Malayalam filmmaker and former Kerala Chalachitra Academy Chairman Ranjith said he is being targeted ever since he assumed the role and said he would proceed legally to prove the accusations against him are not true. Ranjith resigned on Sunday after Bengali actor Sreelekha Mitra accused him of misbehaviour during a film discussion in 2009.
Ranjith, in an audio clip shared with the media, said, "I have been targeted by a certain section of people since the day I took charge as the chairman of the Academy. I need to prove before the society that the allegations are untrue. I have decided to move legally and bring out the truth," PTI said.
Ranjith added though it is not easy to correct the huge damage suffered personally due to the accusations by Sreelekha Mitra, he is bound to prove to the society that a part of the accusations were untrue. “I have decided to proceed legally and the world should know the truth behind this,” Ranjith said in the clip.
Ranjith added he is also resigning to avoid the CPI(M)-led Left government in the state being targeted in his name. The director said he doesn't want to continue in the position as it would adversely impact the reputation of the Left government in the state and felt it wouldn’t be right to proceed legally while continuing in office.
Sreelekha Mitra had alleged Ranjith misbehaved with her when she was invited to his residence for a project discussion. She said his gestures made her extremely uncomfortable so she decided not to work on the project. Ranjith denied the accusations, stating that Mitra was called for an audition for the movie ‘Paleri Manikyam’ but was not selected as she was not suitable for the role.
Ever since the Justice Hema Committee report on harassment faced by women in the Malayalam cinema industry was released, there have been calls from several quarters to initiate action against the guilty. The report has recorded explosive accounts of harassment, exploitation and ill-treatment of female professionals. It also alleged that a "criminal gang" was controlling the industry where unyielding women were squeezed out. The panel report also alleged there was a "power nexus" consisting of a handful of producers, directors, actors and production controllers.
The commission was constituted by the Kerala government after the 2017 actress assault case involving actor Dileep to study issues of sexual harassment and gender inequality in Malayalam cinema.
Sexual abuse allegations have rocked the Malayalam film industry and Ranjith's resignation came soon after actor Siddique resigned from his post as general secretary of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists.
