Chennai / Hyderabad — In a candid note on social media, singer and voice-artist Chinmayi Sripada gave a heartfelt apology to her supporters and clarified her position regarding a recently released song by composer Ghibran — purportedly titled Emkoney. According to Chinmayi, she accepted the assignment during a routine recording session many years ago, unaware of the song’s ideological underpinnings at the time.

“If I had known beforehand, I would never have collaborated because the ideologies are in complete contradiction to mine. This is the absolute truth,” she wrote.

Chinmayi emphasised that during that session, Ghibran was reportedly not present; she was briefed only on tonal direction, recorded the vocals, and walked out — believing the project was a standard musical endeavour.

Why the apology matters — and what she claims she didn’t know

Chinmayi said she “just went & sang as I usually do,” recounting her early career days when she would routinely record jingles and songs for composers. At the time, she had no information about the eventual context in which the song would be released or the message it would carry.

Now that the song’s ideological context has come to light, she insists that it stands in “complete contradiction” with her personal beliefs — prompting her to disown her involvement.

Her apology seems directed to her fans (“Emkoney” as she calls them) and broader audiences who may feel misled by her participation.

Why her dissent resonates

Chinmayi Sripada is a veteran playback singer and dubbing artist working across Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada and Hindi cinema. She gained acclaim with songs like “Oru Deivam Thantha Poovae” (from the film Kannathil Muthamittal) and has also offered her voice for many lead actresses across South-Indian films.

Beyond singing, Chinmayi is known as a vocal social activist. She gained recognition during India’s #MeToo movement in 2018, speaking out against alleged sexual harassment in the film industry.

Because of her public reputation and advocacy, her distancing from a song over ideological differences draws attention — especially when many artists don’t always publicly reflect on past collaborations when controversies arise.

Chinmayi’s recent battles with online abuse

Chinmayi has been targeted with intense online harassment in recent weeks. The abuse amplified after remarks made by her husband, Rahul Ravindran, about the freedom to wear a “mangalsutra” (a traditional Hindu marital ornament) went viral.

Following this, multiple accounts on the social media platform X were reportedly booked by the cybercrime police for abusing Chinmayi and threatening her family.

Her recent confession about the song and decision to publicly disown it reflects not only a career decision but also a strong ethical stance amid a fraught, often misogynistic, social media environment.

What remains unclear — and what’s next

Chinmayi hasn’t detailed what exactly about the song’s “context” or “ideology” she finds objectionable — leaving fans and media speculating.

It is not yet clear whether she intends to take any legal or professional steps regarding credit or royalties for the song.

The reaction from composer Ghibran — and whether he addresses her claims — remains pending (as of this writing).  Given Chinmayi’s outspokenness and influence, her disavowal may spark broader conversations about accountability, informed consent, and ethical collaboration in the music industry.