Kangana Ranaut Backs Trisha in Udhayanidhi Stalin Row, Says Character Assassination Must Stop
Actor turned politician Kangana Ranaut has come out in support of actress Trisha Krishnan over DMK leader and Tamil Nadu Leader of Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin’s remarks.
“Attacks on a woman’s character have become a social problem now. She is being targeted everywhere, stop it,” she said soon after Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay spoke in the state Assembly against derogatory and personal comments against women.
The controversy dates back to an August political gathering in Tamil Nadu where Udhayanidhi Stalin was talking about Cauvery water issue and criticising the state government. In the crowd people reportedly chanted actress Trisha’s name.
A remark made by Udhayanidhi was later read by critics as double-meaning reference to Trisha. Political and public backlash followed quickly and Udhayanidhi denied making any objectionable remark or naming Trisha directly.
The controversy soon turned into a legal and political confrontation. Tamil Nadu Police arrested Udhayanidhi in connection with the matter; he later said it was politically motivated and that he had not said anything wrong.
DMK leaders also disputed interpretation of his comments. It became part of the larger political battle between Vijay's ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam government (TVK) and opposition DMK.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay spoke about it in Assembly on September 7. Without naming Udhayanidhi, Vijay said political criticism could be strong but not defamatory or demeaning remarks about women; insulting women can be taken up legally and people should think how freedom of speech is used in public discourse.
Kangana Ranaut’s latest comments came in response to questions about Vijay’s speech in Assembly. She told reporters after a meeting in Kullu, Himachal Pradesh that women are often targeted with personal attacks when they are discredited (she added the problem is not just limited to India), working women, successful professionals, actors, politicians and women in authority too get attacked.
Referring to the controversy in Tamil Nadu Kangana said that when two people are involved in a relationship criticism and abuse is usually directed at the woman. “Why are women still being attacked characteristically? Society needs to look at itself,” she said.
Her comments also raised the larger issue of how women public figures are treated when personal issues become part of political or entertainment debates. Kangana said attacking a woman’s character can be used as a way to undermine her professional standing and public image. She called for more respect for women (whether they’re professionals, social status or influential).
So the Trisha controversy has gone beyond a dispute over one political speech. It is now part of a debate on political rhetoric, online commentary, gender based attacks and boundaries of public criticism. Vijay’s recent Assembly comments and Kangana’s comments have both stressed that personal and derogatory attacks against women should not be made.
For Trisha, the controversy has come about mostly through statements by politicians and public debate rather than through an actress herself giving a detailed public response. But it still received a lot of attention because she is well known in South Indian cinema and several leading figures in Tamil cinema are associated with her.
There’s also the political aspect of the controversy. Vijay and Udhayanidhi are now major players on opposing sides of Tamil Nadu’s political spectrum so statements about either leader will be given some attention. The dispute has added another dimension to the increasingly bitter political battle between TVK and DMK.
The debate rages on and the issue remains how women are treated in public discourse. Kangana’s intervention has only strengthened calls for criticism to be directed at political actions and public issues rather than personal attacks. Vijay’s Assembly comments also said political differences shouldn’t become an excuse to insult women.
The controversy over Udhayanidhi’s remarks is still politically charged different sides have different interpretations of what was said and what it meant. Against that backdrop Kangana Ranaut’s message is wider: disagreements and political rivalry cannot lead to character attacks on women. Calling for an end to such treatment has brought another high profile voice to a debate which now seems to be getting attention far beyond Tamil Nadu.
Latest Movies Trailer
Comments
Please to leave a comment on this article.