No going back: Rima Kallingal

Around two years ago, when Rima Kallingal stood before a 400-member strong crowd to deliver the TedX talk where she famously referred to gender discrimination that begins at homes, she introduced herself as a feminist. “I could suddenly feel the vibes changing, the expressions of men freezing,” recalls Rima, saying that she was not surprised by the many insensitive queries at the Women in Cinema Collective (WCC) press meet on Saturday.

“Everywhere, in the industry and on social media, we have been greeted with hatred. People consider actresses as ‘public properties’ who could be asked anything!” she says, adding, “But I would love to know why many of them didn’t ask questions with similar intensity to the A.M.M.A. president during his press meet. Why didn’t they ask him his stance on Dileep’s re-induction to the organisation’s fold, why was someone chargesheeted and jailed for eight months in the assault case taken back, why didn’t they throw him out? When A.M.M.A. president Mohanlal says they would discuss the issue in the next meeting, everyone there silently agreed and left, without raising any question.”

The WCC members are hurt and angry for being denied justice over and over by the A.M.M.A leadership, who doesn’t want to even discuss the crucial matters. “I still don’t know if Dileep has resigned. I believe the resignation is submitted and A.M.M.A. is still ‘thinking’ about it. Funnily, they didn’t have to think twice before accepting our resignation,” she says.

The WCC wants a better space, a clean one, but cleansing takes a lot of work. Rima points out Malayalam film industry has much to learn much from others. “Just look at this #metoo campaign. Women in powerful positions like Konkona Sen Sharma, Zoya Akhtar, Gauri Shinde and Kiran Rao, actors like Aamir Khan and Akshay Kumar have announced that they will no longer work with the accused. Look at how Nadigar Sangam led by Vishal proactively deals with the issue in Tamil Nadu. That’s a brave, inspirational stance. See what’s happening here. Despite several complaints, B. Unnikrishnan, who is also the FEFKA chairman, and Mukesh, an MLA and A.M.M.A. executive member, do not endorse it; instead they take sides with the accused. The person whom Archana Padmini complained against is still working whereas she loses her acting opportunities. Dileep is acting in back-to-back movies whereas the survivor is not being heard at all. Their apathy makes us sad and angry.”

Rima knows that a power war with A.M.M.A. leadership is futile. “Whatever we shout, it won’t bother them. They have films to act, produce, distribute and enjoy support from TV channels and fan clubs. That’s why we decided to expose them. People need to know what’s actually happening in this industry. It’s not the projected lovey-dovey, happy family photo,” she says,” stressing on the ‘pressure cooker-like situation’ in the industry.  

What’s the plan? “We need to bring in a constitutional change on the organisational level. Yes, it’s a long-term plan, but we have decided to take forward what we have started and become an international movement. Since formation, we have been focusing on gender sensitisation, sexual sensitisation drives and importance of education. We have written to all organisations, including FEFKA that covers all technicians. But Unnikrishnan is currently very busy shooting a movie starring Dileep; we don’t know when all these would be considered. Our concerns need to be addressed and if they don’t listen, we will have to take it forward in our own way,” she adds.

She also explains the WCC’s future activities, “We are planning a legal camp for women to let them know what their rights in their professional space are. Another focus is on awareness. People need to realise that an uncomfortable touch is abuse and a lewd joke on the sets is verbal abuse if the listener is not amused. There are issues of basic amenities like toilets. We have had enough of adjustments!”

The fearless stance and relentless fight have not done them any good. Says Rima, “We have lost work. On social media, abuses are hurled at us every minute. But we have no choice other than to speak up. This is the time to act, when we are alive. At the end of it all, when we look back and ask what we did, there needs to be an answer.”

So, why aren’t they moving the cyber cell against social media attacks? Letting out a chuckle, she says, “If we go for complaint, we will have to maintain an exclusive cell for that alone. Like they hire someone to engage in verbal abuse, we too have hired someone to block them.”

From the clueless, naïve youngster who started off as an actor nine years ago, Rima has grown into a strong crusader of rights. “Back then, there was no space for communication in the industry. They always created a hostile environment for women, pitting women against each other so that no actor can reveal their issues to a female colleague. No one tried to question it either. Yesteryear actresses too have faced this clout; I wish they had come out then. But it’s never late; I hope all of us can stand together even now,” she hopes.

She adds that the collective has no ill-feeling towards any woman colleague who does not support them. “Even if they don’t stand with us while trying to secure their lives and careers, they have the support of the WCC. We are well aware that patriarchal conditioning takes time to be undone. But in the long run, I would love it if all these women experience the bonding of our support system. It’s an empowering feeling being part of this great sisterhood who stand by each other, to assure that we are here if you need a support.”

Being at the receiving end of the wrath of the who’s who in the industry and their fans has made these women bolder and stronger. In her voice ebbing with determination and clarity of thoughts, Rima says nothing would deter the collective from their march forward. “Never ever should a woman feel unsafe in this industry – fearing for her life at workplace or on her way back home. The criminals should be scared to do this to another woman; that’s our aim.”

These brave women fighters are well aware of the strength the struggle takes. As Rima puts it, “Even acting in movies is a fight. However, we have been as truthful as we can to our art as to our lives. That truthfulness serves as our strength, our courage. We have nothing to lose; there’s no stepping back now.”