4 days ago
Prithviraj Sukumaran Urges Safety Conversations With Girls And Boys
Prithviraj Sukumaran says being a father has changed how he sees safety in society.
He has an 11-year-old daughter and wants to teach her what is safe and unsafe.
He says these talks should happen with boys too, not only girls.
Boys should learn about consent, boundaries, empathy and respecting refusals.
Psychologist Athul Raj says safety lessons should change as children grow.
Children should know they can say no and tell a trusted adult when something feels wrong.
Parents should listen calmly instead of getting angry or blaming the child.
Girls should not be made responsible for another person’s harmful behavior.
Prithviraj Sukumaran says becoming a father has made him more aware of social dangers.
The actor, who has an 11-year-old daughter, says parents should discuss safe and unsafe situations with children.
Sukumaran believes boys should be taught about consent, boundaries and responsibility alongside girls.
Psychologist Athul Raj recommends age-appropriate conversations about bodily autonomy, coercion, relationships and online safety.
Raj says parents should listen calmly and reassure children rather than blame or shame them when they disclose discomfort.
- Who
- Malayalam actor Prithviraj Sukumaran and counselling psychologist Athul Raj.
- What
- They discussed how parents should teach children about safety, consent, boundaries and disclosure.
- Where
- During a media interaction, with Raj also discussing the issue in the Indian context.
- When
- Sukumaran made the comments while promoting his latest movie, Daayra; his daughter is 11 years old.
- Why
- The discussion followed Daayra’s story about the disappearance and death of a young girl and addressed child safety in society.
Key facts
- Speaker
- Prithviraj Sukumaran
- Child’s age
- Sukumaran said his daughter is 11 years old.
- Film discussed
- Daayra
- Psychologist
- Athul Raj
- Core advice
- Teach children about safety, bodily autonomy, consent and boundaries.
- Parent response
- Listen, reassure and help children feel safe when they share concerns.
- Responsibility
- Raj said responsibility for boundary violations lies with the person who chooses to violate them.
Quotes
Prithviraj Sukumaran
Malayalam actor discussing parenting and child safety while promoting Daayra
“But what we can do as citizens is talk to our children. And make no mistake, the conversation should not just be to your girl children. It should also be to your boy children. I strongly believe that if at all, there is an extra ounce of responsibility on any side, it is with us, the men.”
indianexpress.com
“I have a daughter, eleven years old. I’m at that uncomfortable stage as a parent where I have to start talking to her and letting her know about what is safe, what is unsafe. If we lived in an ideal world, I would never have had that conversation. But we don’t live in an ideal world.”
indianexpress.com








