Veteran Malayalam filmmaker Ranjith stepped down from his role as the chairman of the Kerala Chalachitra Academy on Sunday, following a public uproar over allegations made against him by Bengali actress Sreelekha Mitra. Mitra accused Ranjith of inappropriate behavior during a 2009 meeting at his residence.
Ranjith informed Cultural Affairs Minister Saji Cherian of his decision to resign, citing his unwillingness to continue amid the controversy. Mitra recently disclosed to the media that Ranjith had made her uncomfortable with ‘subtle advances’ during their meeting, prompting her to leave Kerala the next day.
In response, Ranjith denied the accusations, stating that Mitra was invited for an audition for the film ‘Paleri Manikyam’, but was deemed unsuitable for the role and sent back.
The call for Ranjith’s resignation gained momentum, with opposition leader V. D. Satheeshan, State BJP president K. Surendran, and Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee President K. Sudhakaran all demanding his removal. The Communist Party of India (CPI), a key ally of the Left Front, also urged Ranjith to step down, with the CPI’s youth wing, All India Youth Federation (AIYF), threatening a protest march if he did not resign.
Additionally, on Sunday, Malayalam actor Siddique resigned as the general secretary of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA) after facing sexual assault allegations from actress Revathy Sampath. Siddique submitted his resignation via email to AMMA president Mohanlal, following the release of the Justice Hema Committee report, which highlighted widespread gender abuse and sexual exploitation in the Malayalam film industry.
Actress accuses Riyaz Khan of inappropriate conduct
A young actress who recently accused Siddique of sexual assault has now made new allegations against actor Riyaz Khan. She claims that Khan obtained her phone number from a photographer and made inappropriate advances during their phone conversations.
Talking to sources, the actress alleged that Khan proposed an intimate relationship and suggested that she introduce him to friends who might be interested in engaging with him.
The actress has called for a ban on individuals like Siddique and Riyaz Khan from the film industry, urging for serious action against such behavior.
