on the sets. In an interview to Tnm, the actor said, “We don’t have a culture of supporting each other when we go through horrendous experiences. And we never will. It is difficult – the survivor is always alone. And I’d like to state this in this interview – this question that several people have asked me, why don’t I name those who have molested me. Because I know I will be the only one standing. Everyone will go behind the curtain. Until I create that army for us to come out, I can’t. Because I don’t have proof, do I? We need people to come out and say yes, this man is a repeat offender. And we do have many repeat offenders in this industry. So there will come a time. And those repeat offenders should be scared at this point.” Rima Kallingal: Another woman actor who has been battling sexism in cinema, Rima Kallingal in a TedX talk said, "When I joined the Malayalam film industry, I heard words like shelf life, adjust, compromise, smile more, dumb down. We girls are always asked to dumb down. And we are so good at putting up an act – becoming someone that society wants us to be." The actor also questioned why the Vishaka guidelines for sexual harassment at the workplace, laid out by the Supreme Court and which was also passed into a law, was never followed in such a big industry which pays 40% entertainment tax to the government. Sruthi Hariharan: At the India Today Conclave, actor Sruthi Hariharan spoke of how blatantly men in the film industry expect sexual favours from women: “This was 4 years after my first experience. One of the leading producers in Tamil cinema bought the rights to my Kannada film and offered me the same role in the Tamil remake. He said, and I’m quoting him verbatim, ‘We are five producers and we will exchange you however we want.’ I retorted by saying that I carry a slipper with me in my hand." The actor added that film projects from the Tamil industry dried up after this. Sai Pallavi: While Sai Pallavi said in an interview to Tnm that she had not experienced sexual harassment herself, she added that the sexism and misogyny in cinema was troubling. She further spoke about how powerful men in the film industry treat women actors badly to prove a point: "Men within the industry sometimes do want to bring down a lady who is strong. Just to prove that they did this to a strong girl. I went through this experience when someone wanted to be friends with someone else and they did that by putting me down – to show that they are way too macho! It's not just physical abuse, they laugh at you...there are other ways." Athithi: Athira Santosh, also called Athithi, from Kerala attempted suicide, alleging that director Selva Kannan, with whom she was working in the Tamil film Nedunalvadai, had sexually harassed her. A tearful Athithi spoke to the media about how she had been pushed to commit suicide because of the relentless harassment – the director even allegedly locked her up because she refused to give in. Despite such women actors speaking up about the harassment they face in the film industry, male actors have maintained a tight-lipped silence or gone into denial that the problem exists.
- 4/11/2018
- by Monalisa
- The News Minute
ControversySri Reddy had stripped in public to protest sexual exploitation in Tollywood. She had also accused Maa of denying her a membership. Nitin B.Image: TwitterA day after Telugu actor Sri Reddy held a semi-nude protest outside the Telugu Film Chamber of Commerce, alleging sexual exploitation by some unnamed filmmakers in Tollywood, the Movies Artist Association has now hit back. On Sunday, the association said that a collective decision had been taken after Sri Reddy’s protest, to deny her a membership, as well as boycott her films. Sri Reddy, who has been speaking about the ‘casting couch’ – a euphemism for sexual harassment – in Tollywood, took off her top and put her arms across her chest on Saturday after asking the media to gather. While she made several allegations, one of her claims was that she was intentionally denied a membership by Maa. She was, however, soon escorted away from the area by police personnel after she refused to call off the protest. Addressing reporters on Sunday morning, Maa President Sivaji Raja said that he was 'hurt' by all the allegations levelled against the association. "Not one thing that Sri Reddy said yesterday was true. I remember her, as she met me earlier. I always assured her of help. We always take complaints seriously and we are approachable. Instead, if you go on social media and say whatever you like for cheap publicity, this is not done," an irked Sivaji said. He also said that Maa had officially denied her membership after her latest 'stunt'. Further punishing the actor who made allegations of sexual harassment in the industry, Sivaji said, "Not only that, no artist who is member of the Maa will act with her. If they do, they will be suspended.” Stating that he had personally spoken to director Teja and other producers in the past and ensured that Sri Reddy got a few roles, he said, "We are bound by the association's rules. Getting the card is a long process. We work day and night for the film industry and address so many complaints frequently." "We were forced to call the press meet today after the girl stripped on the road like that and claimed that we were not giving her the card. This is not true. Do not blackmail us. She must follow the rules. We have great respect for women and you can ask