Tamil director slaps heroine, banned for a year

The Tamil film industry has imposed a ban on one of its directors for slapping the heroine of his film while shooting...

The Tamil film industry has imposed a ban on one of its directors for slapping the heroine of his film while shooting a scene. Several film industry associations, including the influential Federation of Film Employees of South India (FEFSI) and the Producers’ Council, imposed the year-long ban on director Samy for slapping actress Padmapriya. The actor had become popular with off-beat films like Thavamai Thavam Irundhu and Satham Podathey.

Last Saturday, Samy reportedly slapped Padmapriya in full view of the crew and the residents of Kurandi village in Madurai district where he was shooting for the climax of Mirugam. While reports said the director had reacted violently after the actress “failed to perform well in a scene where she had to cry”, the actress herself accused Samy of subjecting her to “continuous unprovoked harassment”.

Padmapriya told The Indian Express that she and a few other members of the crew were being harassed throughout the shooting. “But we all kept handling it amicably,” she said.

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However, things came to a head when Samy slapped her and Padmapriya made a formal complaint of “harassment” to FEFSI against the director.

On Monday, members of FEFSI and the Producers’ Council met in the city. Padmapriya, accompanied by her father, and Samy were also present at the two-hour “hearing” during which the latter is said to have tendered an apology.

Later, the FEFSI and the Council also banned the director from making any films for a year.

“I am not competent to say if the punishment is sufficient or not, but the film fraternity’s prompt action of coming to the aid of an artiste is definitely a deterrent for such behaviour,” said Padmapriya, on her way to Kerala, for shooting for Pazhashi Raja, a Malayalam film, in which she is starring with Mamooty. Padmapriya has acted in about 15 Malayalam films and three Tamil films so far.