Jyotika’s Ponmagal Vandhal (2020) inspires 9-year-old to call out her abuser

Actress-producer Jyotika’s Tamil film Ponmagal Vandhal (2020), which was released directly on Amazon Prime Video last year and addresses issues like sexual abuse, gave a nine-year-old the courage to call out her abuser.

In her latest Instagram post, Jyotika shared a news report in which it was revealed that the nine-year-old girl gathered courage to call out a 48-year-old relative after watching Ponmagal Vandhal.

The report added that the girl told her mother about the abuse she had gone through. Following a complaint by the parents, the relative was arrested, tried and sentenced to jail for five years.

In her post, Jyotika wrote: “Shatter that silence! Each time a woman stands up for herself, unknowingly she stands up for all women.”

In Ponmagal Vandhal, directed by first-timer JJ Fredrick, Jyotika played a lawyer who fights a case of sexual harassment. It was the first time in her career that Jyotika was playing a lawyer. The film was produced by 2D Entertainment, a banner set up by Jyotika and her husband, Suriya.

Jyotika, who has all these years maintained a low profile about her personal life, recently made her debut on Instagram.  In her first post, she wrote: “Hello everyone! On social media for the very first time! A lot of positivity to share from my lockdown diaries (sic).”

Jyotika shared a series of pictures from her recent trekking trip to the Himalayas for Independence Day.

Sharing the pictures, she wrote: “At the Himalayas on Independence Day, The beautiful Kashmir Great Lakes, 70 km trek with the awesome team of Bikat adventures — Rahul ,Sachin, Raul and Ashwin, and the Kashmir team Mushtaq and Riyazbhai. Thank you. Life is only an existence, unless we start living it! India is gorgeous! Jai Hind!”

She is currently awaiting the release of the Tamil rural drama Udan Pirappe (2021), which also stars Sasikumar and Samuthirakani.