Avalkoppam
By:
The Kerala assault survivor’s decision to come forward in 2017 and seek justice was a turning point for Malayalam cinema and for Kerala.
Irrespective of the legal outcomes announced on December 8 and 12 (acquittal of actor Dileep and conviction of the six accused in the actor assault case, respectively) the survivor’s action broke the silence about the power imbalances in the Malayalam film industry, and started conversations about safety and dignity of women in the industry.
The Women in Cinema Collective (WCC), a group of female artists, supported the survivor’s fight for justice and pushed for changes in the industry, like mechanisms to address workplace harassment. The Justice Hema Committee Report further documented gaps in the Industry, challenging the long-standing idea of the industry as an uncomplicated “family.” Since then, conversations around abuse, accountability, and representation have become active in Kerala. Public expressions of solidarity, such as #Avalkoppam, (‘We stand with her’, a slogan coined by WCC) reflected a growing willingness to stand with survivors.
Notwithstanding the legal outcome, this case has reshaped the Malayalam film industry, with greater awareness and a demand for more equitable workplaces. For the survivor in this case and others, the fight continues.
InkSights is a monthly art series by NWMI member Anupama Bijur viewing current affairs through a gender and news lens.
Related:
NWMI social media posts on Kerala actor assault case verdict:
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1B9R3jRwNT/
https://x.com/NWM_India/status/1998007696969408792
https://www.instagram.com/p/DSAMtlKky1L/?img_index=1
https://bsky.app/profile/nwmindia.bsky.social/post/3m7iamrbavk2h
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