Controversy Surrounds Kerala Chalachitra Academy Chairperson Ranjith Following Misconduct Allegations

The chairperson of the Kerala State Chalachitra Academy, Ranjith, is facing increasing pressure to resign following allegations of misconduct made by Bengali actor Sreelekha Mitra. The controversy escalated on Saturday as key figures in the film industry, opposition parties, and members of the Left Democratic Front are calling for action.

Minister for Cultural Affairs, Saji Cherian, stated that any action against Ranjith would only follow a formal complaint. He emphasized that Ranjith is a respected filmmaker and that he should not be punished solely based on allegations. Cherian added, «If a formal complaint is received, strong action will be taken. We are with the victims.»

Sreelekha Mitra’s allegations date back to the pre-production of the 2009 film Paleri Manikyam: Oru Pathirakolapathakathinte Katha. Mitra claimed that Ranjith made inappropriate advances towards her, a statement supported by documentary filmmaker Joshy Joseph, who confirmed that Mitra had mentioned the incident to him on the same day.

The seriousness of the allegations prompted Annie Raja, a leader of the Communist Party of India, to urge the State government to initiate a suo motu case against Ranjith and suggested that he should temporarily resign during the investigation for the sake of fairness.

In response to the unfolding situation, K. Surendran, the President of the Bharatiya Janata Party‘s Kerala unit, criticized the government for allegedly protecting Ranjith. He highlighted the existence of contemporaneous testimonials supporting Mitra’s allegations and demanded Cherian’s resignation as well.

P. Sathidevi, Chairperson of the Kerala Women’s Commission, expressed a differing viewpoint. She stated that the commission is willing to investigate allegations made through the media and suggested that Ranjith should resign if found guilty.

Film producer Sandra Thomas condemned Cherian’s defense of Ranjith, accusing him of disrespecting the women of Kerala by not addressing serious allegations appropriately. According to her, the insistence on protecting Ranjith is an insult to the cultural integrity of the state.

Filmmaker Aashiq Abu also criticized the government’s handling of the case, asserting that Cherian’s approach contradicts the left’s core ideologies. Bijukumar Damodaran joined the criticism, recalling past controversies involving Ranjith, including issues related to the State Film Awards and alleged pressure on jury members.

As the pressure mounts on Ranjith to resign from his position as chairperson, the tensions within the Kerala film industry continue to rise, reflecting broader discussions regarding sexual misconduct and accountability in the entertainment sector.