RS Anantham, J Bismi, and C Sakthivel, the reviewers of the YouTube channel Valaipechu, slut shamed women in their review of Nerkonda Paarvai, the Tamil remake of Pink, starring Ajith Kumar, Shraddha Srinath and others. After facing huge backlash from celebrities, Ajith’s fans and others, they have given a clarification and removed the video.
In the review, RS Anathnam says about the character in the film who is molested and framed for murder, “Do we feel sorry for such women? No. Because they come across as upper class women, and also go to pubs, and at 19 have sex for the first time, and then have sex with two other boys. So when all of this is revealed, we feel, ‘who cares what happens to them?'”
Bismi responds, “In Pink, women go to pubs and have sex with boys, and this may be common in the north. That’s why the film was accepted and did well there. But when it comes to Tamil, our culture and our way of life is different. These characters are alien to us. That’s why we don’t care about what happens to them on screen.”
Singer Chinmayi called them out on the comments and said, “The everyday misogyny and justification of ‘They ask for it’ by three mainstream Tamil reviewers.”
The everyday misogyny and justification of ‘They asked for it’ by 3 mainstream Tamil reviewers. https://t.co/kUtnifheAC
— Chinmayi Sripaada (@Chinmayi) August 6, 2019
Oviyaa, who was also shamed by them when her film 90ML released, joked that they were jealous of women.
Pavom virgin uncles poleyruku..??♀️ porame.. vittidu ?
— Oviyaa (@OviyaaSweetz) August 7, 2019
Actress Varalaxmi Sarathkumar said that the review was shameful, and Siddharth tweeted that filmmakers and PROs must blacklist reviewers like them.
I hope those 3 men get raped in jail..so we can say..hey we dont feel sorry for you..we jus dont feel like caring..because you asked for it by opening you big damn mouths…and calling it a review..please shut ur mouths..#ShameOnYou #insensitice #ignorant
— varalaxmi sarathkumar (@varusarath) August 7, 2019
Let the film fraternity clearly distinguish between journalists with integrity and those who will stoop to any level for clicks. PROs and film makers must blacklist defaulting individuals. Gossip culture cannot be stopped. You can however fight against it. Change the bad habits!
— Siddharth (@Actor_Siddharth) August 7, 2019
People also pointed out that their clarification was not an apology. The channel had said, “Some of our opinions about women have hurt people. Our criticism was of the story of the film and not of women in general. We want to make this clear and apologise. We have removed the video.”
Along with these “apologies” they should also enroll in gender sensitisation workshops and hire more women on their teams. These apologies mean nothing if they are just moving on. https://t.co/P79PZyAQd5
— Ranjani (@_tharkuri) August 7, 2019
The channel has made similar remarks in their reviews of films such as 90 ML and Aadai, saying Tamil women don’t live such lives. They made disparaging remarks about 90ML star Oviyaa and director Anita Udeep for showing women drinking, smoking and featuring lesbian characters, and criticised Aadai saying they felt no sympathy for Amala Paul’s character when she found herself in a traumatic situation as she was provocative through the film.
They have also criticised Andrea Jeremiah and Nayanthara in the past.
#BanValaipechu this is another clip of how they have been condescendingly regressive about Andrea. What’s their problem if a girl does what she wants. They spoke in same sick manner about nayanthara also. @Chinmayi @valaipechu @andrea_jeremiah pic.twitter.com/8vMJ994L1G
— Ekalavya (@ekalavyatweets) August 7, 2019
Ajith’s fans have demanded a ban on the Valaipechu channel, saying that Ajith has made a film like Nerkonda Paarvai for people like them. Actor Vijay’s fans also supported this.
#Valaipechu and their misogynistic views.
Exactly why Thala would’ve agreed to make this film in Tamil. Much needed. #NerKondaPaarvai
— Priyanthan (@cine_paithiyam) August 7, 2019
#Valaipechu idhuku per daan echa . Spit on yourselves . Request all Tamil cinema fraternity to ban them . Ivanga lam edhukum Thuninjavanunga . I sincerely request #Vijay
Fans and #Ajith
Fans not to make this a rivalry among them . #Ajith #NerKondaPaarvai #ValaiPechuVideos pic.twitter.com/mlaXtCS9Fk— Nila (@nila_dharshini) August 7, 2019
Having consensual sex on 500 occasions is OK. But that should not be ground for raping a woman even once. I hope @MinistryWCD and National commission for woman takes note of the nonsense spoken by a group of desperate, attention seeking, chauvinistic uncles.#Valaipechu
— Srinivas Jayaprakash (@CustosLegis_Jay) August 7, 2019
Dear #ValaiPechu Uncles, can you give us a clear definition of the word Tamil Kalachaaram? I am perplexed..!!
The film was actually made for people like you to break such perceptions. How worthy are you to review a film when you can't even understand its theme?#NerkondaPaarvai pic.twitter.com/NybjxCA35E
— Johaan Sujith (@JohaanSujith2) August 6, 2019
What #Valaipechu Did Was Totally Unacceptable And Even #Thalapathy Fans Supporting #NKP !!
But In Return And In A Cheap Way Including #ThalapathyVijay In This ??
A D V E R T I S E M E N TThis Shows How Illiterate Morons They Are!#EnowaytionPlus #eplusquad #Bigil
— Vijay Immanuel (@VijayImmanuel6) August 7, 2019
Dear @BoneyKapoor ,
It would be a great digrace to Thala Ajith and his million adrent followers ,if you invite these #Valaipechu dogs for #Thala60 premiere.
We would be happy if you file a complaint regarding the statement they've made about women#NerkondaPaaravai
— Boom cinemax (@BoomCinemax) August 6, 2019
Nerkonda Paarvai, directed by H Vinoth, also starring Andrea Tariang, Abhirami Venkatachalam and others, releases in India on August 8.
