Ranjith Balakrishnan sexual assault case (Image: X)
After serious allegations of sexual assault against filmmaker Ranjith Balakrishnan emerged, the Women in Cinema Collective has reacted strongly. The accusations have prompted renewed questions about Protection, Accountability, and how effective the systems designed to protect women within the film industry are.
Accusations made against Ranjith Balakrishnan were first brought to light by a young actress who reported he attempted to sexually assault her during a film shoot. She stated that Ranjith called her into a trailer on set and, once inside, attempted to assault her.
A police report has been filed based on the complaint; they registered accusations against Ranjith which included: Outraging/modesty of a woman, Sexual Assault, Wrongful Confinement, Obscene Gestures. The police found the “victim” to be “traumatised,” required psychiatric and counselling, prior to them being able to go to the police and report the incident.
Just after the police report was filed, Ranjith Balakrishnan was arrested and later put into judicial custody. After being placed into remand, Ranjith spoke with the media about the incident and has denied all charges. Ranjith has publicly claimed that the allegations made against him are fabricated and he will prove his innocence in court.
His attorney said he is filing a bond request. The police, meanwhile, have confirmed that they will take this matter seriously, and a Special Investigative Team (SIT) has formed to investigate what occurred. Authorities also mentioned that there were eyewitnesses to this action, as it happened on a film set.
In response to this case, the Women in Cinema Collective took the opportunity not only to comment on the events of this case, but to raise concerns about the industry as a whole. They asked why the safety protocols are not in effect and operating, despite having court orders in place, as well as the fact that they have worked with the industry in past cases regarding safety issues.
The WCC reports that “we [the WCC] fought and obtained a High Court order mandating that an Individual Code of Conduct (IC) be developed for each film set, and that a Monitoring Committee be established to monitor compliance”. They continued, “We submitted multiple key action plans but ask: Is there simply a lack of will? A lack of awareness? Or a lack of concern?”
The Collective has expressed support for the victim for choosing to go to the police after having gone through a traumatic incident. They pointed out how difficult it is for victims to come forward in this manner.
In a clear and strong statement, “The industry can no longer hide behind ignorance or inertia”, the group went on to say: “Implement ICs, Follow POSH, Prioritise Safety”. The statement concludes with a very strong statement: “If cinema wants to reflect society then it must also create a workplace for all that is safe, equitable and dignified.”
Ranjith’s case is not an isolated event; he has been accused by a Bengali actress of ‘inappropriate behaviour’ relating to a film project, leading the controversy to arise and leading to his resignation from a key component of the film industry.
With this current situation, there has again been a renewed discussion about how the film industry deals with complaints and if people come forward soon enough (and feel safe enough) to do so.
The current circumstances have transcended single incidents into a larger discussion regarding workplace safety in cinema. The Women in Cinema Collective, formed to support women employed within the film industry in Malayalam cinema, have long advocated reforms and stronger implementation of the law.
Khalid Qasid is a media enthusiast with a strong interest in documentary filmmaking. He holds a Master’s degree in Convergent Journalism from AJK MCRC. He has also written extensively on esports at Sportsdunia. Currently, he covers world and general news at NewsX Digital.
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