The Women in Cinema Collective (WCC) has announced open war on the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA). The latter had earlier announced its decision to reinstate Dileep, who was accused in a conspiracy to sexually assault a fellow actress. Four members of WCC—the sexual assault survivor, Rima Kallingal, Remya Nambeesan and Geethu Mohandas have quit AMMA.
In a note published by the WCC on its Facebook page, the actress subjected to the assault wrote, "I am resigning from AMMA, not because of the decision to reinstate the accused actor. Even before, when the said actor snatched roles from me, the organisation did not act on my complaints. When I was subjected to such an experience, the organisation which I was also a part of, tried to protect him. I realise it is no use being a part of such an organisation any more."
Actress Remya Nambeesan, in her post, wrote that her resignation is a mark of protest against the highly irresponsible stance of the film actors's body.
Actress and filmmaker Geethu Mohandas lambasted AMMA's policies and said she should have resigned earlier. She wrote in the post that it had become difficult to question the association's policies while she was still a part of it. "Our voices are getting drowned there. That cannot be allowed anymore," she wrote.
Actress Rima Kallingal who has regularly voiced her protest wrote that she was leaving AMMA not just for one person, but rather with a hope that future generations will be able to work in the industry with courage and self respect.
Earlier, political leaders had also slammed AMMA for the move.
Senior Congress MLA, P.T. Thomas, who was one of the first to know about the actress kidnapping case in February 2017, and had reached the victim's side before informing the police, told the media on Tuesday that AMMA should reconsider its decision on Dileep.
"It is now very clear that only a handful of the artistes were genuinely with the victim. Those leading lights who took part in the protest meetings held the next day of the kidnap attempt in Kochi, were only shedding crocodile tears."
"Not a single one of them was supporting the victim. It's now time for the Kerala Assembly and the state government to react," said Thomas.
The WCC, irked by AMMA's decision to revoke the suspension of Dileep who is an accused in the actress kidnapping case, had put out a Facebook post on Monday.
"If you have decided to revoke the suspension... what has changed after he was suspended?" the WCC asked AMMA-led by Malayalam superstar Mohanlal.
"Do you know that you have decided to take back someone who is alleged to have been involved in a rape and the trial is yet to finish... don't you feel anything at all?"
Actress Rima Kallingal and her husband director Ashiq Abu were the first to voice their displeasure.
Many were surprised by the manner in which around 385 artistes of AMMA who met in Kochi last Sunday, did not utter a word when actress Urmilla Unni asked if Dileep will be reinstated. None spoke up or against it as Dileep was taken back into the fold.
In fact, AMMA members want showcause notices to be given to Dileep's former wife Manju Warrier, Parvathy, Remya Nambisan and Rima Kallingal of the WCC, who are also part of AMMA.
-Inputs from IANS