Heroine Complained On Director After 17 Yrs: What Court Said?

Since the start of the Me Too moment, we have been hearing more and more cases of actresses coming out and complaining against their male costars, directors, producers and related technicians.

This was fuelled further particularly in the Malayalam film industry after the reputed Hema Committee report stated that several actresses were indeed tormented while working on Malayalam films over the years.

In this context, a case has now reached the Kerala High Court after an actress, who remains unnamed for privacy reasons, filed a complaint against reputed director, Balachandra Menon. She claimed that the Director misbehaved and touched her inappropriately while they were shooting a film in 2007. She lodged the case 17 years after the incident.

In his defence, veteran director, Balachandra Menon claimed innocence, and argued that the actress is looking to defame him after all these years. “I directed 40 films and have 2 national awards. I was accorded Padmasri as well. Why would I do something so atrocious?”.

Interestingly, the High Court made a very interesting opening statement as it opined that, not just women, but even men have esteem and self respect. The court assured the director that the investigation would be carried out in a rational manner. In fact, he was even granted anticipatory bail in this case.

Coming to the case itself, it is strange and surprising to see that something of this sort has popped up in front of the court as the actress decided to complain against the director after 17 long years.