Popularly known as ‘the lady superstar’ by her fans, southern film actor Nayanthara has requested the South Indian Artistes Association (Nadigar Sangam) to set up an internal inquiry as per the Vishakha guidelines into actor Radha Ravi’s alleged sexist remarks.
“Will you set up the Internal Complaints Committee as per the Honourable Supreme Court’s dictum and commence an internal inquiry as per Vishakha guidelines,” Nayanthara asked the Nadigar Sangam in a statement on Monday.
She thanked DMK president MK Stalin for “swiftly taking action against misogynistic speeches of Radha Ravi”.
“I would like to remind Radha Ravi and the likes of misogynists like him that they were also given birth by a woman. By demeaning the status of women and passing sexist remarks these retarded men get a feeling of machismo.
“I feel terribly sorry for the way they treat women in an opinionated way and my empathy remains with all the women who live in the families of these ‘macho’ men,” she said.
She pointed out that instead of leading the younger generation by example, senior actor Radha Ravi had chosen to take up the role of a misogynist “role-model”.
The actor also said she found it “ghastly shocking” when chauvinistic speeches of people like Radha Ravi got applause and laughs from some members of the audience.
It was at the trailer launch of Nayantara’s Tamil film, Kolayuthir Kaalam, where Radha Ravi made the remarks.
“Nayanthara has acted as ghost and as goddess Sita as well. Earlier, KR Vijaya was the most popular choice to play the role of goddess. Today, anyone can be cast to play a goddess. They can cast someone who you want to pray to when you look at them, they can also cast someone you want to call towards you when you see them,” Ravi had said in Tamil.
His comment drew ire on social media after it got circulated.
Singer and dubbing artiste Chinmayi Sripaada was among the first ones to call out the insensitive comments on Nayanthara. Following that, several members of the Tamil film fraternity, including Varalaxmi Sarath Kumar, Milind Rau and Vignesh Shivn among others expressed disappointment over the comment.
Nayanthara also made it clear in her public statement that she issued on Tuesday: “Irrespective of all negative remarks and aspersions cast upon me, I shall continue to take up the multifaceted role of Sita, ghost, Goddess, friend, wife, lover, so on and so forth with the solemn intention of providing maximum entertainment to my fans.”