‘These are women workers in Communist Kerala’: Rima Kallingal backs hair stylists on hunger strike

Actress Rima Kallingal has extended her support to the female workers on hunger strike against injustice at the Film Employees Federation of Kerala (FEFKA). Three hair stylists are leading the strike, which is taking place in front of the office of the All Kerala Cine Makeup Artists and Hair Stylists Union in Kochi.

In a social media post, Rima Kallingal stated that the workers were suspended for raising their voices in demand of their rights. She emphasised that these women are workers in the Communist Kerala of 2025, tagging the Chief Minister’s Office, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and CPM leader K K Shailaja. She also shared pictures from the protest.

Rima wrote, "Women in the Malayalam film industry, members of the Hair Stylist Union, are demanding the right to work, express disagreements and work as makeup heads in a safe environment free from violations. Yet, they have been suspended for raising their voices. They were sidelined for speaking out. These are the women workers in Communist Kerala in 2025."

The hair stylists are protesting with various demands, including the resignation of FEFKA general secretary B Unnikrishnan and joint secretary Pradeep Rangan, government intervention in the cinema industry and the liberation of hair stylists from the control of makeup heads.