'This is Meenakshi Dileep and I am #WithHer'

The attack on actress and arrest of Dileep also affected the entire Malayalam film sector, and the industry is going through a major setback for the past two months. The industry is facing a split, those supporting Dileep and others who have declared their solidarity with the attacked actress.

Actor Dileep is going through a terrible time since he got arrested on July 10 for alleged role in a conspiracy that led to the abduction and attack of an actress.

The attack on actress and arrest of Dileep also affected the entire Malayalam film sector, and the industry is going through a major setback for the past two months.

The industry is facing a split, those supporting Dileep and others who have declared their solidarity with the attacked actress.

Last week, at the Kerala state film awards ceremony, the Women in Cinema Collective (WCC) organised a campaign titled 'Avalkkoppam', which means 'With Her', declaring solidarity with the actress. As part of the campaign actress Rima Kallingal, who is one of the active members in WCC, surprised everyone with a dance form expressing the support for the assaulted actress.

The hashtag #Avalkoppam and #WithHer also gained popularity and began trending on social media. 

A week after this incident, actor and mimicry artiste Koottickal Jayachandran has now shared a post on his Facebook wall with the hashtag #Ivalkoppam, with just a little difference from #Avalkkoppam, both meaning the same, 'with her'. However, the confusing hashtag #Ivalkoppam is not used to support the attacked actress but it was for Dileep's daughter Meenakshi.

Jayachandran shared an image of Meenakshi with him and wrote: ‘This is Meenakshi Dileep. She is also a girl, and I am with her.’ (sic.)

Popular actor Dileep was arrested after Pulsar Suni, the prime accused in actress assault case, named him the mastermind. Dileep is still remanded in Aluva sub-jail, and many celebrities from the film industry visited him on the occasion of Onam extending their support.

The actor had approached the High Court and the Magistrate Court twice, but both courts denied him bail stating that the actor is likely to tamper with the evidence and is likely to influence witnesses. Dileep has once again approached High Court seeking bail on September 19.