Latest news with #MuthaMazhai
News18
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Chinmayi Sripada Slams Dropped Hema Committee Cases: 'There's No Difference…'
Last Updated: Singer Chinmayi Sripada spoke to News18 about her concert comeback, the toll of being a whistleblower, Hema Committee and why the system still punishes women for speaking out. Singer, voice artist, and outspoken activist Chinmayi Sripada is in the spotlight as her voice has once again gone viral, this time through AR Rahman's Thug Life song, Mutha Mazhai. But while her songs trend and her vocals cross languages, Chinmayi continues to be shadowbanned in Tamil cinema—a fallout of her bold stance during the #MeToo movement. In this candid, freewheeling interview, Chinmayi opens up about her chameleonic voice, the ongoing battle to reclaim her career, Hema Committee cases getting dropped, and why she'll never stop speaking up for survivors—even if it costs her everything. Excerpts from the interview: Q: You have done your first solo concert in Hyderabad. Are you planning something similar in Chennai? I'd love to. I definitely wish to have a concert in Chennai. I hope the stars align and make it happen. That's what people are saying, but I honestly don't understand algorithms or engagement. If I had, my life might've been better six years ago! Q: You recently joked about a concert idea titled 'You Didn't Know I Sang This Song." That sounds… kind of perfect. People are currently surprised that many popular songs are sung by you. Exactly! I feel like that's my entire discography. People are discovering that I've sung songs they've loved for years, and they're shocked. In a way, that's great. It wasn't a plan, but I think I just took the path that the song and the composition took–If it wanted a slightly different tonality or projection or a performance from me. I am glad I was able to deliver what was asked of me at that point. And therefore, I don't think they were able to connect all of these songs or from the same singer. Because after Dheivam Thandha Poove, somebody is listening to Sandipoma and then they are suddenly listening to If You Wanna Come Along, they are like: 'Okay, how can this be the same singer, right?' Q: Some singers create a vocal signature. But you've chosen versatility. Do you see it as a strength or a challenge? I think in a way, I am looking at it as a boon because I would rather surprise the listener. I like that game. I like keeping people guessing and surprising them at the end of it when somebody is like: 'Is this Chinmayi?' That's my thing. Q: What's the one song people are most shocked to learn is yours? Initially, it was Sahana. Then Sarasara Sarakathu, Mayya Mayya too. It keeps happening. Q: What would you say is the Chinmayi voice? The one that represents you? That's hard. Every song is a part of my voice. None of it is fake. If I need to sing husky, I can. If it doesn't work, I accept that. My job is to try my best and see if I can make it work. Q: Have there been songs you've walked away from? Yes. Once because the lyrics were vulgar. It was Tamil, and it felt too much. I just couldn't do it. I don't even remember the song now. And then once, when I was 18, someone was like, 'She has produced a hit too early. So let me put her in place.' I ended up crying and leaving the studio. I couldn't sing. These things happen. A lot of singers have such stories. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sony Music South India (@sonymusic_south) Q: Let's talk about Thug Life. Did you expect that kind of viral reaction to Mutha Mazhai? This isn't new. Even Dhee sang a song in Kadhalikka Neramillai, and it was performed by some other singer on a stage. It happens all the time. With Mutha Mazhai, I sang the Telugu and Hindi versions, so singing the Tamil version was natural. I already knew the tune, and I just read the lyrics and sang. I didn't think much about it. I was given a job, and I did it. Q: How do you respond to comparisons between your version and Dhee's? I don't know what to say. My entire career has been filled with many songs with multiple versions—male, female, happy, sad. I've sung sad versions, Shreya has sung happy ones. In Uyire, Harris Jayaraj had four of us singing one song! People are acting like this is new. Q: You've worked with so many legends. Who influenced your singing the most? I didn't grow up on film songs. But I loved Hariharan sir's ghazals. Asha ji's versatility. P. Susheela Amma's timbre. L. R. Eswari Amma's theatrics. Janaki Amma's ability to sing like a man, woman, and child in the same song. Yesudas sir's subtle sangathis. Chitra Amma's range. Sujatha ji's Netru Iladha Maatram—I heard it in a theatre and that was the moment I wanted to be a playback singer. And Hai Rama? That was the love of my life for years. Q: Why do you recently only get the Telugu and Hindi versions of songs, but not Tamil? How do I answer that? If I do, it becomes a speculation. Only producers and directors can answer. But that's been the story of my life for years. A sad thing. If a film is in Telugu, I would dub it in Tamil from Hyderabad. That's a different story. But, what they call a straight Tamil film… that has been few and far between. Q: Is it because of the dubbing union ban? How