any of our female committee members to vouch for that," he added. Clarifying that it is not mandatory to be a member of the association to act in a film, actor Banerjee held up an application form in front of the media. "When the incident first broke out and Sri Reddy claimed that she was denied membership, we came forward and gave her an application form. We have a set of rules, and she didn't sign in two places and she didn't attach papers about the films she acted in. She paid for the application form but not the membership fee. When we confronted her, she said that she would give it later," he narrated. "I spoke to the president (of the association) and we told her that now that she has applied to be a Maa member, she needn't go to TV channels and level allegations against the entire industry. We assured her that she will get the card," he added. Banerjee claimed that Sri Reddy apologised and told them that she won't do it again. "However, even as she climbed down the stairs of the office, she began cursing the association on social media," he said. Speaking about her latest protest, Banerjee said, "The way she behaved yesterday, stripping in public, is ultimate.” “I believe she has some problem and it’s not just about the card,” Banerjee insinuated. “I don't know what her intention is. If we don't speak now, it would be wrong. People should know the truth, which is why this press meet was held,” he said. Narrating a recent incident when Maa summoned a big director based on a woman's complaint, actor Hema told reporters, "The approach of that woman is not at all correct. We take such complaints very seriously." Questioning why ‘outsiders’ are chosen over local talent, Sri Reddy had said, “For the past 10, 15 years, why are women coming from outside, from North India? Even side actors don’t come (from here). Even mother actors are not allowed to come. All of them are brought from outside. Do you only want sexual commitments? Do you not want talent?” "There are so many of us. How can she say that? Stooping so low because opportunities were not given to you, is not right. We gave her an application, but she didn't fill them properly. How can she expect an Maa card overnight?" Hema questioned. "If we have given her an application, it means we have welcomed her," she added, stating that Sri Reddy’s 'arrogant behaviour' will not be tolerated. The protest On Saturday, actor Sri Reddy stripped down outside the Telugu Film Chamber of Commerce to protest against sexual exploitation in the Telugu film industry. Speaking to the media, Sri Reddy said, "So, if we come out (with the allegations), they call us prostitutes. I don't know about others. I don't speak about others. I have faced injustice. I have proof. They don't come out because they are afraid of the proof I have. I still say the Telugu film industry is my family. I can reject them if they deny me justice." She went on to say, "All my parents' shame has gone. I have taken off all my clothes. No family will be happy with this. But I have removed all my clothes and I am standing on the road in front of so many men. But I am not thinking about my family. I am thinking about girls. From the beginning I have been saying this: you have to sleep, you have to sleep, you have to sleep. You have to prostitute, you have to prostitute, you have to prostitute. How many days? How long? We have to do naked video calls. We have to take photos of our breasts and private parts and send. Don't you elders feel ashamed to send messages like that? Heroes. Big stars. You fight on screen like big stars and you send messages like this. Don't we know how you are in person?" Sri Reddy has also claimed she has proof that big filmmakers have asked for nudes and sexual favours, although she hasn’t released them so far.
- 4/8/2018
- by Nitin
- The News Minute
TollywoodActor Sri Reddy alleged that many producers and directors in Tollywood demanded her nude photos and videos for a film role. Tnm StaffTelugu actor Sri Reddy was detained by the Hyderabad police on Saturday after holding a semi-nude protest outside the Telugu Film Chamber of Commerce. She resorted to the protest after making allegations of sexual exploitation against certain filmmakers without naming them. The actor, who has been speaking about the ‘casting couch’ – a euphemism for sexual harassment - in Tollywood, shocked onlookers and the media by taking off her top and putting her arms across her chest. Speaking to the media, Sri Reddy said, "So, if we come out (with the allegations), they call us prostitutes. I don't know about others. I don't speak about others. I have faced injustice. I have proof. They don't come out because they are afraid of the proof I have. I still say the Telugu film industry is my family. I can reject them if they deny me justice." She went on to say, "All my parents' shame has gone. I have taken off all my clothes. No family will be happy with this. But I have removed all my clothes and I am standing on the road in front of so many men. But I am not thinking about my family. I am thinking about girls. From the beginning I have been saying this: you have to sleep, you have to sleep, you have to sleep. You have to prostitute, you have to prostitute, you have to prostitute. How many days? How long? We have to do naked video calls. We have to take photos of our breasts and private parts and send. Don't you elders feel ashamed to send messages like that? Heroes. Big stars. You fight