By Our Correspondent
Thiruvananthapuram: The Malayalam film industry was rocked on Sunday by the simultaneous resignations of two high-profile figures, director Ranjith and actor Siddique, following sexual harassment allegations. Director Ranjith stepped down as chairman of the Kerala State Chalachitra Academy after Bengali actress Sreelekha Mitra accused him of misconduct. Ranjith informed Cultural Affairs Minister Saji Cherian of his decision, expressing his reluctance to continue in the role amid the allegations.
Actor Siddique also resigned from his position as general secretary of AMMA (Association of Malayalam Movie Artists) after young actor Revathy Sampath accused him of sexual assault. Ranjith submitted an audio clip to a TV channel, explaining his decision to resign, citing concerns that his continued role could negatively impact the LDF government’s reputation.
In response to Ranjith’s resignation, Sreelekha Mitra told the media, “No further reactions. I am neither happy nor sad. It doesn’t affect me. I’ve made my point, and that’s all.” Mitra’s allegations were made public on Friday morning, yet Cultural Affairs Minister Saji Cherian did not initially call for Ranjith’s resignation, instead praising him as a significant figure in Indian cinema. This led to substantial public backlash. Even women ministers in the LDF government focused on legal technicalities rather than advocating for Ranjith’s dismissal. CPM politburo member Brinda Karat, known for her women’s rights activism, referenced legal requirements for formal complaints. Amid growing pressure, the government was eventually forced to distance itself from Ranjith.
The CPI, the second-largest ally of the ruling CPM in the LDF, demanded Ranjith’s resignation, and its youth wing, AIYF, threatened protests. CPI veteran leader Annie Raja in Delhi strongly opposed Ranjith and called for his removal. On Friday, Sreelekha Mitra, 51, recounted her distressing experience to TV news channels, explaining that during her visit to Kerala for the film Paleri Manikyam, Ranjith inappropriately touched her and made her feel unsafe. She described her terror and the precautions she took to secure her hotel room, emphasizing that she left Kerala immediately and paid for her ticket to return home.
Mitra revealed she initially did not consider filing a complaint but confided in documentary filmmaker Joshy Joseph. Although she did not classify the incident as sexual assault, she asserted that Ranjith’s misconduct was undeniable. She emphasized the difficulty of filing a complaint from West Bengal, in response to Cherian’s statement that action would only be taken upon an official complaint.
Ranjith denied the allegations, stating that Sreelekha auditioned for Paleri Manikyam but did not meet the performance expectations. Sreelekha refuted this, asserting she was offered a prominent role in the film. These allegations come in the wake of the Hema Committee report, which highlighted widespread sexual harassment, gender discrimination, and inadequate facilities for women in the Malayalam film industry.
