Tamil Features

Kasthuri, Khushbu, Kaniha, Sripriya Voice Support For Dhanshika, Call Out T Rajendar On Undignified Conduct

By Silverscreen India Staff

The Vizhithiru audio launch held last week was a case of fragile ego, paper-thin skin, and the entitlement that comes with being male, an actor, and a hero.

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

Actor T Rajendar, who was at the launch, spoke among other things, Dhanshika’s failure to mention him in the video. In his nine-minute speech, the last few minutes were spent solely picking on the actress, and trying to make a rhyme out of her apology and obvious discomfort. Even as Dhanshika tries to explain, T Rajendar bulls over her, tells her to sit, behaving like the class bully. During one instance, he says, “I didn’t care about Hansika, why would I care about Dhanshika?” to loud cheers. And then, when Dhanshika apologises, he throws it in her face and makes a distasteful remark involving sari and sorry. He concludes by saying that all this was a charade for the movie to get publicity, even as Dhanshika is seen dabbing her eyes with a cloth. Director Venkat Prabhu, sitting closest to the actress, makes no effort to comfort her while actors Kreshna and Vidaart are seen openly cheering TR’s statements.

Following this, Nadigar Sangam General Secretary and President of the TFPC, Vishal Krishna, issued a note condemning the behaviour of T Rajendar, and other actors on stage. Soon after, several other actresses rallied with their colleague; actresses Kasthuri, Khushbu, Kaniha and Sripriya spoke out for Dhanshika.

In a Facebook post, Kasthuri said, “What would have happened if Dhanshika had yelled as well? When TR ranted about stage decorum, Dhanshika was graceful, she was patient; that is true stage etiquette.” Declaring that TR behaved as if in a trance, Kasthuri said that none of the other ‘celebrities’ on stage tried to intervene or stop him.

“It is Dhansika who has come out a winner out of all this. She has handled herself with dignity during and post this incident. More power to you girl! And Thanks Vishal, for speaking up when others remained mute spectators!”

Actress Kaniha, who debuted with Mani Ratnam’s Five Star, said: “When you weigh one’s professional skills against one’s personality, it’s the latter that wins. TR may be a director, music composer, lyricist, singer, dancer, but what’s all these skills when you don’t have grace and dignity?”

Actress Sripriya added her voice:

Venkat Prabhu, meanwhile, had posted a note, calling Dhanshika “an industry freshie with little experience in public speaking”, and that it is the “responsibility of seniors to guide [her]”. “Guidance is god’s work,” he said in a statement supporting ‘Uncle TR’. Predictably, Twitter was incensed. Journalist Shabbir Ahmed then sought the reactions of Khushbu, Suhasini and Radikaa Sarathkumar to Venkat Prabhu’s tweet.

Responding to it, Khushbu said:

Vidhaarth, spotted laughing on stage, issued a clarification on his Facebook page. “It started as a joke,” he said, “Being on stage with other dignitaries, I couldn’t voice [support] at the right time, and I apologise for it. I never meant to hurt Dhanshika; she is a gem of a person.”

Meanwhile, encouraged by the support, Dhanshika tweeted this:

*****

 

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Silverscreen India Staff is a at Silverscreen India, and can be reached by email at contact@silverscreen.in