does that work? All the unions associated with Tamil films come under one mothership called Film Employee Federation of South India (FEFSI). They decide who should work and who shouldn't. Now, the dubbing union is headed by heavy weights like Radha Ravi, who also hold offices in other unions. That's how most heads are like–if one is a head in an union, he would hold office in others as well. When one union bans someone, it notifies FEFSI, which then sends notice to all unions to ban the person. If someone doesn't comply, they are also given ban threats. However, such actions are not taken against sexual offenders. If I do, then, they will hold it against me that I went to the police and filed a complaint. So, it is in the union by-law that I am not supposed to go to the police. So, basically, they tell me, they function as a different country. Q: But how can a union have a bylaw saying you can't go to the police? Exactly! That's what I've been asking. This is their system. It protects perpetrators and punishes complainants. Q: So what's happening with your court case fighting this ban by the dubbing union? I've gone to court asking to overturn the ban. I want my right to work back. People say it's useless, that they'll still shadow ban me. But at least I'll have a paper in hand. Q: What about the big names and stars—can't they help you out? It's not their problem to deal with. It's only the problem of the person facing it. If you're powerful, things are taken care of. If you're not, you're left to fight. Q: In an interview you said, you are numb despite all the recent praises? What has happened can't be undone. I don't think it can be reversed. It is like a severed hand that got reattached to the body. It will have scars. Q: Your thoughts on cases reported to the Hema Committee getting dropped by police… Malayalam actress Parvathy (Thiruvothu) has asked a pertinent question. The whole point of the committee was to protect the survivors, and she rightly questioned the safety in the police investigation. Why are Reema Kalingal and Parvathy's shadow banned? On the other hand, Dileep is getting promoted despite knowing he is a contract rapist. There is no difference between here and there. At least, there they had something like the Hema Committee, which initially gave me joy. Now, women there despite knowing something horrific has happened to one of their colleagues, go and rub shoulders with Dileep. Shame! Q: Do you feel any peace that you have set a precedent in calling all these men out? Do you think that changed anything? People talk about sexual abuse now. It's a drawing room conversation. I get DMs every day. Men are opening up. I saw a reel a couple of days ago of a man who was talking about being molested on a train. He had actually caught it on video. I said this is exactly what we are talking about. I've had adult men confide in me—saying they were molested by friends, colleagues. They ask if they should tell their wives. And I say yes. Women don't judge the way men often judge women. We listen. Survivors are recognising what happened to them. I think that's progress. First Published:
Pink Villa
02-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
‘She might eat a 100 Shreya Ghoshals…': Chinmayi apologizes to Dhee after Mutha Mazhai from Thug Life goes viral
Singer Chinmayi's sensational performance of the song Mutha Mazhai from Thug Life at its audio launch received a lot of love. With the huge fanfare her version of the song is garnering, the playback singer has apologized to her colleague Dhee, who originally sang it in the movie. In a recent interview with The Hindu, Chinmayi candidly spoke about how delightful it is to see the response. She said, 'Actually, Dhee was not unfortunately available that day. I had sung the song's Telugu and Hindi versions, and I just did my job. Other than that, I was just a stand-in because the original singer wasn't there.' The singer went on to quote a dialogue from Kamal Haasan's Dasavataram, revealing how she sometimes questions the existence of a god. She added that when Dhee was included in the project, it was clear that the makers were going for something quirky, as she knew the latter had a special expression that was exclusive to her. Chinmayi went on to add how now it feels like she and Dhee are in some kind of wrestling match that they didn't sign up for. Acknowledging it, the singer highlighted how, as artists, they admire each other's works. Moreover, the singer also said, 'I really want to apologize to her. She's a young girl, and she started out a while ago. 15 years down the line, she might eat 100 Chinmayis or Shreya Ghoshals. She would have her own space, and comparing both our versions is not necessary. If you had asked an 18-year-old or 20-year-old Chinmayi to sing like this, she probably wouldn't.' For those unaware, the singer had recently become a viral sensation after singing the song Mutha Mazhai from Thug Life onstage. The response that followed led her to clear the air in such a manner. Chinmayi sings Mutha Mazhai at Thug Life audio launch The upcoming movie, Thug Life, is a gangster actioner starring Kamal Haasan and Silambarasan TR in the lead roles. The movie directed by Mani Ratnam is slated to release on June 5, 2025.
