Anupama Jain, Head, Content & Collaborations caught up with the versatile and power-packed Chinmayi Sripada on 9 April for The IWI Talk. You can see the video here. We were also joined by Sujatha Sahu as a special guest to surprise Chinmayi!

How did this versatility happen?

I had an alternate education after class ten. I also have a general interest in doing a lot of things. My mother inspired me throughout.

How do you tell people it is ok to go the artistic way?

Being in an industry where your financial security is questionable. I understand where parents come from. A typical 9 to 5 job is going to give them steady income. But my mother is my guru, so it was easy for her to put me into music. If you don’t have music in your lineage and still dream about it, it is difficult to pursue as an art form.

Are voice actors given their due? What is the reason they are not?

India is the only country where there are voice artists, esp. very unique to South India because it is a melting pot. They are not paid as much as they should be and cannot voice their concern because of financial insecurity. Dubbing is a massive talent. Most people understood that dubbing existed only when social media became popular.

The MeToo Movement : How did you have the courage to constantly fight out?

The perpetrators are powerful and there is no denying it. As an established playback singer, if they can ban me in spite of the agency I have, it is because these men have politically powerful friends and they swim together in the same pond. They are in it together, as brothers in arms. There is no actual reason why a politician would protect a molester, unless they had a skin in the game. Hence they come out to shame the victim.

Sexual harassment is a lot more in other industries, compared to the artistic field. The maximum number of women who don’t get justice are from the corporate and science sectors. Women too protect these men, because they are assets to the company. Misogyny, sexual exploitation and gender bias is huge in academia. Organized religion, government jobs and public transport, it exists everywhere. What we need to change is the mindset. It is not the liability of one industry. No man in the film industry wants to be labelled Molester today. But this does not happen in other industries or in family.

Has there been a structural change in music industry or film industry post MeToo?

Telegu film industry has set up an ICC because the women associated have been proactive. The power systems still makes it difficult to report the aggressors. The women will not come forward and report them. At some level, women need to understand there is strength in numbers. They need support from their partners / families. They choose marriage over outing molesters and the anger rages in them. Men in the family structure and the men who think bro-code is more important enable harassment. The way an Organisation functions and Lack of morals is also a problem.

About your unique wedding

We worked with 17,000 ft, an award-winning NGO in Ladakh, run by Sujatha Sahu and team. The money we received as gift was used to set up a library for children.

The Independent music scene

There is a market for good music, but it may be difficult for someone without the money and means. I do wish to see the flourishing 90s in this space once more.

Chinmayi was a little bit of all of us when she said procrastination is her guilty pressure and that she loves Bengali sweets! More power to you, Chinmayi! May you inspire more women to find their lost voice and to take back their power.

About the author

Nithya Rajagopal

Manager, IWI