on screen like big stars and you send messages like this. Don't we know how you are in person?" She said her protest was also against the Movie Artists Association (Maa) for denying her membership despite acting in two films. She was, however, soon escorted away from the area by police personnel after refusing to call off the protest. Sri Reddy also demanded that Telugu girls be given roles in Tollywood films, with 75% opportunities be reserved for local actors. Questioning why ‘outsiders’ are chosen over local talent, Sri Reddy says, “For the past 10, 15 years, why are women coming from outside, from North India? Even side actors don’t come (from here). Even mother actors are not allowed to come. All of them are brought from outside. Do you only want sexual commitments? Do you not want talent? In those days, for Marocharitra, dark actors were taken as natural beauties. They could act and they wanted talent.” A police officer told reporters that she could register a complaint but a naked protest was not allowed. Sri Reddy alleged that many producers and directors demanded her nude photos and videos for a film role. She said they did not give her roles even after she obliged with the requests. She alleged that the Telugu filmmakers seek sexual services which actors from Mumbai oblige, while Telugu actors are cheated despite succumbing to the 'casting couch'. Slamming actor Rakul Preet Singh, Sri Reddy issued a warning saying, "When they get crores, why will they complain? They own gyms and restaurants. They have businesses. They have big buildings in Mumbai, why will they complain? They are comfortable here. They are given Benz, BMWs. Rakul Preet, one more time you insult us, I will break your teeth, throw you on the floor and kick you. I am telling you. Not just you. Anyone who comments on the Telugu people. I will break your all your teeth. You have to go back to Mumbai." Rakul had at an earlier press meet stated that she never faced any harassment from the Telugu film industry. She made the statement while condemning the vulgar remarks of a TV anchor, who during a live debate asked, “Aren’t there whores and brokers in the industry?” She also demanded the formation of a Movie Artists Association exclusively for women, “There is no grievance redressal committee in the present association. Who should we complain to about sexual harassment, there are no women members in the association.” Besides, giving interviews to several news channels, Sri Reddy also wrote several posts on her official Facebook page alleging unfair treatment to Telugu actors, and the problem of casting couch and sexual exploitation, without naming the perpetrators. She had threatened to reveal the names of the sexual predators in the industry, but didn’t. Recently, director Sekhar Kammula of Leader and Happy Days threatened legal action against the Sri Reddy for her veiled threats. In a series of tweets, Sekhar pleaded innocent to her accusations. "People who know me and my work would be aware of the kind of importance I give to equality of women and their empowerment. I live by my Character and die by it. I will not spare anyone who tries to point fingers at it. Apologize and take back every word that was posted against me or be ready to face legal action, which will include criminal/civil proceedings," he wrote. With Ians inputs...
- 4/7/2018
- by Monalisa
- The News Minute
Controversy"Apologise and take back every word or be ready to face legal action, which will include criminal/civil proceedings," Sekhar Kammula tweeted.Tnm StaffAfter director Sekhar Kammula lashed out indirectly at actor Sri Reddy for alleging through a cryptic Facebook post that he had sexually harassed her, Sri Reddy has hit back at the filmmaker. In a Facebook Live, the actor said that she will not bow down to 'money power'. "Yesterday, a social media post maligning me came to my notice. It is vulgar, demeaning and full of lies. It has caused deep grief to my family, to me and many more who value me," Kammula wrote on Twitter on Tuesday. "I could never imagine in my wildest dreams that a woman whom I don't know, have not seen or never spoken to in person or on the phone, can suddenly make these baseless allegations. Whatever might be their intentions and whoever might be involved in this diabolic act, I would like to say that it is Wrong, Immoral and Criminal," he added. Sri Reddy in a Facebook post, had suggested that a top director used to 'roam around' near her house and used to harass several women and ask for video calls. While she did not name Sekhar or his films in the first post, she had indirectly hinted at his name. "People who know me and my work would be aware of the kind of importance I give to equality of women and their empowerment. I live by my Character and die by it. I will not spare anyone who tries to point fingers at it. Apologize and take back every word that was posted against me or be ready to face legal action, which will include criminal/civil proceedings," Sekhar Kammula had tweeted in response. Yesterday a social media post maligning me came to my notice. It is vulgar, demeaning and full of lies. It has caused deep grief to my family, to me and many more who value me. — Sekhar Kammula (@sekharkammula) April 3, 2018 I could never imagine in my wildest dreams that a woman whom I don't know, have not seen or never spoken to in person or on the phone can suddenly make these baseless allegations. — Sekhar Kammula (@sekharkammula) April 