Veteran Malayalam actor Mohanlal was caught in the eye of the storm after calling the #MeToo movement a fad, which won’t last long. “There is no big problem in the Malayalam industry. You shouldn’t think of the #MeToo as a movement actually. It is a fad and it is turning into something of a fashion. Anything like that will have a lifespan for a bit,” according to a report in Gulf News. The actor was in Dubai, attending a press conference for a charity fundraiser.
He reportedly did not elaborate on the issue when questioned further.
Mohanlal, who is the president of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA), had come under criticism for his reinstatement of Dileep, who was accused of conspiracy in the molestation of a fellow actress. The organisation, and the actress, had come under criticism from Women In Cinema Collective (WCC), a body of female cine artists. According to The News Minute, Mohanlal answered in the negative when asked if there would be any show along the lines of the controversial skit that was widely considered to be poking fun at the WCC. He answered that the skit was not intended against the WCC.
Earlier, after vociferous protests by the WCC over the reinstatement of Dileep, Mohanlal had said that he was upset he had become the target of the protest. Mohanlal also said that a committee has been formed within AMMA to address the grievances of woman members. He added that the actresses who resigned can return to the organisation, and that procedural norms would have to be followed.
In a press conference on October 13, the Women in Cinema Collective (WCC) had heavily criticised the AMMA leadership. Revathy, Parvathy Thiruvoth, Padmapriya Janakiraman, Beena Paul and Anjali Menon spoke on behalf of the WCC. Opening the press meet, director Anjali Menon said that despite it being a time when the entire nation is taking the voice of women seriously, it is not happening in Kerala. “We need support not just in words, but also in action,” she said. The WCC condemned AMMA's move to retain the membership of Dileep, accused in the actress abduction and assault case.
“The entire nation, across trade bodies and industries, is taking action and expelling the accused members in the MeToo storm. On the other hand, AMMA is supporting the accused and interfering in the case. In the meeting with AMMA, all their discussions were against the survivor. We are hurt, disrespected and very angry,” said Parvathy.
