Thiruvananthapuram -Kerala’s film industry is witnessing a development as popular actress Manju Warrier and filmmaker Rajeev Ravi have decided to opt out of the committee formed by the Kerala State Film Development Corporation to draught a comprehensive film policy. According to a report, the committee’s chairman, Shaji N. Karun, confirmed the news, citing the duo’s busy shooting schedules as the reason for their decision.
The formation of the committee was a significant step taken by the government to draft a comprehensive film policy, aiming to bring positive changes and growth to the state’s film industry. The committee was comprised of ten members, with the government expecting the policy report to be completed within two months. Among the committee members were actor-cum-MLA Mukesh, director B Unnikrishnan, actress Padmapriya, Nikhila Vimal, producer Santhosh Kuruvila, and Academy secretary Ajoy Chandran, among others.
However, with the exit of actress Manju Warrier and filmmaker Rajeev Ravi, a decision is yet to be made on whether to include anyone else in the committee. Despite this setback, the government aims to ensure the timely drafting of the film policy, which is expected to be ready ahead of the film conclave scheduled to be held in Kochi in September.
In response to the committee’s formation, the Women in Cinema Collective (WCC) expressed their dismay over the process, raising concerns about the lack of consideration for the consent of its members. The WCC appreciated the government’s initiative in drafting a comprehensive film policy but stated that the committee’s formation was executed without proper deliberation.
The WCC, a prominent collective advocating for gender equality and fair working conditions in the film industry, voiced their concerns, asserting that arbitrary committees do not offer viable solutions to address deeply entrenched issues within the workplace. They stressed the importance of involving all stakeholders, including actors, filmmakers, and industry representatives, to ensure comprehensive and inclusive policy-making.
Discussion about this post