‘Was a fan, expected better’: Chinmayi Sripaada blasts trolls after Rajinikanth, Kamal Haasan row

The Tamil film industry is once again in the eye of a storm, and this time, it’s Chinmayi Sripaada who has set social media ablaze with a no-holds-barred attack on two of its biggest icons, Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan. 

The singer and voice artist lashed out after both stars publicly congratulated veteran lyricist Vairamuthu on being named a recipient of the prestigious Jnanpith Award: India’s highest literary honour.

While the industry celebrated, Chinmayi reignited the uncomfortable conversation around the multiple sexual harassment allegations levelled against Vairamuthu during the #MeToo movement.

Calling the moment a “blazing disappointment,” Chinmayi questioned how powerful figures could applaud the honour without addressing the serious accusations raised by several women. Her sharp remarks quickly snowballed into a fierce online debate, drawing both support and backlash.

In a series of strongly worded posts, she didn’t hold back, taking direct aim at the influence wielded by Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan. She accused them of failing to act despite their stature, stating that “17 women speaking up… makes no difference” to those in power.

The singer also called out what she described as hypocrisy, pointing to political speeches on women’s safety while, according to her, the industry lacks basic safeguards like Internal Complaints Committees (ICCs).

She stressed that without such mechanisms, survivors have no safe platform to report abuse, and wrongdoers continue to operate unchecked.

Also read: ‘Who cares if multiple women were traumatised?’ : Chinmayi lashes out at Rajinikanth & Kamal Haasan 

Chinmayi further claimed that many within the industry are aware of alleged offenders but choose silence, creating what she described as a culture of protection for the accused.

Her remarks, particularly about not allowing certain individuals near her children, added a deeply personal and emotional edge to the controversy.

This isn’t the first time Chinmayi has taken a stand. She has been one of the most vocal faces of India’s #MeToo movement in the entertainment space since 2018, when she publicly accused Vairamuthu—an allegation he has denied.

Meanwhile, Vairamuthu’s Jnanpith recognition places him among an elite group of Tamil literary giants, making the backlash even more polarising.

As celebrations clash with calls for accountability, the controversy has once again exposed the fault lines within the film industry, between reverence for legacy and demands for justice. And with Chinmayi refusing to back down, this showdown is far from over.