Malayalam filmmaker Ranjith Balakrishnan was taken into custody on allegations of sexual assault following a complaint filed by an actress. He was remanded to 14 days of judicial custody and sent back to the Ernakulam Sub Jail in Kerala. The complainant, an actress involved in his latest film, approached the police accusing him of sexual assault.
WCC’s statement on Ranjith’s arrest
On Thursday, the Women in Cinema Collective, a pioneering all-women organisation representing female professionals in the Malayalam film industry, responded to the arrest and challenged the existing power dynamics within the industry. In a detailed Instagram post, they shared an extensive statement addressing the matter.
The note opened, “Yet another serious allegation by a young actress has rocked Kerala. This time, the charge is against director Ranjith. It is profoundly troubling to recognise that, despite High Court directives and the new cinema policy, very little has changed in practice. Where does this boldness of offenders originate? From a system that simply does not work.”
The collective raised concerns about the Internal Committee’s apparent lack of awareness regarding the incident and questioned whether it had ever reached out to the actress when something so serious occurred on set. It noted that the WCC had fought for and obtained a High Court order mandating an Internal Committee on every set, as well as the creation of a monitoring committee. This committee, they pointed out, had submitted several important action plans. Despite this, they asked why these mechanisms are still not operating effectively. Is it due to a lack of intent, a lack of awareness, or outright indifference? Such systems, they stressed, cannot exist only on paper.
The industry can no longer claim ignorance or rely on inaction as an excuse
The group recognized and commended the young actress’s bravery in going to the police. It concluded by stating, “The industry can no longer take refuge in ignorance or inaction. Establish Internal Committees. Comply with POSH. Put safety first. If cinema aims to mirror society, it must also embody a workplace that is safe, fair, and dignified for everyone.”
In her complaint, the actress claimed that Ranjith summoned her to a caravan during the film’s shoot and tried to assault her. Following her statement, a case was filed under several provisions, including those related to outraging a woman’s modesty, sexual assault, wrongful confinement, and making obscene gestures. According to the police, the survivor was left traumatised by the incident and required counselling and psychiatric care before she was able to file the complaint.
After being remanded, the filmmaker spoke to the media and asserted that the allegations against him were false. While being escorted into the sub-jail in Kochi, he told reporters that he would be able to prove his innocence in the case. Ranjith's lawyer stated that they are preparing to file a bail application in court.