3, 2018 Whatever might be their intentions and whoever might be involved in this diabolic act , I would like to say that it is Wrong, Immoral and Criminal — Sekhar Kammula (@sekharkammula) April 3, 2018 People who know me and my work would be aware of the kind of importance I give to equality of women and their empowerment. I live by my Character and die by it. I will not spare anyone who tries to point fingers at it. — Sekhar Kammula (@sekharkammula) April 3, 2018 Apologize and take back every word that was posted against me or be ready to face legal action, which will include criminal/civil proceedings. — Sekhar Kammula (@sekharkammula) April 3, 2018 Responding to the director’s tweets on Wednesday morning, Sri Reddy named Kammula directly and said that she was not afraid of facing the law, and would not bow down to the ‘money power’ that she was up against. She also said that she had everything with proof and she will proceed legally. She also warned fans of the director against abusing her on social media. Sri Reddy The debate about the prevalence of "casting couch", a euphemism for sexual harassment at the workplace, in the Telugu film industry has heated up over the last one month, with actor Sri Reddy threatening to name and shame the men who indulge in the practice. It all started early in March when Sri Reddy gave an interview to a local Telugu channel and said that the "casting couch" was rampant in Tollywood. She also claimed that at least 90% of the women would have been asked for such ‘requests’ but would not openly admit it. The claims had resulted in a domino effect, sparking off discussions about the issue. Since then, Sri Reddy has been indirectly naming other prominent members of the industry and has accused them of asking sexual favours in exchange for a role in their films. Read: Sexual harassment in Tollywood: Actor Sri Reddy threatens to reveal big names...
- 4/4/2018
- by Nitin
- The News Minute
ControversyRakul Preet had claimed at a press meet that nobody in the Telugu film industry had expected sexual favours from her.Tnm StaffImage: Facebook/Sri ReddyThe debate about the prevalence of "casting couch", a euphemism for sexual harassment at the workplace, in the Telugu film industry has heated up with actor Sri Reddy threatening to name and shame the men who indulge in the practice. It all started early this month when Sri Reddy gave an interview to a local Telugu channel and said that the "casting couch" was rampant in Tollywood. She also claimed that at least 90% of the women would have been asked for such ‘requests’ but would not openly admit it. Stating that Tollywood "exploited" women with "good figures", she even went to the extent of referring to some heroes as "brokers" for the producers and directors of the films. Sri Reddy started her career as a news reader and later entered the movie industry. She also claimed that she was discriminated against by the Movie Artists Association (Maa), who allegedly denied her a membership. She also claimed that she had proof to back her claims. The claims had resulted in a domino effect, sparking off discussions about the issue. Following this, Telugu comedy actor Kalyani Padala, popularly known as ‘Karate’ Kalyani hit back at Sri Reddy for going public with the issues that she may have "personally" faced. The discussion on Telugu channels continued to go downhill, and it got to a point where TV anchor E Sambashiva Rao of TV5 News asked actor Posani Murali Krishna on a show if there weren't "brokers" and "whores" in the film industry. After the incident, the Movie Artists Association (Maa) was forced to hold a press meet to address the issue. Speaking to reporters, a visibly upset actor Manchu Lakshmi, daughter of veteran actor Mohan Babu, said that she had grown up in front of the people she was speaking to, and that she never thought things would come to such a state. Slamming clickbait journalism, Manchu Lakshmi said, "I know you use us to make money." She appealed to the press to write correct information and not give in to sensationalism. However, the press meet resulted in further controversy as actor Rakul Preet Singh, who is among the top heroines in the Telugu industry today, claimed that there was no "casting couch" in Tollywood. Rakul added that when called for press meets and asked to speak on the "casting couch", she'd always said that in the last 4-5 years that she has worked in the Telugu industry, nobody had acted "funny" with her. However, the comments didn't go down well with actors like Sri Reddy and Madhavi Lata, with the duo accusing Rakul Preet of being "scared of losing her job and good film offers." Madhavi also said that the top actor had an obligation to tell the truth to create awareness for the next generation of female actors who will follow her into the film industry. Meanwhile, Sri Reddy gave an interview to TV9 on Friday evening, in which she allegedly named and shamed several powerful men. However, she accused the channel of beeping out the names, as well as editing out important points that she raised. Taking to Facebook, the actor said that she would now approach other TV channels who have the "guts" to broadcast her unedited version of events. Actor Radhika Apte had also recently revealed in an interview that she had snapped at a big star who had tickled her on the sets of a Telugu film.
- 3/31/2018
- by Nitin
- The News Minute
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