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Renowned Malayalam director Ranjith Balakrishnan, a three-time National Film Awards winner, has been booked for sexual assault following a complaint from a 31-year-old male actor in Bengaluru. This development comes as the #MeToo movement continues to impact the Kerala film industry, especially after the release of the Justice K Hema Committee report.
The male actor alleges that Ranjith sexually assaulted him in December 2012 at a five-star hotel near Kempegowda International Airport, under the pretense of an audition for a film. The actor claimed he was invited by Ranjith, who allegedly forced him to strip for what he believed was part of the audition process.
In addition to this recent allegation, Ranjith is also facing accusations from Bengali actress Sreelekha Mitra, who filed a complaint with the Kochi Police Commissioner. Mitra alleges that Ranjith inappropriately touched her with sexual intent during a meeting for an audition for the film ‘Paleri Manikyam’ in 2009.
Ranjith has denied all allegations, asserting that he had called Mitra for an audition but decided she was not suitable and sent her away.
In light of these accusations, Ranjith resigned from his position as Chairman of the Kerala State Chalachitra Academy amid increasing pressure from political leaders, including Congress’s Leader of the Opposition VD Satheeshan and the BJP’s state president K Surendran, who demanded his resignation.
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