Here's why Kavya and Dileep's friend is supporting the assaulted actress

It seems the whole Malayalam film industry is now divided into two groups. The one that supports the assaulted actress, the other that shows solidarity with actor Dileep, who is an accused in the case.

Recently, during the Kerala State Film Awards event, actress Rima Kallingal raised her voice for the assaulted actress and launched a signature campaign titled 'Avalkoppam' (with her). The Women in Cinema Collective (WCC) has also been standing with the victim, since the incident.

Now, screenwriter Deedi Damodaran, who is a very good friend of both Kavya Madhavan and Dileep has made her stand clear. She took to Facebook to proclaim her support to the victim. She also opened up about her friendship with Dileep and Kavya.

“I have neither claimed that Dileep is the culprit behind the attack case nor have I said he is innocent. If my support to the actress hurt some of the people who met Dileep in jail, then it’s actually the chauvinism in the them which has been hurt.

“I don’t know if Pulsar Suni attended Kavya’s brother’s wedding or not, but I did. When my dad passed away, Kavya was one among the many who came to my house to offer condolences. She had also requested me to write the forward to her book and I was all the more happy to attend its release function. I was very close to Dileep also and have no hatred towards either of them.

“But I have been researching and writing about sexual abuses in Mollywood. And each time I get to know that a girl has been attacked, I can only support the victim. So here too, I can only stand with the actress who was attacked. I am also happy that at least some of the men in the industry are standing with the victim now rather than supporting the accused.”

Deedi is the daughter of the veteran screenwriter of Malayalam cinema T Damodaran. Gulmohar, directed by Jayaraj, was the first film she wrote.
 

• Dileep
• Kavya
• Kavya Madhavan