A fresh controversy has erupted on social media after actor and Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan congratulated renowned Tamil lyricist Vairamuthu for being selected for the Jnanpith Award.
In his tweet, Pawan Kalyan referred to Vairamuthu as “Kavi Perarasu,” acknowledging his stature as one of the most celebrated poets and film lyricists in Tamil language cinema. He highlighted that Vairamuthu has written not only film songs but also poems and novels that reflect social awareness and the complexities of human relationships. He concluded his message by wishing the poet good health and happiness.
However, the message triggered strong backlash from singer Chinmayi Sripada, who has previously accused Vairamuthu of misbehavior during the #MeToo movement. Reacting to the tweet on X, Chinmayi wrote that she believed Pawan Kalyan might not be aware of the allegations against the poet. She also questioned how anyone could wish good health for a molester. She added that his office should inform him that several women had accused Vairamuthu of inappropriate behavior.
This is not the first time Chinmayi has publicly shown her angst against celebrities and politicians for praising Vairamuthu. Just a day earlier, she had also slammed Kamal Haasan for congratulating the lyricist on the same achievement.
Meanwhile, some social media users pushed back against Chinmayi’s backlash, accusing her of selective outrage. One user wrote that Chinmayi criticized actors like Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan for wishing Vairamuthu because of the allegations against him. The user questioned why she did not take a stand for Vijay’s wife Sangeetha.
The user further alleged that Chinmayi instead supported actress Trisha just because she is a friend, despite knowing that she was allegedly responsible for breaking Vijay’s home. If friendships are a factor, then it should not be wrong for Rajinikanth or Kamal Haasan to congratulate their friend Vairamuthu for receiving an award.
With due respect – I am pretty sure Pawan Kalyan Garu has no idea about the poet – His office needs to tell him he is wishing “Complete health and happiness” to a molester named by several women.
What is the need for so many politicians to wish a film song lyricist, I don’t… https://t.co/RuABQDEJ1Z
— Chinmayi Sripaada (@Chinmayi) March 15, 2026
