Chinmayi Faces Vicious Abuse Over Husband’s Mangalsutra Remark

Renowned multilingual singer and prominent voice in India’s #MeToo movement, Chinmayi Sripaada, has recently become the target of intense online harassment following a viral quote from her husband, actor-director Rahul Ravindran, regarding the traditional custom of wearing a mangalsutra. The debate quickly devolved into personal and vile attacks against Chinmayi, her family, and even her young children, forcing her to publicly call for police intervention.

The Mangalsutra Comment and Initial Backlash

The controversy began when a statement Rahul Ravindran made in a promotional interview for his upcoming film started circulating widely on social media platform X (formerly Twitter). In the clip, Ravindran discussed his progressive stance on marital traditions, stating that he had told his wife Chinmayi that it was entirely her choice whether or not to wear a mangalsutra—the sacred thread worn by married Hindu women. He even suggested she consider not wearing it, arguing that it felt “unfair” that women are expected to have a visible symbol of their married status while men are not.

This quote, which challenged a long-held cultural norm, triggered a flurry of negative reactions from a section of social media users. Many accused the couple of disrespecting tradition and “not upholding culture.” Chinmayi initially responded to the growing criticism by expressing concern for the state of discourse: “He literally said it in some context on an interview which has become a tweet. The rage from the men calling him all sorts of abuses – I am worried for the women here truth be told.”

Harassment Escalates to Victim-Blaming and Threats

The online criticism soon escalated into extreme personal abuse. One user posted a particularly vile and insensitive comment, victim-blaming Chinmayi for her past sexual harassment trauma during the #MeToo movement and questioning her right to worry about other women. Chinmayi, who had bravely accused lyricist Vairamuthu in 2018, delivered a sharp and defiant reply, confronting the user’s attempt to use her trauma to discredit her voice: