Cinema VinesFormer Deputy Chief Minister and actor Udhayanidhi Stalin was taken into police custody after a speech at the Cauvery issue event on Monday in Tamil Nadu. During the address, he criticised Chief Minister Vijay for not speaking up on the water dispute and made a double‑entendre remark about actress Trisha Krishnan, which sparked immediate backlash online. The clip of the incident quickly went viral, prompting the police to detain him on allegations of making disparaging remarks against a public figure and a film star.
In the days that followed, singer‑activist Chinmayi Sripaada took to the social‑media platform X (formerly Twitter) to condemn Stalin’s comments. She recalled a past incident in which former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa was spoken of in a demeaning way by political figures, noting that “if men in politics could focus on actual issues instead of dragging women who have nothing to do with their scheme of things, it would be stellar.” Chinmayi’s post, which did not name Stalin directly, criticized the “crass” nature of his remarks and the audience’s reaction, stating that “the least he could have done was tell his audience to pipe down or tell them to behave better, but he went ahead to say something far worse.”
Chinmayi added that the incident was a disappointment, arguing that women in the political ecosystem are not outraged enough in solidarity. She also addressed speculation that she avoided naming Stalin, explaining that she was “afraid” to mention him after she had publicly called out others in the industry for supporting her alleged molester, lyricist Vairamuthu. The singer’s comments highlighted a broader concern about the treatment of women in Tamil Nadu politics.
Actor‑politician Khushbu Sundar also weighed in, urging Stalin to issue a public apology to Trisha Krishnan. The debate over the speech has drawn attention to the growing scrutiny of politicians’ language and the role of social media in holding public figures accountable.
