THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Malayalam film industry was shaken on Sunday by back-to-back resignations of two prominent figures, director Ranjith and actor Siddique, amid sexual harassment allegations.Director Ranjith resigned from his position as the chairman of the Kerala State Chalachitra Academy following accusations of misconduct made by Bengali actress Seelekha Mitra. Ranjith conveyed his decision to Cultural Affairs Minister Saji Cherian, expressing his reluctance to remain in the role after the allegations surfaced.Actor Siddique resigned as general secretary of AMMA (Association of Malayalam Movie Artists) in the wake of allegations of sexual assault levelled by a young actor Revathy Sampath.Ranjith submitted an audio clip to a TV channel, expressing his desire to step down as the chairman of the Kerala Chalachitra Academy, citing concerns that his continuation might adversely affect the reputation of the LDF government in the state.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 levelled allegations against Ranjith on Friday morning. Still, Cultural Affairs Minister Saji Cherian did not seek his resignation or removal from the chairmanship of the academy, an autonomous, non-profit institution under the government for promoting cinema in Kerala.Instead, the minister praised the director, recognizing him as a major figure in the Indian cinema industry. This statement by the minister led to significant public backlash.Even the women ministers in the LDF government referred to technicalities rather than calling for Ranjith’s dismissal.CPM politburo member Brinda Karat, who has been at the forefront of many women’s agitations across the country, also referenced the law which requires a complaint from the victim or survivor. However, as calls for Ranjith’s resignation intensified, the government was compelled to distance itself from the director.Furthermore, the CPI, the second-largest ally of the ruling CPM in the LDF, demanded his resignation, and its youth wing, AIYF, even threatened to start an agitation. In Delhi, CPI veteran leader Annie Raja strongly opposed Ranjith, calling for his removal.Earlier on Friday, Mitra, 51, recounted her distressing ordeal to television news channels, stating, “I was invited to act in the Malayalam movie Paleri Manikyam. Upon my arrival in Kerala, I met the director in the morning, and he later requested my presence in the evening to discuss film-related matters. After a while, he inappropriately touched my arm, toyed with my bangles, and caressed my hair. When he touched my neck, I realized his intentions and promptly left the room.”The actress recounted that the incident had left her deeply disturbed. “Upon arriving at my hotel room, I was terrified he might come after me. I even worried they might have a master key to the room. So, I moved the sofa, chairs, and placed them against the door. I stayed awake all night. The following day, I hurried to the airport, purchased a ticket with my own money, and departed from Kerala. The memory of that incident still makes me shudder.” “I confided in documentary filmmaker Joshy Joseph about the experience. At that time, filing a complaint was not something I could consider; my sole focus was to leave Kerala as soon as possible,” she said.The actor who is a Left fellow traveller, stated that she was not sexually assaulted. However, the director’s misconduct and his apparent intentions were undeniable.Mitra reaffirmed her allegations against the filmmaker to the media on Saturday. The actress explained that filing a complaint in Kerala was challenging for her since she resides in West Bengal. Her statement was in response to Cultural Affairs Minister Saji Cherian’s remark that actions would only be initiated upon receiving an official complaint against the filmmaker. Director Ranjith refuted the misbehaviour allegations, stating that Sreelekha was auditioned for Paleri Manikyam and was considered for a role in the film. However, her performance did not meet their expectations, resulting in her not being cast.The Bengali actress refuted Ranjith’s claim that she was invited for an audition. “I was offered a prominent role in the film,” she said.The allegations against Ranjith and Siddique have come up close on the heels of Hema Committee report which exposed the widespread sexual harassment of women actors, gender discrimination and lack of facilities for women in Malayalam film industry. Ranjith has delivered several hit Malayalam films since his directorial debut in 2001 with Mohanlal’s ‘Ravanaprabhu.’ His films ‘Thirakkatha’ and ‘Indian Rupee’ won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Malayalam in 2008 and 2011, respectively. To date, Ranjith has directed over 20 Malayalam films.
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