Film producers face charges after Sandra's allegations
Hyphen Web Desk
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Four senior members of the Kerala Film Producers Association, including its president and secretary, have been charged with sexual harassment following a complaint lodged by actor-producer Sandra Thomas.
The Ernakulam Central Police registered the case after Thomas alleged that she was subjected to inappropriate behaviour during a meeting at the KFPA office.
The complaint names prominent industry figures, including Listin Stephen, B Rakesh, and Anto Joseph. According to Thomas, the incident occurred during a meeting convened to resolve a production-related dispute, where she claims she was treated in a manner that outraged her modesty. The case has been taken up by the Special Investigation Team established to handle sexual assault cases in the Malayalam film industry.
In the wake of her complaint, Thomas was expelled from the KFPA for allegedly breaching the association's disciplinary standards. She contends that her expulsion was a retaliatory move aimed at silencing her and deterring other women from speaking out against misconduct in the industry. Thomas has been vocal about the challenges faced by women in Malayalam cinema, highlighting the existence of a 'power group' that she claims controls the industry and marginalises female professionals. Sandra Thomas was later ousted from Kerala producers association after raising concerns.
The KFPA has denied the allegations, asserting that Thomas's expulsion was due to her violating the association's norms. In a letter to the Chief Minister, the association accused her of making false claims against its executive members. However, Thomas maintains that the association's leadership is dominated by a select few who resist any attempts at reform or accountability.
The controversy has brought renewed attention to the findings of the Hema Committee report, which investigated issues of sexual harassment and exploitation in the Malayalam film industry. Thomas has criticised the KFPA for its inadequate response to the report, accusing the association of failing to implement necessary reforms and of dismissing the concerns raised by female members.
In addition to the charges against the KFPA officials, filmmaker B Unnikrishnan and producer Anto Joseph have also been booked based on Thomas's complaint. She alleges that Unnikrishnan publicly humiliated her during discussions about compensation for her work on the film 'Joothan', leading to her exclusion from the industry. The case was registered following a court order after Thomas approached the Ernakulam First Class Judicial Magistrate due to police inaction.
The complaint names prominent industry figures, including Listin Stephen, B Rakesh, and Anto Joseph. According to Thomas, the incident occurred during a meeting convened to resolve a production-related dispute, where she claims she was treated in a manner that outraged her modesty. The case has been taken up by the Special Investigation Team established to handle sexual assault cases in the Malayalam film industry.
In the wake of her complaint, Thomas was expelled from the KFPA for allegedly breaching the association's disciplinary standards. She contends that her expulsion was a retaliatory move aimed at silencing her and deterring other women from speaking out against misconduct in the industry. Thomas has been vocal about the challenges faced by women in Malayalam cinema, highlighting the existence of a 'power group' that she claims controls the industry and marginalises female professionals. Sandra Thomas was later ousted from Kerala producers association after raising concerns.
The KFPA has denied the allegations, asserting that Thomas's expulsion was due to her violating the association's norms. In a letter to the Chief Minister, the association accused her of making false claims against its executive members. However, Thomas maintains that the association's leadership is dominated by a select few who resist any attempts at reform or accountability.
The controversy has brought renewed attention to the findings of the Hema Committee report, which investigated issues of sexual harassment and exploitation in the Malayalam film industry. Thomas has criticised the KFPA for its inadequate response to the report, accusing the association of failing to implement necessary reforms and of dismissing the concerns raised by female members.
In addition to the charges against the KFPA officials, filmmaker B Unnikrishnan and producer Anto Joseph have also been booked based on Thomas's complaint. She alleges that Unnikrishnan publicly humiliated her during discussions about compensation for her work on the film 'Joothan', leading to her exclusion from the industry. The case was registered following a court order after Thomas approached the Ernakulam First Class Judicial Magistrate due to police inaction.
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