Ranjith, a big name in Malayalam cinema, quit his job as head of the Kerala Chalachitra Academy. This came after Bengali actress Sreelekha Mitra pointed a finger at him. The movie’s release on August 25th 2024 led to uproar across Kerala. It also put heat on the Left Front government.
Ranjith sent an audio message to a local television channel stepping down from his position saying that staying there would hurt ruling party image. He clarified that he would be quitting the post not because he was guilty but so as not to escalate the controversy and intended to legally contest the allegations, stating his innocence and calling himself a “genuine victim” in the matter.
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When Sreelekha Mitra, a Bengali actress, openly claimed that Ranjith had sexually approached her before filming for a 2009 movie began it was the beginning of a huge debate. Mitra’s allegations resurfaced after the release of findings from the Justice Hema Committee which brought to light multiple cases of casting couch practices and sexual misconduct in the Malayalam film industry. This has sparked off renewed conversations about the darker aspects of filmmaking, calling for accountability and justice.
Further, demand by opposition parties in Kerala escalated Ranjith’s resignation. According to Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), he could not continue serving as Chairman of an esteemed academy with such serious allegations against him. Communist Party of India (CPI), another crucial ally in LDF, also called for a thorough investigation into Mitra’s claims thereby mounting pressure on Ranjith to quit.
The development is in line with the recent high-profile resignation from another member in the film sector. Another senior actor Siddique quit after allegations of rape and sexual assault by an actress as the general secretary of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA). This caused him to submit his letter of resignation to Actor Mohanlal who is AMMA’s president under rising criticism and demands for transparency.
In light of the Justice Hema Committee’s report, mainly because of its recommendations on how best to prevent future such actions, the two recent resignations further highlight the increased scrutiny being put on the Malayalam film industry. The publication has exposed a lot about sexual harassment within this industry, leading to demand for change and better protection mechanisms for those employed here. As Rajith readies himself for accusations, other discussions about ill-conduct and responsibility continue gaining ground in entertainment world. In conclusion, he resigned at a time when cinema was fighting against misuse of power, it meant that people were no longer willing to live in darkness but demanded openness so as not to have another MeToo movement.
