Malayalam director Ranjith quits as head of Kerala Chalachitra Academy, days after being accused of ‘misbehaviour’ by actor

Reacting to the allegations, Ranjith, via an audio message to the media, said that the claims by the Bengali actor was part of a concerted attack on him since the day he had assumed charge of the Academy. “The damage the allegation has inflicted upon me as an individual can’t be repaired immediately. Yet, I would have to prove that the allegation was wrong. I will convince the public that it was a lie. She has made contradictory statements. Whatever it be, I have decided to go ahead with legal action,” he added.

Speaking to the media on Friday, Sreelekha said that the incident had taken place when Ranjith’s film Paleri Manikyam: Oru Pathirakolapathakathinte Katha was under production.

The allegations come up against the backdrop of the release of the Hema Committee report, which exposed rampant sexual abuse in the film industry. The report has stated that a culture of sexual harassment pervades the Malayalam film industry. The Committee reported the existence of casting couch (wherein powerful men demand sexual favours from women in return for opportunities in films), frequent suggestive and vulgar comments made by men at the workplace, and drunk male co-actors forcing themselves into rooms of women, among other things.

Ranjith, a well-known script writer and filmmaker over the last four decades, was made the academy chairman by the CPIM government in 2021.

Following the allegations, state Cultural Affairs Minister Saji Cherian had said: “No action can be taken against him based on an allegation. We are for the cause of women. There should be a written complaint for any action. It is up to the party [CPI(M)] to take a decision on whether Ranjith should be removed as the chairman of the academy. Ranjith has responded to the allegation,’’ the minister had said.

However, despite the statement, the Congress had been protesting and calling for Ranjith’s resignation.