I'm Not The Only One To Be Banned: Chinmayi As Her Muththa Mazhai Song Becomes Chartbuster

Popular playback singer and dubbing artist Chinmayi Sripaada has opened up on the ban culture in the Tamil film industry again as her rendition of Muththa Mazhai song at the Thug Life event has gone viral on social media, reigniting conversations about her absence from the Tamil film industry over the past six years.

Chinmayi has been under an unofficial ban by the Tamil Nadu Dubbing Union since 2018, following her #MeToo allegations against lyricist Vairamuthu and actor-politician Radha Ravi. Despite this, she continues to engage with her fans and speak out against the challenges she faces.

What Chinmayi Says?

Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Chinmayi addressed the widespread confusion about her professional hiatus. "Wanted to clarify what a ban in one Union means in the Tamil film industry," she wrote. "Many don't understand the non-cooperation diktat that goes out to the rest of the unions under FEFSI (Film Employees Federation of South India)."

She emphasized that while her case is still sub judice, she wanted to share a crucial detail: "My case is still sub judice, and I can't share anything regarding it, but here is a letter of members Radha Ravi has banned before me. Anyone who can read Tamil can understand."

Highlighting the entrenched network of unions that dominate the industry, Chinmayi explained, "Office bearers in one Union are also somehow office bearers in other Unions, and they are all enmeshed in some form or other."

She added, "Hope this clarifies to all concerned as to why I haven't worked much in the last seven years."

Chinmayi insisted that she is not the only one facing such treatment. "They have a way of completely cutting off all work opportunities so that one is brought to their knees, and nobody will do anything about it," she wrote.

Referring to her performance of Muththa Mazhai, Chinmayi clarified that she had only sung a cover version: "I only sang a cover version and an expression similar to what I have done in Telugu and Hindi to Dhee's fantastic singing in Tamil - which has happened before at audio launches where a different singer would sing if the original singer is not available."

Despite the challenges, Chinmayi expressed gratitude for the support she has received. "I am grateful for the support and love," she concluded. "I'd like to focus on music and my art and will continue to fight in court until my ban is legally overturned."

Meanwhile, director Venkat Prabhu and actress Samantha Ruth Prabhu joined fans in congratulating Chinmayi on the success of her performance, showing solidarity with her ongoing struggle for justice.