CELEBS FEEL HE DID CROSS THE LINE

Singer Papon kissing a girl of 11 was highly inappropriate, says entertainment fraternity

E ver since a complaint was filed against singer Papon under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) Act, accusing him of committing sexual assault, several statements have been doing the rounds. This came after a video clip showed him allegedly kissing an 11-yearold contestant on a popular kids’ reality show. The clip went viral on Thursday.

On Friday morning, the channel released a statement that they “have always been focused on the safety, security and well-being of the contestants”, followed by a statement by the contestant’s father, who called Papon a “father figure” and the kiss, “just a moment of affection”.

In the afternoon, Papon posted a long clarification on Facebook and apologised if his actions hurt anyone. Later in the night, the 11-year-old child, too, was shown in a video, defending “her mentor”.

Amid all this, many feel that whatever happened was inappropriate and has raised a question mark on the mentordisciple relationship that’s the basis for several reality shows.

Filmmaker Amole Gupte, who had earlier called these kids’ reality shows “barbaric”, feels, “I believe the mentordisciple relationship should be restricted to touching feet and giving blessings. This whole physicality... and people finding excuses is not acceptable. Why would you want to pinch somebody’s cheeks? Maybe that child is disgusted,” he says, adding that while conducting theatre workshops, he tells everyone to stay away from kids.

Actor Raveena Tandon, who judged the kids’ reality show Sabse Bada Kalakar, tweeted: “Disgusting! Shameful! Perverse! This man Papon should be arrested

(sic).” Stating that all reality shows can’t be maligned, she says, “I’ve only seen these little kids being pampered, taken care of. But this incident was appalling. There’s no justification for any male teacher kissing their 11-yearold student on the lips, out of emotion, love or affection. Even if it was unintentional, it’s crossing the line.”

What angered many was the statement by Papon’s lawyer, Gaurang Kanth. “Papon gave a peck on the girl’s lip. It is like a guru-shishya parampara. The consent of the child is not important,” said Kanth on a news channel.

Actor-singer Suchitra Krishnamoorthy, who wrote on Twitter that she’d “slap anyone who behaved with [her] daughter in such a manner”, says that reality shows need parameters on how they are supervised. She retorts, “Papon and his lawyer trying to pass this incident off as guru-shishya conduct is absolute rubbish. We are all students of music; we know the respectful ways.”

There’s no justification for any male teacher kissing their 11yearold student on the lips, out of emotion, love or affection. RAVEENA TANDON ACTOR

This physicality... and people finding excuses is not acceptable. Why would you want to pinch somebody’s cheeks? Maybe that child is disgusted. AMOLE GUPTE FILMMAKER

PHOTO: FOTOCORP