Sexual harassment rampant in Tamil film and television industry, alleges actor Kutti Padmini

In a startling revelation, popular actor and television serial producer Kutti Padmini has alleged widespread sexual harassment within the Tamil television industry.

In an exclusive interview with NDTV, the veteran actress revealed that the issue has driven some women to the brink of suicide, with many choosing to remain silent due to fear of retaliation and the difficulty in proving such allegations.

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Padmini, who began her career as a child artist, shared that she too faced sexual harassment in her early years. "I was removed from a Hindi film when my mother confronted the issue," she recalled, highlighting the challenges in gathering evidence against perpetrators.

Her comments come in the wake of a significant uproar in the Malayalam film industry, triggered by the Justice Hema Committee report, which detailed extensive harassment faced by women. The Tamil industry, Padmini claims, is not far behind, with directors and technicians allegedly demanding sexual favours from female artists.

She expressed concern that the industry’s response to whistleblowers has been punitive rather than supportive, leaving many victims with no recourse.

State Minister Swaminathan, when questioned, reportedly stated that the authorities have not received any official complaints regarding sexual harassment in the industry. Meanwhile, investigations into similar allegations in Tamil cinema have made little progress, Padmini added, calling for more rigorous methods, such as lie-detector tests, to address the issue.