Kochi: Following the controversies and disagreements related to the Hema Committee report, there is an effort to form a new association within the Malayalam film industry. Aashiq Abu, Anjali Menon, Lijo Jose Pellissery, Rima Kallingal, and Rajeev Ravi are among the leaders of this initiative.
The new organization is named the Progressive Film Makers Association. The association has sent letters to film industry professionals regarding its formation. It has stated that it aims to establish a new cinematic culture in the film industry.
The organization will focus on values of equality, cooperation, and social justice, and it intends to move forward as a collective of behind-the-scenes workers. Its goal is to empower workers and create a new film culture, with a promise to protect workers’ rights. Aashiq Abu, who recently resigned from FEFKA (The Film Employees Federation of Kerala ), is leading the new association. He had previously resigned from FEFKA, criticizing the leadership harshly.
Aashiq Abu expressed his strong disagreement and protest against the leadership of FEFKA, accusing them of being deceitful in their stance on the Hema Committee report. He announced his resignation from FEFKA’s primary membership in a press release.
Additionally, Aashiq Abu alleged that the leadership demanded a commission from his earnings. He claimed that there was a dispute with CBI Malayali over a 20% commission, which led to a verbal altercation. He stated in his press release that he eventually returned the amount that was forcibly taken from him.
