KOCHI: A fraternity for women in Malayalam cinema, a first of its kind in the country, will be formed soon as a 'Women’s Collective in Cinema', a forum of women actors and technicians.
Film editor and Artistic Director of International Film Festival of Kerala, Beena Paul, actors Manju Warrier, Parvathy Theruvoth, Rima Kallingal, Remya Nambeesan, Sajitha Madathil, directors Anjali Menon, Vidhu Vincent and camera woman Fausiya Fathima are part of this association.
However, its leadership is restricted to male actors and actor and president TV Innocent, is now an elected member of LDF in Lok Sabha. Another prominent actor Suresh Gopi is also a member of RS via nomination.
A dozen among them met the chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday to seek government support, and submitted a memorandum regarding the working conditions in the industry to the chief minister. "We are forming this collective not because of any particular issue. We just demand equal opportunities and dignity. It will have everyone from actors to technicians," said Sajitha Madathil.
The abduction and sexual assault of a top actress in February had raised a storm in the industry with concerns on the security of leading female stars in a male dominated industry.
Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA), a group of nearly 500 film actors who work in Malayalam cinema, was the first of its kind in India, and its functioning has led to the formation of actors guilds in film industries of other Indian languages as well.