Telugu actress Poonam Kaur urges MAA to address her complaint against director Trivikram Srinivas

Hyderabad: Days after top choreographer Jani Master was booked for rape, Telugu actress Poonam Kaur urged the Movie Artistes’ Association (MAA) to address a complaint filed against top Tollywood director Trivikram Srinivas.

In a post on X on Tuesday, the actress wrote "Had maa association taken complaint on Trivikram Srinivas, I and many wouldn’t have had the political suffering. I was rather silently ignored, I had given a call and then complained to the heads, I want industry bigwigs to question Director Trivikram (sic)."

Poonam Kaur who has worked in Telugu, Tamil, and Malayalam films, did not mention the nature of her complaint or allegations. She questioned the Movie Artistes’ Association (MAA) over the lack of action taken against her complaint.

The actress stated that she had reached out to several leading figures in the film industry at the time of her complaint but felt “silently ignored.” She called on industry leaders to now question Trivikram. Despite the actress’s public call for accountability, neither Trivikram nor MAA has responded to the allegations.

Trivikram Srinivas is one of the most successful filmmakers in Telugu cinema and an inspiration for many upcoming directors. He directed many films, including Guntur Kaaram, Ala Vaikunthapurramloo, Attarintiki Daaredi, and Manmadhudu. He is also a close associate of actor and Andhra Pradesh Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan.

A few years ago, Poonam made allegations against Trivikram Srinivas on social media. She has repeatedly targeted the director whenever there was an opportunity. But she has never taken his name but used to mention the word “Guruji” in her tweets.

Also in a separate post, the actress criticized Jani Master, who was recently booked for allegedly raping a 21-year-old colleague. “The accused ‘Shaik Jani’ should not be called a master anymore. Have some respect for the word ‘Master’,” she wrote in her post.

ALIFA Telangana lends solidarity to Tollywood woman choreographer:

It may be recalled that Raidurgam police have booked famous Tollywood choreographer Jani Master, who joined the Janasena Party (JSP) before the AP elections, for sexually assaulting a 21-year-old fellow choreographer.

The victim alleged the assault occurred during outdoor shoots in Chennai, Mumbai, and Hyderabad, as well as at her Narsingi residence. Jani Master has been booked under sections 376 (rape), 506 (criminal intimidation), and 323 (voluntarily causing hurt) of IPC. The case has been transferred to Narsingi police for further investigation. Besides legal action, the DG of Women Safety Wing Telangana has recommended an internal inquiry under the PoSH Act.

All India Feminist Alliance (Telangana), has expressed solidarity with a young Tollywood female choreographer who has filed a case against a well-known Janasena party functionary, also a choreographer.

Notably, TFI and television industries are notorious for their misogynistic portrayal and the sexual exploitation of women. Television channels have been reported to the National Broadcasting Corporation multiple times for their anti-women and anti-sexual minorities programs. Sri Reddy’s protest in 2018 motivated many dialogue artists to come out with their stories of exploitation in the TFI in the name of ‘commitment contracts’ but due to a lack of support from the industry no police complaints were filed. The High-Level Committee to inquire into sexual harassment and gender discrimination set up in 2019 inquired into both these industries and gave recommendations in 2022. In light of the Justice Hema Committee report on the Malayalam film industry, the HLC report is also being discussed.

In this context, the case filed by a young female choreographer against Jani Master is historic. "Given the long history of silence around this issue, it is a courageous step that could pave the way for more women to follow," said the All India Feminist Alliance.

While he was suspended from the party, the All India Feminist Alliance demanded to remove him forthwith.

"Unfortunately, significant sections of the Telugu social and television media seem to be led only by sensationalism with utter disregard for the privacy of the survivor. Media should be focusing on the accused and his conduct, the way he seems to have used his age, profile, and reputation, and possible support from the powers-that-be. Instead, their misogynistic pursuit is leading them to hound the survivor. The task before the media is to create an environment where women survivors would feel safe to continue their daily lives. Instead, just like earlier, the Telugu social and television media seem to be indulging in the game of naming and shaming the survivor," the ALIFA noted.