“Innum Varum Enthan Kathai…” (My story would still come…)
In Chinmayi Sripada’s stirring rendition of the song from the much-anticipated Kamal Haasan starrer Thug Life, performed recently at the film’s music launch, the lyric lingers like a promise. Her voice, at once haunting and resolute, has sparked a wave of admiration from those who see her return as more than just a performance. To many, it is a quiet rebellion. As clips from her performance go viral, voices grow louder in calling the ban on her a “loss to Tamil cinema,” because the silence forced upon her was never hers alone. It was the industry’s. And now, with every note she sings, that silence comes echoing back, more powerful than ever.
Chinmayi’s appearance at the Thug Life music launch marked a rare moment of visibility in an industry that has, for years, tried to sideline her. In 2018, she was expelled from the South Indian Cine, Television Artistes and Dubbing Artistes Union (SICTADAU), shortly after she publicly supported women who accused the union’s then-president, actor-politician Radha Ravi, of sexual harassment. Although a court later ruled in her favour and restored her membership on paper, Chinmayi continued to face a shadow ban, especially within Tamil cinema. However, the ban was restored and the case is underway.
Around the same time, she also came forward with allegations against renowned lyricist Vairamuthu, alleging that a cultural event organiser in Switzerland had asked her to “cooperate” with the lyricist. She spoke about the incident in detail during the MeToo movement, becoming one of the most prominent voices to call out abuse in the industry.
Before this unofficial blacklist, Chinmayi was among the most sought-after dubbing artists in Tamil cinema, lending her voice to leading actors including Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Tamannaah Bhatia, Trisha Krishnan, Priyanka Chopra, and Amy Jackson. Her work earned her the Nandi Award for Best Female Dubbing Artist in both 2011 and 2014, for Ye Maaya Chesave and Manam, respectively.
Industry insiders told TNM that Chinmayi’s involvement in films like 96 and Leo sparked backlash behind the scenes. Directors were reportedly pressured, and in some cases harassed, for choosing to work with her. The dubbing union allegedly even refused to send other artists to studios that collaborated with her.
Between 2002 and 2018, Chinmayi sang over 250 songs in Tamil films. But in the last seven years, that number dropped to just 41. Among those, only a handful were of prominent directors or composers like AR Rahman, Govind Vasantha, and GV Prakash.
Sources in the industry, however, told TNM that many of these songs were recorded before Chinmayi spoke out against Vairamuthu. In multilingual films, though she records across languages, her versions are often retained only in non-Tamil releases. In Thug Life, for instance, she sings the Telugu version ‘Muddu Vaana’ and Hindi version ‘Ang Ang Morey’, while the Tamil version ‘Muththa Mazhai’ is sung by singer Dhee.
A few voices in the industry, however, have continued to support her despite the shadow ban. Music directors Govind Vasantha, Sam CS, Nivas Prasanna, filmmaker Vetrimaaran, and actors like Jyotika and RJ Balaji reportedly made efforts to include her after the MeToo movement.
The renewed attention around her performance has reignited conversations online, with author Kavipriya Moorthy voicing one of the strongest criticisms of how the industry has treated Chinmayi. In a strongly worded Instagram post, Kavipriya questioned the sudden public curiosity about Chinmayi’s absence.
“Some are asking questions about Chinmayi’s ban like they were in a coma for the last 7 years,” she wrote, pointing out that the singer had long endured invasive questions, online abuse, and relentless public scrutiny. “Her comment sections were swarmed with vile remarks… And yet, she fought and continues to fight relentlessly.”
Kavipriya also condemned the gendered double standards that plague the film industry, where women who speak out face consequences while alleged abusers continue to hold influence. “Radha Ravi is literally showing what he can do to a victim who gathers courage to call out harassment in an industry filled with sexual abusers,” she wrote, referring to the former dubbing union president.
She also criticised the political and cultural elite’s complicity, pointing to the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister’s unveiling of Vairamuthu’s book — a move that stood in stark contrast to Chinmayi’s continued ostracisation.
Reflecting on Chinmayi’s performance at the Thug Life music launch, Kavipriya described it as “four full minutes of divinity,” calling it a stark reminder of what the industry has lost. “If this isn’t a slap to the privileged stars sitting on the stage who could actually collectively do something, and the audience for turning a blind eye, I don’t know what is,” she wrote.
Her post ended with a call for justice: “I just wish this woman gets justice. More strength to her.”
This isn’t the first time Chinmayi has received widespread support from the audience. In 2021, as she performed live for audiences on Twitter spaces, she was met with an outpouring of appreciation. This support, however, did not translate into any viable change in the industry.
Despite the hurdles, Chinmayi has continued to work on her own terms, selectively taking up projects and staying outspoken about the industry’s systemic issues.
A versatile playback singer, Chinmayi’s voice has lit up songs across multiple Indian languages, including Tamil, Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Kannada, and Marathi. With a career spanning nearly two decades, she has collaborated with some of Indian cinema’s most celebrated composers, such as AR Rahman, Ilaiyaraaja, Harris Jayaraj, and Devi Sri Prasad.
