The Aryavarth Express
Thiruvananthapuram: Actor and filmmaker Parvathy Thiruvothu on Monday voiced her disappointment on social media after a Kerala trial court acquitted Malayalam actor Dileep in the 2017 actor assault case.
“We watch a carefully crafted screenplay unfold so cruelly now,” wrote Parvathy, a founding member of the Women in Cinema Collective (WCC). Posting on Instagram soon after the verdict, she asked pointedly, “Justice what?”
The Ernakulam Principal Sessions Court convicted the first six accused on multiple charges, while Dileep, the eighth accused, was acquitted.
The Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA) released a brief statement acknowledging the verdict, saying, “Let the law move in the path of justice. We respect the court.”
Meanwhile, several Malayalam actors, including Rima Kallingal and Remya Nambeesan, re-shared the WCC’s ‘Avalkoppam’ (We stand with her) campaign slogan—a show of solidarity that first emerged after the February 2017 assault. “Always. More stronger than ever now,” Rima posted.
Ahead of the verdict, the WCC had posted a note reflecting on the long legal battle. “This has not been an easy journey… 3,215 days of waiting for justice,” it said, praising the survivor’s resilience and the wider impact her fight has had on women in the Malayalam film industry.
The WCC, formed in November 2017, works to create a safe, equitable and professional space for women in cinema through advocacy and policy reform.
