Janakiraman became central to this conversation because, nearly 11 years ago, she too, had been the victim of inappropriate behaviour by a director named Samy, who slapped her on the sets of a Tamil film
Jane Borges (MID-DAY; December 30, 2018)

Long before the #MeToo and #TimesUp movement gained steam in Bollywood, a storm had started brewing down South. Helming this campaign were leading South Indian actors Revathi, Parvathy and Padmapriya Janakiraman, who had come together to start the Women in Cinema Collective (WCC). Instituted a few months after one of their female colleagues was abducted and brutally assaulted in February last year, WCC became formidable force, when they spearheaded a campaign in June this year, to protest the reinstatement of actor Dileep - allegedly involved in the assault - to the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA).

"The degree of victim shaming, and the number of people casting aspersions at her, was shocking," says Delhi-based Janakiraman. That they were challenging the decision of its president, Malayalam superstar Mohanlal, set the tone straight - they were fighting for the right to equality.

Janakiraman became central to this conversation because, nearly 11 years ago, she too, had been the victim of inappropriate behaviour by a director named Samy, who slapped her on the sets of a Tamil film. "He later tried to defend himself by arguing that he wanted me to cry as the scene demanded it," she recalls with a laugh. But Janakiraman took him head-on. He was later banned by the Federation of Film Employees of South India (FEFSI) and the Producers' Council from making films for a year.

For Janakiraman, it was also a time of reckoning. "I came from a cosmopolitan Army background, where my parents treated me and my brother as equals. Later, when I joined the movies, I also had a day job as a risk analyst; I did that for more than four years. So, even though I, as an actress, wasn't being paid on par with the male actors, it never directly affected me," says Janakiraman. But, it hit home, after she took a break from her film career to pursue an MBA from NYU. "When I returned, I felt that all these directors, who I otherwise thought were great to work with, were patriarchal and sexist."

Post the Dileep incident, WCC helped take this conversation one step further. "All we wanted to do was create a space that assimilates and understands us. Our organisation wants to have a women-friendly environment, where there are equal opportunities for all. We hope to provide them [female colleagues] with counsellors, networking, legal aid or just a friend to talk to, so that they don't feel alienated," says Janakiraman.

Unfortunately, it's not been rosy. "Ever since we became part of WCC, a lot of us have been denied work opportunities. When I meet a colleague now, I can sense that they are uncomfortable around me; I have to remind them, that 'hey, I have a whole decade of a relationship with you'. Having said that, we have put all our cards on the table, and there is no going back."

Actor arrested in abduction and assault case was released from prison on conditional bail in October
Gladwin Emmanuel (MUMBAI MIRROR; June 26, 2018)

The Women In Cinema Collective (WCC) has come out strongly against the decision of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA) to reinstate Dileep. The actor was expelled from the association last year following his arrest in the abduction and rape case of an actress.

The collective, an organisation for women in Mollywood, on Monday condemned the ‘antiwomen’ stand of the association after reports suggested that in an AMMA meeting on Sunday in Kochi, Dileep’s reinstatement was discussed. The collective sought to know how the situation had changed since Dileep’s expulsion given that the trial in rape case in which Dileep has been charged is yet to conclude. By taking the actor back, the collective reasoned, the association was humiliating the actress who had survived the brutal attack. It argued that by its move the decision was challenging the law.

Reports quoting AMMA sources say that Dileep was expelled from the association without his explanation being heard, which was against the bylaw of the association.

He spent 85 days in prison after his arrest in the abduction and assault case on July 10. A day after his release in October, after he was granted conditional bail by the Kerala High Court, he was reinstated by The Film Exhibitors United Organisation of Kerala (FEUOK). He was expelled from the post of president of the FEUOK last July.

Dileep’s Ramaleela released on September 28, 2017, ran to packed houses.