While we are still in shock about a 27-yo veterinarian doctor’s rape and murder incident, we stumbled over a heartbreaking statement by a famous Tamil director Bhagyaraj. He believes that women create situations that lead to sexual assault or rape.
At the music launch of the movie Karuthukalai Pathivu Sei in Bengaluru, Bhagyaraj shared his opinion on incidents of sexual assault and shamelessly blamed the survivors for the sexual assault.
As per TNM, Bhagyaraj mentioned:
“Oosi idam kudukaama nool nozhayadhu (the thread won’t enter if the needle doesn’t give it space to do so). Even if it is said in a comic vein, that is the truth. It’s only because you women give space that there is an opportunity for mistakes. How can you always just blame boys?”
But, what would break your heart is the fact that his misogynist remarks were not only applauded but also cheered by the audience.
His movie, Karuthukalai Pathivu Sei, is reportedly a story on how a woman is duped by people she meets through social media. A premise believed to be similar to the Pollachi sexual assault and extortion case that shook Tamil Nadu in February this year.
During Pollachi’s sexual assault, a gang of men shot videos of women while the sexual assault and then they used to blackmail them with the visuals, demanding money. While there were media reports that the victims’ estimate was anywhere between 50 and 200 victims.
Bhagyaraj further added and defended the perpetrators of the case. Citing the example of the Pollachi case, he further added:
“The boys are not the only ones responsible. You have a weakness and he has correctly used it. If what he did is a big mistake then you have also created an opportunity for that (to take place). That only is a very big mistake.”
It is sad to see how he not only shamed every victim of sexual assault, but also showed audacity to call rape a mistake. We wonder how he doesn’t seem to know that sexual assaults are not “mistakes” but crimes for which our courts have laid down punishments.
Some netizens took to Twitter to share their anger and disappointment:
Its one thing to say “Women have to be careful & not be careless about who they befriend & trust” & its another thing to say “You can’t just blame the men.”
And no, he wasn’t talking about men in general.So, disappointed with K.Bhagyaraj & his speech on this particular topic.
— Panadol (@KichuKi88931574) November 27, 2019
????misogyny, chauvinism, audacity… Who will tell this fellow that????’Men Rape’ Men’s impunity that they can get away with Rape; Imagine plight of female actors, working with this fellow? Directors like Bhagyaraj need to be boycotted https://t.co/mvcTSThiDD
— Brinda Adige (@BrindaAdige) November 27, 2019
Though the state women commission has summoned him on his remarks, we are heartbroken to see how our society not only shames the rape victim but also projects the criminals as innocent souls. Our heart goes to each and every rape victim and their family members who are fighting for justice against the sex-deprived monsters.
We request the authorities to take strict actions against the misogynist and chauvinist people like Bhagyaraj so that we don’t let any Nirbhaya or Disha succumbed to such horrible deaths.