WCC slams ‘audacious predators’, calls out systemic failure in Malayalam film industry after Ranjith assault allegation

Dubai: As Kerala police intensified their probe into sexual assault allegations against director Ranjith, the Women in Cinema Collective (WCC) on Thursday delivered a scathing indictment of systemic failures in ensuring workplace safety in the Malayalam film industry.

The controversy follows a complaint by a young actress, who has accused Ranjith of assault during a film shoot earlier this year.

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Calling the allegation “deeply distressing,” the WCC said the incident exposed the ground-level failure of institutional mechanisms meant to prevent and address workplace harassment.

Despite clear directives from the Kerala High Court and the introduction of a revised cinema policy, the collective questioned why Internal Committees (ICs), mandated under the POSH Act, had failed to respond effectively.

“Where does this audacity of perpetrators come from? From a system that simply does not function,” the WCC said, arguing that entrenched power structures within the industry have weakened accountability and rendered ICs ineffective.

The collective also expressed concern that members of the Internal Committee were reportedly unaware of the alleged incident on set, raising serious questions about whether any attempt had been made to reach out to the survivor.

It further pointed to the lack of implementation of key recommendations, including oversight measures proposed following the findings of the Hema Committee, which had earlier examined issues faced by women in the Malayalam film industry.

Criticising the industry’s approach, the WCC said compliance mechanisms were often treated as a “burden” rather than a necessity.

It warned that failure to enforce these safeguards in both letter and spirit would embolden perpetrators and continue to make film sets unsafe for women.

Meanwhile, police have stepped up their probe into the case. Ranjith, a well-known director, actor, and scriptwriter, is currently in judicial custody after being arrested on March 31, reportedly while attempting to evade arrest after the complaint surfaced.

As part of the investigation, authorities have identified the caravan where the alleged assault is said to have taken place during a shoot in Fort Kochi in January. While there were no CCTV cameras inside the caravan, police are attempting to gather footage from nearby external cameras.

Investigators are also recording statements from crew members who were present during the shoot. According to police sources, several individuals on set may have been aware of the alleged incident, and more witnesses are expected to be questioned in the coming days.

The complainant approached the City Police Commissioner last week, prompting the formation of a special investigation team led by Aswathi Jijy. Ranjith’s arrest followed a preliminary inquiry conducted by the police.

The court is expected to hear both the custody application and the director’s bail plea on Saturday.

Reiterating its support for the survivor, the WCC said her decision to approach the police directly reflected both courage and the failure of existing institutional safeguards.

“The industry can no longer hide behind ignorance or inertia,” the collective said, urging strict enforcement of Internal Committees and legal protections to ensure safe and dignified workplaces.