Recently, an interview with actress Mamitha Baiju regarding her experience working on the film 'Vanangaan,' directed by Bala, has stirred up controversy.
Allegations of harassment by the director emerged after a video of Mamitha Baiju's interview went popular on social media.
In the interview she said ,"Initially, I was signed for the film. There was a scene in the film related to 'Villupattu' where I had to play a musical instrument and sing. I didn't get enough time to train, and suddenly, Bala sir asked me to do it. I wasn't ready for it at that time, so I requested a retake. During that moment, Bala sir, who was behind me, pat me on the shoulder".
Following the interview's video, social media erupted with criticism aimed at director Bala. Many questioned his behavior and expressed concern over the alleged mistreatment of Mamitha Baiju on set.
In response to the growing controversy, Mamitha Baiju took to her Instagram page to address the situation. She said , "I would like to clarify that the news being circulated online regarding my involvement with a Tamil film is absolutely baseless.
An excerpt from a film promotion interview has been taken out of context and is being clearly misquoted ,I have worked with Bala sir for close to a year including pre-production and production of the film. He has always been kind enough to help me become a better actor. I would like to reiterate that I have not experienced any mental or physical harm or any other sort of abusive behaviour during my work on that film".
In her Instagram post, Mamitha Baiju also thanked media houses that sought clarification from her before publishing the story.
The issue with Mamita Baiju in 'Vanagaan' seems to come from a misunderstanding in the first interview.
Social media backlash has made director Bala look bad, but Mamitha Baiju's clarification shows the importance of getting facts right in entertainment news.
Before judging and damaging reputations with incomplete info, it's essential to hear both sides of the story.