The Malayalam film industry has been going through a turbulent week, with the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA) elections closing in, Aadujeevitham’s snub at the National Film Awards, Adoor Gopalakrishnan’s controversial comments at the Kerala Film Policy Conclave, and a case against Shwetha Menon, a popular contender for AMMA’s presidential post.
Amid the chaos, the Women in Cinema Collective (WCC) has lauded the effort of female artists in the field, who stand up to voice their opinions in a terrain dominated by men. On Friday, the WCC penned a lengthy note on Instagram, titled “Change is not tomorrow, it has arrived among us today”. The organisation stood behind Pushpavathy, a Dalit singer, who spoke up against Gopalakrishnan’s remarks on funding set aside for SC/ST and women filmmakers. “The WCC strongly condemns Adoor's approach and stance. We fully support Pushpavathy, who fearlessly raised her voice against the elite power that excludes women and those living on the margins.”
The collective also praised Urvashi for questioning the jury’s decision at the National Film Awards. Having won Best Supporting Actress herself, the veteran thespian questioned Shah Rukh Khan’s victory at this year’s ceremony. “I also congratulate Urvashi and Sandra Thomas, who stand tall in their convictions in Malayalam cinema... Urvashi is clashing against the central government's decision to determine film awards,” the post continued.
Film producer Sandra Thomas had also taken issue with the Kerala Film Producers Association (KFPA) and was subsequently expelled from the organisation last year for questioning their silence on the Hema Committee Report.
The WCC further express support for Shwetha Menon, who was slammed with an FIR this week for allegedly profiting from performing in obscene scenes in films. The timing of the FIR has raised suspicions as the AMMA election nears, where Menon is contesting for the president’s post.
“All of them are symbols of a community of tireless women who do not remain silent in the struggles they face in their careers and personally, but rather move forward strong,” the post concluded.
