The Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes (AMMA) has made an abominable error in reinstating Dileep. He was charged with serious misogynistic offences as a conspirator in a case where a leading Malayalam actress was abducted and sexually assaulted. Dileep was arrested and jailed, and awaits judgment after getting bail. After a huge public outcry when the survivor boldly made the attack public, Dileep was removed from the actors’ guild last year. What was the hurry to reinstate him, pedantically quoting rules to say the association doesn’t permit removal from membership? Legendary matinee star Mohanlal was presiding over his first AMMA meet as president when the reinstatement took place. He has curiously been urging the guild to listen to all shades of opinion!
A few major actresses quit the association after its move to reinstate Dileep. While the actor says he wouldn’t take part in any AMMA deliberations, he should have voluntarily resigned from the association until the court clears him of any wrongdoing. The Malayalam film industry is deeply divided by this needless show of support for an actor accused of a heinous crime against a woman, and a fellow actor at that. What has happened here is in sharp contrast to Hollywood where Harvey Weinstein, a serial offender regarding harassing women sexually and raping them, lost not only his reputation but also his company, his career and his wife. Where India stands on such an issue like crimes against women is exposed by the unethical standards of the Malayalam film industry, in readmitting someone charged with a terrible crime.
