Latest news with #MuththaMazhai
Time of India
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Star Singer: Chinmayi Sripada opens up on Kollywood Ban, says 'Though I was getting opportunities from other industries, it felt like I was thrown out of my home'
Playback singer Chinmayi Sripada debuted on Malayalam television through Star Singer. Her performance and reflections moved many. She shared her career journey and struggles, including the ban from the Tamil film industry. Chinmayi expressed gratitude to the women of Kerala for their support during the #MeToo movement. Judge KS Chithra praised Chinmayi's strength. Popular playback singer Chinmayi Sripada has made a powerful and emotional appearance on the music reality show Star Singer, marking her debut on Malayalam television. Her performance, reflections, and moving tribute on the show have captured the hearts of fans across the state, with her rendition of "Muththa Mazhai" now going viral on social media. Chinmayi's guest appearance in the latest episode of Star Singer was nothing short of electrifying. From the moment she stepped on stage, she mesmerized both contestants and judges with her soulful voice and heartfelt comments. The episode also included a touching tribute that took her, and the audience, through an emotional journey, highlighting her career highs and personal struggles. The show featured a special video biography chronicling Chinmayi's journey, from her debut at age 15 to becoming one of the most sought-after voices in South Indian cinema, and the unexpected turn of events that saw her being banned from the Tamil film industry. Overcome with emotion, Chinmayi opened up about the difficult period following her exclusion from Kollywood. "When the ban happened, I thought that my whole career was gone. I was just juggling between court and home,' she said. 'Even during that time, I used to get opportunities from Malayalam, Telugu, and Kannada. But think of the situation when you can't sing in your mother tongue. I felt like I was thrown out of my own home. " She added, "I used to scold God, asking why this was happening to me. But I believe, God has now blessed me with this moment too. Because whatever is happening around me, no human can do something like this. It's a God's gift." The singer also expressed heartfelt gratitude to the women of Kerala for their support during the #MeToo movement. Recalling the time when lyricist Vairamuthu was selected for the ONV award, she said, 'The women in Kerala protested that such an honour shouldn't be given to someone like him. The way they stood up for another woman, I didn't get that kind of support from anywhere else.' Veteran singer and judge KS Chithra praised Chinmayi, stating that her strength and journey have inspired every contestant on the show. As a token of appreciation, the Star Singer team presented Chinmayi with a traditional Kerala saree, to which she responded with joy, promising to wear it for the upcoming Onam festival.
Time of India
01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Star Singer: Chinmayi Sripada set to grace the show, KS Chithra says, ‘We are all your fans'
Chinmayi Sripada is debuting on Malayalam television with Star Singer. The episode will feature her popular songs. It will also include personal revelations. Singer K.S. Chithra welcomes her warmly. Sithara Krishnakumar admires Chinmayi's conviction. The episode promises music, emotion, and honesty. It is expected to be a memorable experience for fans. It will celebrate music, strength, truth, and artistic integrity. South Indian playback singer Chinmayi Sripada is all set to make her much-awaited debut on Malayalam television with her appearance on the popular music reality show Star Singer. The upcoming episode promises not only soulful music but also heartfelt moments and powerful revelations. In the newly released teaser, Chinmayi is seen lighting up the Star Singer stage with renditions of some of her all-time favourites, including the soulful Oru Daivam Thantha Poovu and her recent hit Muththa Mazhai. The performance visibly moves the audience and the panel of judges, with veteran singer and judge K.S. Chithra warmly welcoming her by saying, 'We are all your fans.' The camaraderie and admiration between the artists add an emotional touch to the episode, making it one of the most anticipated this season. The episode is not just about music. In a powerful moment, Chinmayi opens up about deeply personal experiences and challenges, including her fears about the end of her music career and her outspoken stance against awarding the ONV Kurup Award to lyricist Vairamuthu, a controversy that sparked national conversation. Earlier, Star Singer judge and playback singer Sithara Krishnakumar took to social media to share her admiration for Chinmayi after meeting her on set. 'Had the privilege of meeting Chinmayi Sripada, a voice we've all cherished, and a spirit I deeply admire. In a world that often celebrates diplomacy over truth, it was refreshing and inspiring to spend time with someone who stands unwaveringly by what she believes in… Here's to women who speak up, sing out, and live with conviction. What a beautiful day it was!!!' Sithara wrote. With a powerful blend of music, emotion, and raw honesty, Chinmayi Sripada's episode on Star Singer is poised to be one of the most memorable yet. Fans can look forward to a soul-stirring experience that celebrates not just music, but also strength, truth, and artistic integrity.
Time of India
17-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Simbu-Vetri Maaran film begins; 'Jailer' director Nelson Dilipkumar to make cameo
(Picture Courtesy: Facebook) Director Vetri Maaran's much-anticipated collaboration with actor Silambarasan, aka Simbu, has officially gone on floors. A working still from the sets has surfaced online, creating a buzz among fans. The image features Vetri Maaran, Simbu, and Jailer director Nelson Dilipkumar, sparking intrigue over Nelson's unexpected presence on set. Nelson Dilipkumar to appear in a cameo role According to India Today report, the 'Jailer', 'Beast' director Nelson Dilipkumar will be making a cameo appearance in the untitled film. Actors Kavin and Manikandan are also expected to appear in cameo roles, further raising the film's star power. Set in the 'Vada Chennai' universe The film is said to be set in the same gritty underworld as Vetri Maaran and Dhanush's cult classic 'Vada Chennai'. Familiar faces from that film—Andrea Jeremiah, Samuthirakani, and Kishore—will reprise their roles, connecting the narrative threads. While the official title and release details are yet to be announced, shooting has commenced with a promo shoot, with principal photography expected to start in the coming weeks. Simbu's 'Thug Life' Thug Life | Song - Muththa Mazhai Meanwhile, Simbu has impressed the audiences with his stunning performance in the recently released Kamal Haasan starrer 'Thug Life'. Unfortunately the Mani Ratnam's directorial failed to impress the audiences. ETimes review for the film read, "Thug Life becomes a slog. The latter half goes haywire with many of the sub-plots from the earlier portions either being diluted or largely getting shoved away for a long amount of time. Even Amaran goes missing for quite some time. Instead what we get are preposterous scenes of Sakthivel's survival after being shot at or stabbed multiple times. The threat of Sadanand ceases to exist and Deepak feels like a weak antagonist who makes moves that are predictable. Even AR Rahman seems to lose interest and delivers a background score that feels random. The rich production values, especially Ravi K Chandran's glossy visuals, the mystery around the fate of Chandra and the inevitable face-off between Sakthivel and Amaran make us stay invested."
