He touched her after watching her sleep: Alleppey Ashraf on WCC founding member's sexual assault

Director Alleppey Ashraf has stated that a founding member of the Women in Cinema Collective (WCC) in Kerala has not disclosed her traumatic experience to the Hema Committee. He emphasized that it was the leaders of the WCC who brought women who faced harassment and suffering in the film industry before the Hema Committee, and he felt dismayed to see a founding member of the WCC claim that she had no such experiences.

According to Alleppey Ashraf, while staying at a hotel during a shoot in Alappuzha, a room boy entered the actress's room using a spare key while she was asleep and touched her. When the actress woke up and created a commotion, everyone caught the room boy and handed him over to the police. Ashraf mentioned that the actress withdrew the case out of fear of humiliation, but when she later went to the Hema Committee, she concealed the incident, claiming that she had no such experience.

“I am here to tell you that the experience of this founding member of the WCC is a matter hidden from the public. Many actresses have formed the WCC after enduring numerous sufferings and oppositions. They have the full support of the public, both then and now. The WCC is the organization that identified actresses who have faced harassment and pain in the Malayalam film industry and presented them before the Hema Committee to seek justice and wipe their tears. They have our collective support,” he stated in a YouTube video.

However, Ashraf noted that when a leading actress among the founding members of the WCC testified before the Hema Committee, she claimed to have never heard of such an incident. He expressed concern that they seemed unaware even of the case of assault against actress. He pointed out that the actress seemed to prioritize her own situation over others, indicating a lack of responsibility toward the community. He emphasized that it should not be forgotten that those in leadership positions within the organization have a duty to set an example for others. 

He shared an incident he knew of involving a founding member of the WCC who came to Alappuzha for a shoot. “While staying at a hotel, she treated a room boy from her native place with compassion and brotherly affection. One night, while she was alone, the room boy took a spare key from the hotel counter, entered her room, and climbed onto her bed. After enjoying watching her for a while, he touched her. When she jumped up, she saw his face, and he fled in panic. She chased him in alarm, and by then, the hotel staff was awakened, causing a commotion.

The police later arrived and took him into custody, where he was beaten and had an FIR lodged against him. I have read this FIR. However, due to her fear of embarrassment, the actress withdrew the case and instructed everyone to keep it a secret. She did not share this information with the Hema Committee, the WCC, or anyone else.

Those at the top of an organization must be responsible and fearless; otherwise, they should not assign such individuals to the organization's responsibilities.” He concluded his thoughts by questioning what it would mean if the WCC were to be revamped.