A woman in the film industry who accused veteran filmmaker P.T. Kunhummuhammed of sexual misconduct is reportedly under pressure to retract her complaint and shield him. She revealed that intermediaries have approached her, asking her to reconsider the case, citing the filmmaker’s age and health as reasons for leniency.
The alleged incident took place during the film selection process at the International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK). The survivor described the filmmaker’s behavior as inappropriate and offensive, leading her to seek help from authorities. However, instead of support, she claims to have faced emotional pressure and intimidation to silence her.
The woman expressed feeling isolated and unsupported despite coming forward with a serious allegation. She mentioned that various individuals have tried to intervene on behalf of the accused, urging her to drop the complaint due to his advanced age and health condition. She emphasized the challenging situation, stating that the pressure has become overwhelming.
The survivor criticized the system, stating that it seemed to favor the accused from the beginning. She highlighted delays in the police registering the case despite her repeated complaints. Even after the FIR was filed, she alleged that authorities allowed time for the accused to seek anticipatory bail, indicating a lack of urgency in addressing the matter.
The Women in Cinema Collective (WCC) condemned the handling of the case, noting the survivor’s approach to the Chief Minister’s Office without receiving a direct response. The organization questioned the delay in filing the FIR, pointing out that the police took nearly eight days to act despite recording the survivor’s statement promptly. The incident has sparked discussions on institutional apathy, power dynamics in the film industry, and the challenges faced by survivors reporting misconduct by influential individuals.
