The Editor-in-Chief of The News Minute, Dhanya Rajendra is facing massive backlash from a section of social media users, particularly supporters of popular actor Mohanlal over allegations of ‘selective reporting’ on the Justice Hema Committee Report.
Radhika Sarathkumar has made a startling revelation about a movie she did in Malayalam. She spoke to Asianet, watch it and then read what we wrote about men collecting souvenirs
— Dhanya Rajendran (@dhanyarajendran) August 31, 2024
Powertrip #68 https://t.co/XClsp0tBSF #
Notably, her outlet recently published an article titled, ‘Kerala govt in a tight spot and who will bag AIADMK contract? | Powertrip #68’ in which they exclusively used Mohanlal’s picture. They are also being accused of using Mohanlal’s picture while reporting on shocking allegations made by actress Radhika Sharathkumar who had alleged that some men in the industry had installed hidden cameras in vanity vans of actresses to record their obscene videos.
Reacting sharply to the article’s feature image and the alleged insinuations against Mohanlal, the actors’ fans hit out at the TNM Editor, calling her out for her rag-tag brand of Yellow journalism and indulging in a witch-hunt against the actor.
They also charged her with trying to safeguard a few members of the Women in Cinema Collective (WCC) who are allegedly embroiled in the usage and promotion of narcotics drugs in the Cinema Industry. They lashed out at ‘The News Minute’ and its Editor-in-Chief asserting that it deliberately didn’t report on the drug abuse and use of drugs in cine parties which incidentally did find mention in the Justice Hema Committee Report. The actor’s fans have accused Dhanya Rajendran of being close to a few actresses and filmmakers who were allegedly involved in drug use.
Slamming Rajendran for using Mohanlal’s picture, an X user wrote, “Using a picture of legend for more followers . Also please mention about drug users”.
Using a picture of legend for more followers . Also please mention about drug users 🇵🇸😂💩
— red devil (@Amal227629381) September 1, 2024
Another user wrote, “What’s the connection between Radhika’s interview & Mohanlal as a thumbnail in this article ?”
What’s the connection between Radhika’s interview & Mohanlal as thumbnail in this article ?
— Tinku Venkatesh | ಟಿಂಕು ವೆಂಕಟೇಶ್ (@tweets_tinku) September 2, 2024
What a shameless character she is she is just ignoring all the abuses just because she needs chances.
— Parthiban A (@Parthiban2900) August 31, 2024
Why are you using a photo of mohanlal
— Sivaprasad Nair (@Sivaprasad57126) September 1, 2024
“There is a point where your professionalism is compromised by intense dislike, whether consciously or unconsciously. Why is there so much animosity towards Mr. Mohanlal? Did Radhika mention his name?” commented another user while responding to her post on X.
you are certainly getting ahead of yourself. Why dont you mohan lal fans wait till the smoke around this theme clears before your starry-eyed adoration trip resumes?
— Getting Started (@Getting31063081) August 31, 2024
Using mohanlal as a front pic for every freaking allegation on the industry is a subtle way of dehumanising the actor am all for criticism and he does deserve that but this is a new low even for u, unbiased journalism or wcc bullies pic a lane
— DBZ (@Dbz46873223) August 31, 2024
Following the outrage, the TNM team defended itself for using Mohanlal’s picture in the said article stating that the article reported about the dissolution of AMMA which Mohanlal headed, thus his picture. However, TNM Journalist Korah Abraham noted that their reports mentioned some actors’ having ‘souvenirs’ and insinuated, “These souvenirs as we were told could be CCTV footage to blackmail. Which is why she said check Radhika video (her second tweet) and come back and read this”.
Lot of outrage regarding Mohanlal's picture being used in this article. It's because it was published on Aug 27 and was about AMMA and Mohanlal.
— Korah Abraham (@thekorahabraham) September 2, 2024
You will know why @dhanyarajendran made the Radhika reference if you read the article.
1/https://t.co/lkOjNLavuD
Nonetheless, according to the allegations, The News Minute Editor-in-Chief, Dhanya Rajendran is said to be a part of a group of actresses Rima Kallingal and Parvathy Thiruvothu who are members of the Women’s Collective in Cinema (WCC). It was the WCC’s petition that ultimately led to the formation of the Justice Hema Committee on problems of actresses in the Malayalam film industry.
Strikingly, a picture has surfaced on social media in which Dhanya can be seen clicking a picture with Malayalam actresses Rima and Parvathy, which was reportedly taken during a global tour.