New Indian Express
31-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New Indian Express
Chinmayi Sripada on comparisons over 'Thug Life' song: ‘I want to apologise to Dhee'
Singer Chinmayi Sripada finds herself at the centre of attention for her stirring rendition of the song 'Mutha Mazhai' at the recent Thug Life audio launch. Her performance has ignited a social media frenzy, with fans demanding its inclusion in the film and drawing comparisons to Dhee's original version. Chinmayi, however, has quelled the debate, emphasising artistic camaraderie over competition. Addressing the latest surge in popularity and the ensuing comparisons in an interview with The Hindu, Chinmayi articulated her perspective. Describing it as a regular on-stage rendition of an original song, she said that it is not something she has done for the first time, citing her prior versions of KS Chithra and S Janaki's songs. Chinmayi also emphasised that she sang the Tamil version of the song at the audio launch of Thug Life due to the absence of its original singer, Dhee. Chinmayi then addressed the comparisons, expressing her discomfort. She said that Thug Life makers must have chosen Dhee for a 'quirky' version of the song. She then described Dhee's musical expression as being inimitable and called the comparison between their versions of the song unnecessary. 'It feels like we are part of a wrestling match that we did not sign up for,' said the 'Tere Bina' singer. She underscored the mutual respect prevalent among artists and even extended an apology to Dhee for the comparisons.
The Hindu
31-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Chinmayi interview on ‘Thug Life' song: ‘Despite praise, I feel numb'
Singer Chinmayi is back in the limelight. Her rendition of Tamil track 'Mutha Mazhai' at the recent Thug Life audio launch in Chennai is garnering a lot of praise. The interesting part is that Chinmayi has sung the Telugu and Hindi versions of this particular track composed by AR Rahman but not the Tamil version, which has been sung by singer Dhee, most popular for her 'Enjoy Enjaami'. 'When I sang it, it was just another performance. It was just like how I perform classics of other singers; I have sung S Janaki amma's, Chitra amma's songs on various stages in the past. I sang the Tamil version that evening because Dhee was not available. I was a stand-in,' she explains. That she might have been, but the version she dished out on stage, in the presence of thousands of fans and the entire starcast including Kamal Haasan, Silambarasan and Trisha, has gone viral; its official recording from music label Saregama Tamil has already hit more than 2 million views, with music fans demanding that it be included in the film's final version. 'When Dhee was cast, I'm sure they were going for something quirky. Dhee has a special musical expression, which cannot be imitated by anybody else. This whole talk about her version versus mine... it feels like we are part of a wrestling match that we did not sign up for. As artistes, we openly admire each other's work. It is not a competition,' she says, 'I want to apologise to Dhee. She's a young girl. To compare the two versions is not necessary at all.' Is Chinmayi banned? The recent limelight on her has not yet sunk in, she adds. 'Because, in the last seven years, my DMs have been filled with abuse. Somewhere, my emotions got numb after that and now, when there is so much adulation, I'm like, 'thank you, I guess'. While I'm truly grateful for this, I have become numb.' Chinmayi is, of course, referring to the years since 2018, when she named influential people in the film and music industry as part of the #MeToo movement. This, she says, has made unions within the industry 'ban' her, thus depriving her of singing and dubbing chances in Tamil films. 'There are 20-plus unions in the film industry, and members are usually part of multiple unions. The dubbing union banned me. Director Mithran had to make me dub in secret for Hero. I also dubbed for Leo, for which they tried to track down the studio where it was worked on. When a film comes to the dubbing stage, people are racing against time, and they don't have the bandwith to deal with such a 'ban',' she says. Facing repercussions for using her in films, many composers have opted for other available singers. 'A lot of music composers tell me that they want to make me sing, but that their producers wouldn't let them,' says Chinmayi, who describes the support of her family members and house owners as her biggest support, 'Directors CS Amudhan and PS Mithran and music composer Govind Vasantha have also supported me through this phase. Actress Samantha has been my greatest cheerleader through this, as have Kerala actresses Parvathy and Rima.' Musical discoverability Chinmayi burst into the Tamil music scene in 2002, with the blockbuster 'Oru Deivam' song in Kannathil Muthamittal, a film that was directed by Mani Ratnam and had music by AR Rahman. More than two decades later, her work in Thug Life, which is a film again from the same director-composer combination, is being discussed. How different were these two experiences? 'Nothing has changed. The working experience was the same. For Thug Life, Rahman sir sang a few lines, taught me and we worked on it.' The song showcases elements of Carnatic and qawwali as well. 'It showcases his creative genius; he may be given the same bag of rice, but he'll give you an entire 15-course menu with it.' Her performance at the Thug Life audio launch has, in turn, led to music fans discovering some of her older work. 'This happened when I did a Twitter Spaces concert during the pandemic. A lot of people then requested some older songs of mine too and they got a lease of life then. In general, my career is defined by tracks that people don't know I sang. If I ever have a live concert in Chennai, I will probably name it 'I did not know you sang that',' she laughs. That probably marks her musical versatility; Chinmayi sounds very different — from a melodious 'Sara Sara' to an energetic 'Mayya Mayya'. 'Many of my songs have been standalone hits, but listeners have not been able to make a connection and attribute it to me, though my name is in the credits. If a composer asks for a certain tonality, I do it and that change of shruti results in a change of voice and tone. Maybe some listeners do not make the connection that it is the same singer,' explains Chinmayi, who is looking forward to engage more with art and music in the future.
