Thanthi TV, a well-known Tamil news channel, has faced significant backlash for its coverage of an incident that took place outside a Chennai pub on November 19. The chaos, which was initially linked to allegations of the pub operating beyond curfew hours, resulted in police intervention. However, Thanthi TV's approach to the coverage has raised serious concerns about ethics, consent, and privacy. This has ignited a firestorm of criticism, shedding light on the pervasive gender bias that women in India still face. Especially when it comes to their choices of recreation and socialising. The incident, first reported by The News Minute, gained widespread attention after Thanthi TV's reporters engaged in what is now termed 'pub shaming.'
The channel's cameras disproportionately focused on women, chasing and harassing them, making inappropriate comments, and drawing condemnation from the public and notable figures, including playback singer Chinmayi Sripada.
Alarming 'Pub Shaming' by Thanthi TV
On the night of November 19, chaos ensued outside a Chennai pub during the World Cup final, with allegations of the venue operating beyond curfew hours leading to police intervention. However, the narrative took a disconcerting turn as Thanthi TV's reporters engaged in what can only be termed as 'pub shaming.' The incident unfolded as women attempting to shield their identities with scarves and masks were persistently followed for close-up shots, disregarding their discomfort. Thanthi TV's cameras disproportionately focused on these women, implying that their interactions at the bar were lewd and sexual in nature. The reportage further policed their attire and attempted to get close shots of their faces, all despite objections.
This biased focus raises critical questions about societal attitudes towards women and their choices. In 2023, a woman going to a pub is still, unfortunately, translated as a woman with a loose character. The coverage by Thanthi TV aptly mirrors this prevailing societal bias.
Double Standards in Socialising Behavior
A glaring double standard emerges when we consider the societal response to men and women socialising at a pub. While it is widely acceptable for men to go to a pub, have drinks, and enjoy a good time with friends or colleagues, women are unfairly judged for engaging in the same behaviour. This incident highlights that, even in contemporary times, women's integrity is questioned simply for exercising their right to socialize.
Moral Policing and Unjustified Heckling
Beyond the biased coverage, the incident raises concerns about the unjustified heckling and chasing of women as if they were lawbreakers.
The question looms large: why were women subjected to such treatment, and why was the incident reported with a view to passing commentary on their conduct?
Instead of reporting objectively on the alleged curfew violation, the coverage took a skewed view, passing a commentary on the women's conduct. This regressive mindset not only perpetuates harmful stereotypes but also contributes to an environment where women are unjustly targeted and scrutinised.
The Media's Role: From Public Watchdog to Public Shamer
The media coverage didn't stop at visuals; the headlines on Thanthi TV escalated the issue further, proclaiming the incident as an 'all-night alcohol party busted by the police' and describing the women as 'half-dressed' who ran out during the incident. The derogatory response of a Thanthi TV cameraman to a woman's plea to stop filming, dismissing her with a disparaging "Podu, podu. Po, po" (go ahead and get lost), further escalated public anger.
Despite deleting the controversial footage, Thanthi TV faced continued backlash, with an edited post still perceived as misogynistic. The post reads, "Please leave. Here’s what the ladies did at night, and how the police arrived at the scene quietly,” continued to perpetuate a narrative that aimed to shame women for their choice of recreation.
The focus shifted onto the women present at the pub rather than addressing the root cause of the incident—the alleged violation of curfew hours by the pub.
Parallel Incidents and Societal Reflection
This incident isn't an isolated case, as another Tamil news channel, Polimer, faced similar criticism for its coverage of the same incident.
Their YouTube caption, “Chennayil bar-il soundudan ladies looties, ravundu kettiya police, nikamma odu, nikamma odu,” translated to “The women in a Chennai bar who partied loudly ran away as cops surrounded them,” continued the trend of insensitive language and objectification.
News Tamil 24*7 also contributed to the problematic narrative, shouting “Ellam kudi bothai, ellam kudi bothai” (all of them are drunk) as women exited the bar’s elevator. Their post on X shared another video focusing on women’s clothes, stating, “Vidiya vidiya madhu bothai, pengal thindattam,” meaning ‘Drunkenness until dawn. The women struggled [to stand].” On YouTube, their caption perpetuated stereotypes with, “Pub-la mubula therithu odiya illasugal. Bothaiyil ollariya rich girls” (the youngsters who fled the pub and the drunk rich girls who blabbered).
The parallels with a 2009 incident in Mangalore, where a right-wing group violently attacked women at a pub, emphasise the persistent challenges women face in freely exercising their choices without fear of judgment or harassment.
Backlash and Continued Ethical Concerns
The post-deletion backlash and an edited post attempting to shift blame onto the women only compound the ethical issues surrounding Thanthi TV's coverage. The channel's focus on sensationalising the event rather than reporting responsibly has rightly sparked condemnation on social media.
Renowned playback singer Chinmayi Sripada rightly called for the identification of the journalists involved, emphasising the need to hold them accountable. The incident has also prompted a broader conversation about media ethics and responsible journalism.
As the backlash against Thanthi TV and Polimer continues, it is crucial to reflect on the larger issue at hand: the urgent need for societal change where women are afforded the same freedom and respect as their male counterparts. The Chennai pub incident serves as a stark reminder that, despite progress, there is much work to be done in dismantling entrenched gender biases and ensuring a society where everyone, regardless of gender, can exercise their choices without fear of judgment or harassment.
Views expressed by the author are their own
Suggested reading: How Celebrities Called Out Alleged Sexual Harassment Case Of Popular Chennai School
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