📌 Key Points
- Nithya Menen highlights industry-wide objectification, stating it’s not limited to South Indian cinema.
- She urges actors to set stronger boundaries and refuse roles that lead to their objectification.
- Menen prioritizes personal values over fame, accepting fewer roles to maintain her integrity.
- Peddi director Buchi Babu Sana apologized for backlash, denying any intent to objectify women.
Amidst the Peddi row, actor Nithya Menen has voiced strong opinions on the pervasive objectification of women in the film industry. She asserts this issue transcends regional cinema, urging actors to establish firm boundaries and prioritize personal values over commercial success.
Nithya Menen on Industry-Wide Objectification
Actor Nithya Menen highlighted industry-wide objectification of women and the need for stronger boundaries, emphasising the importance of personal values.
The controversy surrounding the portrayal of women in films has once again come into focus following the backlash against Peddi for allegedly hypersexualising Janhvi Kapoor ‘s character. Amid the debate, actor Nithya Menen weighed in on the issue, arguing that objectification of women is not unique to South Indian cinema but reflects a wider trend across the film industry.
Empowering Actors: Setting Boundaries in Cinema
She added, “Whatever works commercially and titillates the audience is often indulged in for mass success. Is it too much? Absolutely. I wonder if actors should actually have better boundaries and the person who’s performing the scene should be able to put their foot down and say they are not okay with being objectified.”
The actor further noted that performers are not necessarily powerless in such situations and added, “If you have been doing this kind of commercial cinema and suddenly you are not okay with it, you may not be taken seriously. I also don’t believe that you end up helpless in a situation. You can assert yourself. It depends on what that person’s priority is. Are there films that I don’t get to do or genres that I don’t get to do because I don’t do certain kinds of stuff? Yes. But I am okay with it because I choose that over fame. If you only want to be a top star and are willing to do anything to get there, then that is a call you have taken.”
Peddi Director Addresses Backlash & Apologizes
Responding to the backlash surrounding Peddi, director Buchi Babu Sana said that he has always held deep respect for women, both in real life and in his storytelling, and stressed that there was never any intention to objectify or demean any female character. He acknowledged the concerns raised by a section of the audience regarding certain portions of the film and said the team respects those sentiments. Offering an apology to those who felt offended, the filmmaker added that, after reviewing the feedback, the makers had decided to modify the scenes that drew criticism.
Nithya Menen’s powerful statement underscores the urgent need for industry-wide introspection and actor empowerment. Her call for stronger boundaries challenges the status quo, pushing for a more respectful and value-driven cinematic landscape.
