📌 Key Points
- Chinmayi Sripaada criticizes Rajinikanth for praising Vairamuthu after his Jnanpith Award.
- Vairamuthu, a Tamil lyricist, received the Jnanpith Award, a top literary honor.
- Sripaada references Ashapoorna Devi’s questions about women’s rights in her critique.
- Sripaada highlights concerns about men in power dismissing women’s MeToo accusations.
Singer Chinmayi Sripaada has publicly criticized Rajinikanth for congratulating lyricist Vairamuthu on receiving the Jnanpith Award. This follows similar criticism leveled at Kamal Haasan. Sripaada has been a vocal critic, particularly in light of MeToo allegations against Vairamuthu.
Vairamuthu Honored, Controversy Ignited
Tamil lyricist Vairamuthu has been selected for the Jnanpith Award. Chinmayi Sripaada, who named him in MeToo, called out Rajinikanth for praising him.
Poet and lyricist Vairamuthu has been selected for the prestigious Jnanpith Award, becoming the third Tamil writer to receive the country’s highest literary honour. Singer Chinmayi Sripaada , who was one among many to name the lyricist during the MeToo movement, called out Rajinikanth for praising the lyricist after the honour. Before that, she also called out Kamal Haasan for doing the same.
Chinmayi Sripaada’s Sharp Criticism
In another post, she also wrote, “Ashapoorna Devi was the first woman writer to be honored by India with the Jnanpith Award. Reading Chinmayi on X brought back memories of her. These were the questions Ashapoorna Devi raised while accepting the Jnanpith: ”Why does this society tolerate so many unjustifiable actions from men? Why are women’s rights denied in every sphere of life? Why must they live suffocated within the darkness of inner quarters?” Ashapoorna Devi asked, “Why?” Half a century later, Chinmayi Sripaada asks as well: “Why is it that you feel no pain when women are subjected to psychological trauma?””
When Rajinikanth congratulated Vairamuthu for the honour and wrote in Tamil, “My heartfelt congratulations to my dear friend, the esteemed poet Vairamuthu, recipient of the great Jnanpith Award of our Indian nation. @Vairamuthu #JnanpithAward,” Chinmayi called him out, writing, “Ayyyyyyoooo!!! Puriyave puriyaadha (what a puzzle)??!”
Echoes of MeToo Movement
Chinmayi called him out, writing, “For God’s sake. P.S.: Men in such power in cinema transitioning to politics completely turning a deaf ear to women who come on record to say they were molested by “his uncle-mentor” must remind women who vote – that men will never be on our side. The weirdest thing – one of the women in his own party publicly named the Poet. End of the day, men WILL stand by their bros, uncles, dads, friends, mentors. Who cares if multiple women were traumatised?”
Vairamuthu became the third Tamil writer, after novelists Akilan (1975) and Jayakanthan (2002), to be honoured with the Jnanpith Award. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin expressed immense joy over the announcement on X (formerly Twitter).
The controversy highlights the ongoing tensions between celebrating artistic achievements and addressing allegations of misconduct. Sripaada’s continued criticism ensures these issues remain in the public discourse, urging reflection on societal values.
