Earlier on Wednesday, lyricist Vairamuthu published a denial of sorts on Twitter without making a direct reference to the many allegations of sexual assault against him.
In the tweet, Vairamuthu declared that it has become a ‘trend’ to defame celebrities, and that he has faced humiliation on several counts in recent times. “I consider this [episode] to be one among the many attempts to humiliate me. I don’t give credence to anything other than the truth which will come out in time.”
அறியப்பட்டவர்கள் மீது அவதூறு பரப்பும் அநாகரிகம் நாடெங்கும் இப்போது நாகரிகமாகி வருகிறது. அண்மைக்காலமாக நான் தொடர்ச்சியாக அவமானப்படுத்தப்பட்டு வருகிறேன்; அவற்றுள் இதுவும் ஒன்று. உண்மைக்குப் புறம்பான எதையும் நான் பொருட்படுத்துவதில்லை; உண்மையைக் காலம் சொல்லும்.
— வைரமுத்து (@vairamuthu) October 10, 2018
Singer Chinmayi, one among those who made accusations of harassment against Vairamuthu, was quick to call out his tweet.
LIAR! https://t.co/osvaGLb4mQ
— Chinmayi Sripaada (@Chinmayi) October 10, 2018
Between Monday and Tuesday, a few accounts of sexual assault allegedly perpetrated by Vairamuthu were tweeted by journalist Sandhya Menon and singer Chinmayi. Chinmayi also added her voice to the survivors’ allegations by narrating her experience of harassment at the hands of the lyricist.
In a series of tweets published on Tuesday, Chinmayi said that she was asked to visit Vairamuthu’s hotel room after an album release event held in Switzerland in the year 2005-06. The singer added that the organiser of the event urged her to ‘co-operate,’ but she’d put her foot down and left for Chennai immediately.
Year 2005/2006 maybe.
Veezhamattom. An album for Srilankan Tamizhs that I had sung in, as had Manikka Vinayagam sir.
I dont remember if it was a book or an album release or both now; the performances and launch happened in Switzerland in (Bern / Zurich maybe)— Chinmayi Sripaada (@Chinmayi) October 9, 2018
Chinmayi also alleged that Vairamuthu had threatened her when she refused to sing for his book release event sometime later.
Earlier this week, she spoke out about experiencing sexual harassment. In one particular tweet, she referred to a ‘respected man’ who threatened her with dire consequences if she refused to fall in line with his demands.
A woman speaking up *and* naming the man has a consequence of slut shaming, ‘what did you do that he behaved like that?’, beingn discredited, being called unprofessional and also losing work/career.
A risk women cant take. And that has enabled the men.
No longer. #TimesUp— Chinmayi Sripaada (@Chinmayi) October 5, 2018
Chinmayi also shared screenshots of her conversation with a friend who wished to anonymously recount her experience with Vairamuthu. The friend revealed that Vairamuthu almost kissed her when she met him at his Besant Nagar residence. She also went on to post screenshots of various women who shared stories about the hostel run by Vairamuthu and his wife Ponmani in Chennai.
