On March 7, 2024, influencer Prapti Elizabeth sent shockwaves through the Malayalam cinema community with her allegations of sexual assault against director Chidambaram S Poduval. These accusations surfaced during an interaction on an Instagram post. Although she didn't explicitly name the filmmaker, her implications were clear. At the time, Chidambaram's second directorial venture, Manjummel Boys, was enjoying immense success at the box office, emerging as the highest-grossing Malayalam movie globally. Consequently, reactions to her claims were mixed. Manjummel Boys Fame Chidambaram in #MeToo Scandal? Influencer Prapti Elizabeth Accuses Director of Sexual Assault on Insta.
Prapti, renowned for her satirical reels and substantial social media following, had previously starred in Chidambaram's directorial debut, Jan.e.Man, portraying the love interest of Arjun Ashokan's character. Allegedly, the assault occurred during the filming of this movie. In response to a fan's suggestion on the aforementioned Instagram post to express gratitude towards the director, Prapti retorted, "Lol for what? Doing the job I was paid for or for the sexual assault?" Further comments from her included, "He has WhatsApp messages and a whole night of living it. (sic)"
However, sceptics questioned why she waited three years to come forward with the accusations, particularly given her involvement in promoting the film if the assault indeed transpired during production.
Following the release of Manjummel Boys on Disney+ Hotstar, Prapti posted a video on Instagram on May 7, 2024, reiterating her allegations against the director and addressing her sceptics. The video swiftly went viral. Determining the veracity of these accusations necessitates thorough investigation, while concurrently, the survivor deserves our empathy and a compassionate ear.
Who is Prapti Elizabeth?
Born and raised in Mangalore, Prapti is a post-graduate from Delhi University, popular for her Instagram reels. Formerly a prominent YouTuber associated with iDiva, she's also lent her voice as a columnist for esteemed platforms like India Today and ScoopWhoop.
Her claim to fame stems from her Insta videos, where she skillfully embodied made-up characters to satirise societal tropes. Prapti is also noted for her vocal criticism of various policies and stances of the BJP-led central government. Recently, she's been actively addressing the crisis in Palestine through her posts. Notably, she engaged in a social media spat with actress Ahana Krishna after critiquing actor Krishna Kumar for his support of Israel.
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Prapti found herself thrust into the national spotlight when an old video resurfaced, showcasing her mocking 'disappointing' vegetarian men in the dating scene. Amid mounting outrage, she promptly removed the video. Prapti Elizabeth's Old Video on Dating Vegetarian Men Resurfaces, Social Media Influencer Deletes It After Facing Severe Backlash.
Prapti had only acted in one Malayalam film, which was Jan.E.Man. She was also part of a mini-series called Blue Collar Files.
Who is Chidambaram?
Chidambaram is the elder son of the long-time associate director, Sathish Poduval. His younger brother, Ganapathi, was a popular child artist who appeared in movies such as Vinodayathra and Ali Bhai. Presently, Ganapathi is a known face in the industry as an actor seen mostly in supporting capacity roles, recently spotted in Tovino Thomas' Nadikar. Chidambaram, who previously assisted Jayaraj and Rajeev Ravi, made his directorial debut with the social dramedy Jan.E.Man, a film he co-scripted with his brother Ganapathi. The film received positive reviews and enjoyed success at the box office, boasting a cast that included Lal, Arjun Ashokan, Basil Joseph, Ganapathi, Balu Varghese, Siddharth Menon, and Sajin Gopu, among others.
His second directorial venture, Manjummel Boys, was inspired by a real-life incident from 2006. This survival thriller features an ensemble cast, including actors such as Soubin Shahir (who also produced the film), Lal Jr, Sreenath Bhasi, Balu Varghese, Ganapathi (who also served as casting director), Deepak Parambol, Abhiram Radhakrishnan, Arun Kurian, Khalid Rahman, and Chandu Salim Kumar. The movie achieved blockbuster status in Malayalam cinema and stands as the highest-grossing Malayalam film in Tamil Nadu.
When Did The Assault Happen?
According to Prapti, the assault happened at the shooting location of Jan.e.Man. The influencer gave more details of the alleged incident in her new video, where she claims, "It was really funny, you know, when I came out with this (allegations), how so many people were coming and asking me, 'Hey. What did he do?' You didn't go ask him. He's the doer. He's the director of that action. If you're not into him, please don't drink around him and then pass out because, that's what he's into. Or just don't drink around them because that's consent." Manjummel Boys Director Chidambaran Faces Renewed #MeToo Allegations by Prapti Elizabeth; Influencer Questions Duplicity of His Fans Over Sexual Assault Accusations.
Watch the Video Below:
Social Influencer Prapti Elizabeth comes out with reel alleging SA accusations on Director Chidambaran
Prapti even added, "Women will never be safe because no matter what they come and tell you and what they come out with, you will always separate the art from the artist. And you'll go and ask them why didn't you come out when he did it to you? Well, what? If I'm coming out three years later and telling you it it it does not hold value or what? Like, what guilt are you hiding? What did you do in your past and want to be suppressed so bad that you hate it when sexual assaults of the past turn up. (sic)"
At the time of writing this story, neither Chidambaram nor anyone close to the director has responded to these renewed allegations. Please keep an eye on our website for more updates on this story.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 08, 2024 04:17 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).