ലഹരിപാർട്ടി നടത്തി സിനിമയിലേക്ക്വരുന്ന യുവതികളെയും യുവാക്കളെയും വഴി തെറ്റിക്കുന്നു എന്ന് സിനിമാ മേഖലയിൽ തന്നെയുള്ളവർ വെളിപ്പെടുത്തിയവളുടെ അടുത്ത സുഹൃത്തും, സന്തത സഹചാരിയൂം ആയ മാധ്യമ പ്രവർത്തക @dhanyarajendran അല്ലേ @AsianetNewsML @mathrubhuminews ചർച്ചിക്കാൻ കൊണ്ടിരുത്തുന്നത് ?? pic.twitter.com/kOU4lQ4GWD
— NaveeN 🕉️🇮🇳 (@proud2BaSanghi) September 1, 2024
According to her Instagram account, she is seemingly close to the Malayalam actresses as she has been pictured with them several times which she has also shared from her account. Rajendran had previously uploaded a picture with actress Parvathy Thiruvothu on her Instagram handle in which she mentioned Rima alluding that she will click a picture and get together with her next time. Additionally, actress Rima has also shared pictures of TNM editor and actress Parvathy from her account while wishing her birthday wishes.
Recently, Tamil Actress Suchitra came out in the open to protest against the open use of drugs in parties and film sets. In a recent interaction, she accused Rima Kallingal and her husband Ashiq Abu, a director in the Malayalam industry of promoting narcotic drugs in their parties and film sets.
തമിഴ് സിനിമാ മേഖലയില്നിന്ന് പല ഇഷ്യൂസ് ലും വളരെ ബോള്ഡ് ആയി നിലപാട് എടുത്ത സുചിത്ര എന്ന പിന്നണി ഗായിക, മലയാള സിനിമാ ലോകത്തെ ലഹരിറാണി റീമ കല്ലിങ്ങല്ലിന്റെ വീട്ടിലെ ലഹരി പാർട്ടികളെപറ്റി പറയുന്നു… മത്തിയെ വലിച്ചു കീറി ഭിത്തിയില് തേച്ച് ഒട്ടിച്ചിട്ടുണ്ട് pic.twitter.com/wT2pDNpWFx
— Rapper Bishop (@INTELLIPEETH) September 1, 2024
Several netizens shared her short clip stating that Dhanya’s digital outlet didn’t report on this aspect. It is also said that the actress-director husband-wife duo – Rima and Abu are involved in a gang which is funded by a banned Jihadi outfit Jamaat-e-Islami.
Meanwhile, several users also alleged that there is a bias on the part of a few players including the lobby that is indulging in a witch-hunt against Mohanlal.
According to a section of social media users, there are said to be two camps in the Malayalam film industry – Kochi group which is hatching a scheme against the Thiruvananthapuram group of cinema makers in the guise of sexual assault allegations discussed in the Hema Committee report. According to them, the Kochi lobby is supported by the leftist ecosystem and outlets like TNM as they have an axe to grind against actors like Mohanlal and Suresh Gopi who are considered pro-Sanatan voices and supporters of PM Modi and who are not letting anti-Hindu group to bring woke and other nefarious agenda in the Malayalam film industry.
Long note, massive issue in Malayalam cinema is a fight between Kochi group and Thiruvananthapuram group of cinema makers, while there is genuine case of sexual assault this is also part of larger political shift.
— Tommy John Mathew #BjpSouth (@SaffronTommy) September 1, 2024
That’s why Mohanlal & Suresh Gopi like stars are targeted… pic.twitter.com/PZ7JN8YcTc
On several occasions, it has been alleged that there is a lobby against Sanatani filmmakers and actors like Mohanlal. The lobby not only viciously campaigns against films that are deeply rooted in Sanatan traditions but also promote Islamic fundamentalism. In line with these allegations, another allegation has often surfaced about the purported link of Director Aashiq Abu with banned Islamic fundamentalist organisations like Jamaat-e-Islami and Popular Front of India. OpIndia couldn’t independently verify the veracity of the allegations.
In the past, director Abu has been in the headlines for all the wrong reasons. In July 2018, he was hit by “financial fraud” allegations. An industrialist, CT Abdul Rahman had filed a complaint with the Malayalam Producers Association stating that his company invested Rs 2.40 crore in the production of the movie. While they were promised 60 per cent of the profit apart from the principal amount, Abu failed to clear the full dues.
Hema Committee Report findings did highlight the menace of drug abuse in the Malayalam film industry
The Hema Committee report also highlighted the deep-rooted activities of the drug mafia in the Malayalam film industry. According to Mathubrumi’s report, it was found that crimes against women often occur after alcohol consumption or drug use, and some young actors are reported to regularly use drugs.
Furthermore, the Intelligence Department has reported that open drug use is taking place on the sets of some new films and that wrap-up parties are being held after the shooting ends. However, the Police and excise teams had been reluctant to conduct inspections on the sets despite having information about the groups that regularly supply drugs and the individuals who use them.
According to the report, drug rings have been entrenched in film sets for over a decade. The widespread use of chemical drugs came to light ten years ago when a group, including actors, was caught with cocaine. Since then, several crew members and actors have also been arrested, the report added.