Hindustan Times
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Chinmayi opens up to the viral reaction to her Muththa Mazhai performance: ‘I was given a job, and I did it'
Chinmayi has been in the limelight for the last few days, ever since she went on stage to sing the AR Rahman composition Muththa Mazhai during the audio launch of Thug Life. The singer, who is banned from singing in the Tamil industry, received unanimous love from fans on social media, and the makers then released the audio on all streaming platforms. In an interview with News18, Chinmayi has now reacted to the outpouring of love and how she processed it all. (Also read: Chinmayi receives love for singing at Thug Life event; fans call ban on her 'Tamil cinema's loss') During the interaction, when Chinmayi was asked about the reaction to her performance and whether she expected any of it, she said: '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 Muththa 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.' The singer also added, '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.' For the unversed, after Chinmayi called out Vairamuthu for sexually abusing her, she was removed from the South Indian Cine, Television Artistes and Dubbing Artistes Union (SICTADAU) after she came out in support of the women who had named Radha Ravi, president of the dubbing union. She has been fighting the case legally for more than 6 years now.
Time of India
05-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Chinmayi Sripada says she was anxious when 'Muththa Mazhai' from Thug Life audio launch went viral: 'I cried in countless temples and walked outside pretending to be a brave woman'
Singer Chinmayi Sripada recently made headlines with her soulful rendition of 'Muththa Mazhai' at the audio launch event of 's 'Thug Life'. The original track, sung by Dhee, was performed on stage by Chinmayi in her absence, and it went viral, with people discussing why Kollywood had not explored the singer's potential. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The online fan debate brought her shadow ban in the industry back into the spotlight. Chinmayi has now opened up about the emotional struggles she faced during the ban and her fight against leading names in the industry. Chinmayi about her ban in the industry In an interview with ABP Live Tamil, Chinmayi spoke about the functioning of dubbing unions in Kollywood at the time. She criticised the dubbing union for mandating a compulsory 10% cut from its members without providing any work-related support. She claimed that the union enforces this rule arbitrarily, and when questioned about the finances, it presents inflated and inaccurate expense reports to the government. 'If the association had collected just from the salaries of Rajinikanth, Ajith Kumar, , and Kamal Haasan, they could've run something like Nithyananda's Kailasa here. I'm not saying this as a joke. Everyone runs things as they wish. They claim the dubbing union spends on struggling artistes. I haven't seen it happen,' she said. Emotional struggles and societal pressure Chinmayi opened up about feeling hurt during the ban and revealed that she had second thoughts about her revelation regarding the MeToo movement. 'I can't say I didn't feel hurt thinking, 'Did this happen just because I told the truth?' But at the same time, I knew this would happen if I spoke out. My heart is filled with pain and sorrow. In these past six or seven years, when there was a situation where no one even wanted to talk about Chinmayi, there were people who stood by me. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now All this praise, recognition, and backlash — they come and go. I've started forgetting all of it. Whatever comes my way hereafter, I dedicate it to God,' she stated. Singer Chinmayi Sripada gets slammed for supporting the Indian woman who talked about how safe she feels in Canada; netizens say 'What the hell are you doing in India?' Viral responses for 'Muththa Mazhai' Chinmayi admitted that after 'Muththa Mazhai' went viral, she was anxious, thinking something bad would happen. 'I just sang a song, that's all. But it turned into a problem for me — I was filled with anxiety, wondering if even this would become an issue. I wasn't even in a position to accept the praise. I cried in countless temples. I would cry in front of the sanctum sanctorum, and then walk outside pretending to be a brave woman. There were four people who stood by me — no matter how much I thank them, it will never be enough,' she added. The state award-winning singer also spoke about facing social stigma while living in a rented house, where even the landlords' own relatives questioned why they were renting to someone like her and pressured them to make her leave. However, the house owners stood by her, expressing pride in supporting her and refusing to yield to the criticism. She admitted that she spoke out publicly without fully considering the consequences she might face. She admitted to cursing God as people would often say, 'God will make everything better.' She even questioned the existence of God during that phase of her life. 'When I was 20, I even threw the deity's photo out onto the road. I would fight with my mother, too. She was the one I would cry to — that's how it was.' Chinmayi on her works post 2018 Chinmayi explained that although she was banned in October 2018, songs featuring her voice continued to be released afterward, such as in the 2019 film Sarvam Thaala Mayam. She clarified that this particular film had been completed four years earlier and that she had recorded the song while lyricist Na. Muthukumar was still alive. Similarly, many other songs released post-ban were actually recorded much earlier. The COVID-19 pandemic had delayed the release of several films, causing them to come out together later — which created the false impression that she was still being actively engaged in the industry after the ban.
