Pravasthi Aradhya, a contestant on the popular Telugu singing reality show Padutha Teeyaga, has sparked a major controversy with explosive allegations against the show’s judges, Oscar-winning music composer M.M. Keeravani, lyricist Chandrabose, and playback singer Sunitha Upadrashta.
In a viral video statement and social media posts, the young singer accused the trio of favoritism, mental harassment, and body-shaming.
Keeravani’s favouritism
Pravasthi claimed that her experience on Padutha Teeyaga was marred by biased judging and discriminatory behavior. She alleged that Keeravani, a celebrated figure behind the Oscar-winning song Naatu Naatu, showed favoritism by awarding higher marks to contestants who performed his compositions or melodious songs, while dismissing others.
Must Read:She further recounted an incident where, after mentioning her performances at wedding functions to support her family’s financial situation, Keeravani allegedly remarked that he “hated” singers who performed at such events, calling them “not real singers.” Pravasthi described these comments as deeply hurtful and demoralizing.
Chandrabose’s strange behaviour
Regarding Chandrabose, the acclaimed lyricist who collaborated with Keeravani on Naatu Naatu, Pravasthi accused him of partiality, claiming he overlooked mistakes and offered praise to contestants who sang songs penned by him, while being critical of others. She argued that this bias sidelined talented participants in favor of the judges’ personal preferences.
Sunitha harassed Pravasthi!
Pravasthi claimed that Sunitha mentally harassed her with belittling remarks and held a personal grudge that influenced her elimination from the competition. She described Sunitha’s behavior as making stage appearances “traumatic” and accused her of insulting her directly.
Body-shaming
Additionally, Pravasthi alleged that the show’s production team pressured her to wear outfits that exposed her midriff and body-shamed her for her weight, commenting, “How can we give you good outfits if you look like this?” These experiences, she said, left her humiliated and emotionally distressed.
In her video, Pravasthi clarified that her decision to speak out was not solely due to her recent elimination but stemmed from a desire to expose the “true colors” of the judges and production team. She warned aspiring contestants to secure “references” before participating in Padutha Teeyaga, suggesting that success on the show depended on connections rather than talent.