New Delhi: Following the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA)’s decision to revoke the expulsion of actor Dileep, several women feminists, academics, writers, artists, lawyers and activists have come to together to “express their severe discontent” over the actor’s reinstatement.Dileep is one of the accused implicated in the kidnapping and sexual assault of a popular Malayalam actor in February 2017. The survivor in the case has since quit the AMMA.Describing themselves as keen followers of Malayalam cinema, the signatories have condemned the AMMA’s misogyny in supporting the alleged perpetrator of sexual violence against a colleague. They have extended their support and solidarity to the members of Women in Cinema Collective and the stance taken by the members who have resigned protesting Dileep’s reinstatement.The full statement is reproduced below.§ With utmost shock and concern we watch the recent development in Malayalam film industry that led to the resignation of four actors from the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA) This decision to take actor Dileep back into its fold shows the utter disregard AMMA as an association holds towards the survivor of a sexual assault. Dileep, the seventh accused and the alleged primary conspirator of the incident that involves the abduction and molestation of an actor, is also accused of influencing producers from casting the survivor. In such a crisis, instead of supporting the survivor, the association expressed its misogyny through a travesty, performed in its fund-raising fete, with Mammootty and Mohanlal- the superstars as its highlights, ridiculing the Women’s Collective that was formed to address women’s issues in the industry. This, is not conducive to a civilised society and cannot be the accepted culture of an industry that has a formative role in determining of the consciousness of a society.Malayalam film industry has its compelling claim to treating cinema as a responsible medium, at par with many important film cultures of the world. Given the context, this behavior is unexpected and unacceptable from a trade union that claims to represent the majority of its actors. It is outrageous that AMMA firmly chooses to be on the wrong side of the movement against sexual harassment within the film industries worldwide in the wake of the #MeToo campaign and Harvey Weinstein follow ups in the Hollywood.What adds to our worries is that the body is headed by people’s representatives who associate with the ruling political party in Kerala. We request CPIM to seriously consider discussing with these elected representatives the implications of their act. It is also sad to point out that AMMA did not consider the potential of exploring the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013, a legislative act in India that seeks to protect women from sexual harassment at their place of work in this specific case or during any instances of harassment charges reported by women within its collective.We extend our whole-hearted support to the members of the Women’s Collective who have resigned from the Association, pledging support to the survivor and also trying to take pro-active roles in engaging with women’s question in the industry. We appreciate the statement issued by AIDWA state committee in this regard and hope CPI(M) and other organisations look into this seriously and communicate to AMMA the preposterousness of this absurd action. We also request the Government of Kerala to take immediate action to protect the survivor and to be cautious about chances of tampering with evidence in the on-going case involving Dileep. Uma Chakravarti Feminist Historian, Documentary Film MakerDeepa Dhanraj, Documentary Film maker Susie Tharu, Former Professor of English and Cultural Studies, The English and Foreign Languages University.Flavia Agnes, Women’s Rights Lawyer,Tejaswini Niranjana, Trustee, Centre for the Study of Culture and Society, BangaloreArunima, Professor Centre for Women’s Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru UniversityA.K. Ramakrishnan, Professor, Jawaharlal Nehru UniversityMary E John, Senior Fellow, Centre for Women’s Development Studies, New DelhiJanaki Nair, Professor, Centre for Historical Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New DelhiAnandhi, Professor, Madras Institute of Development Studies Deeptha Achar, Professor, Faculty of Arts, M S University, Baroda Rashmimala, Visual Artist,VadodaraNilima Sheikh, Artist, BarodaNalini Malani, Artist, MumbaiDeepak Mathew, Professor and Head, Department of Design, IIT HyderabadLalitha, Writer, Anveshi Research Centre HyderabadDr. Veena Shatrugna, Medical Scientist, HyderabadDr. Janaky Abraham, Delhi UniversityDr. Suneetha, Co-ordinator Anveshi Research Centre HyderabadSatish Poduval, Professor, The English and Foreign Languages University, HyderabadT.T. Sreekumar, Professor, The English and Foreign Languages University, HyderabadKaneez Fathima, Civil Rights Activist HyderabadK Anuradha, Aman Vedika , HyderabadRanjit T, The English and Foreign Languages University, Hyderabad.Khalida Parveen, Activist Amoomat Society HyderabadSarah Mathews, Sankalp, Women’s Support Alliance, HyderabadMadhumeeta Sinha, The English and Foreign Languages University, HyderabadV J Varghese, University of Hyderabad.Asma Rasheed, The English and Foreign Languages University, HyderabadRatheesh Kumar, Assistant Professor, JNU, New DelhiSatyavati K., Bhumika Women’s Collective, HyderabadRachana Mudraboyina, Telangana Hijra Intersex SamitiSajaya,Caring Citizen’s Collective, HyderabadNikhat Fathima, Activist, ChennaiUma Bhrugubanda , The English and Foreign Languages UniversityVasudha Nagaraj, Advocate, HyderabadTejaswini Madhubhushi , Hyderabad for FeminismGitanjali Joshua, Hyderabad for FeminismSeetha Lakshmi, Independent Researcher and Consultant HyderabadShalini Mahadev, Hyderabad for FeminismSujatha Sureppally, Professor, Satavahana UniversityRama Melkote, Former Professor of Political Science, Osmania University, HyderabadDr.Arathi. PM, Assistant Professor, Council for Social Development, New DelhiSherin B.S. English and Foreign Languages University, HyderabadDeepti Sreeram, Research Associate, MAHE, ManipalRia De, Research Scholar in Film Studies, EFLU HyderabadPraveena Thali, Research Scholar in Women’s Studies, University of HyderabadUmmul Fayiza, PhD Candidate, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New DelhiDevi, Cultural Activist HyderabadAshalatha, Women’s Rights Activist, HyderabadVimala Morthala Writer, Activist, HyderabadV Sandhya National Convener POWGirija B Independent ResearcherMs. Sunitha, Ankuram Women and Child Development Society HyderabadMs. Sumithra, Ankuram Women and Child Development SocietyShraddha Chickerur, Hyderabad for FeminismSreerag P. Research Scholar& Student Union President, University of Hyderabad,Chaitanya Pingali, Writer, Lyricist, HyderabadShefali Jain, Assistant Professor, Ambedkar University, New DelhiAbha Bhaiya, Sangat South Asian Feminist Network, NewDelhiGautami Challagulla- Screenwriter, Independent Film maker, HyderbadPamela Philippose Journalist and Researcher, New DelhiManjusha Madhu, PhD scholar, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New DelhiGayatri Nair, Tata Institue of Social Sciences, HyderabadThulasi, Journalist, HyderabadBrinelle D’souza, Asst. Professor, Tata Institue of Social SciencesPadma Velaskar Prof (retd) ,Tata Institute of Social SciencesBindu Menon, Lady Shri Ram College for Women, New DelhiProfessor SAMITA SEN, Dean, Faculty of Interdisciplinary Studies, Jadavpur UniversityNisha Biswas, scientist and activistJulia George StreevaniKamayani Bali Mahabal Feminist and Human Rights ActivistGeeta Seshu, Journalist, MumbaiLekha Narayanan, Artist, HyderabadSharmila Samant Artist, Associate Prof, SNU, Dept of Arts,Bittu Karthik, University of HyderabadDipti Tamang, Darjeeling Government CollegeJhuma Sen, O.P. Jindal Global UniversitySadhna Arya, Satyawati College, University of Delhi.S.Seetha Lakshmi Independent Researcher and Consultant Hyderabad
