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Shawn Dass
Shawn Dass is a Sub-Editor with two years of experience, having started his journey with India.com . He specialises in writing entertainment and lifestyle stories. A true South cinema buff and avid OT ... Read More
A day after acclaimed Malayalam director Ranjith resigned as Chairman of the Kerala State Chalachitra Academy amidst allegations of ‘inappropriate behaviour’ from Bengali actress Sreelekha Mitra, she has officially lodged a complaint with the Kochi city Police Commissioner.
Sreelekha Mitra, a well-known figure in the Bengali film and television scene, accused Ranjith of making her feel ‘uncomfortable’ during a meeting at his apartment in Kochi in connection with his 2009 film, Paleri Manikyam: Oru Pathirakolapathakathinte Katha. In her email complaint, she detailed incidents where Ranjith allegedly touched her with “sexual intent” and mentioned that she had informed scriptwriter Joshy Joseph about the situation.
The allegations have sparked significant controversy, especially in light of the recent Hema Committee report highlighting “rampant sexual abuse” in the Malayalam film industry. Interestingly, Mitra had previously expressed reluctance to file a complaint, stating, “I do not want to go down there and submit a complaint because I have worked here. The least I expect is an apology.”
Now that a formal complaint has been submitted, it remains to be seen whether the police will initiate an investigation into Ranjith’s conduct. There is growing speculation within opposition circles that the CPI-led government may be lenient towards Ranjith, as he is reportedly close to CM Pinarayi Vijayan and has ties to CPI-M state secretary M.V. Govindan’s son, who aspires to enter the film industry.
Recalling the alleged incident from 2009, Mitra described how she met Ranjith and his team to discuss a potential role, only to find herself facing unwanted advances that prompted her to leave. Ranjith has firmly denied the accusations, asserting that Mitra was merely called for an audition.
-with inputs from IANS
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