Manju Warrier speaks out amid the #MeToo storm: “Malayalam cinema is going through a tragic phase”

Manju, who was one of the founding members of the Women in Cinema Collective (WCC) but withdrew from active participation for the past six years, also expressed her belief that the loyal fans of Malayalam cinema will support the industry and help it come out of this dark period. She has reportedly not officially resigned from the WCC yet, but has largely scaled back her activism and is instead focusing on her career and films with actors like Mohanlal.

“We are all here because you have shown us so much love… We hope that Malayalam cinema will emerge stronger from this,” she added in Malayalam. At no point, however, did she directly express her support to the survivors who had come forward.

In recent months, the #MeToo movement has whipped up a storm in Kerala's content-driven film industry as allegations of widespread sexual harassment, abuse and toxic work environments have surfaced. Prominent actors, including Siddique, Jayasurya, Mukesh and Edavela Babu, have been accused of misconduct, sparking public outrage and intense media scrutiny. The Justice Hema Committee's findings, which highlighted systematic problems of exploitation and unsafe working conditions, have added fuel to the fire and sparked a wider discussion about accountability and the urgent need for reforms in the industry.

Warrier is the latest actress to speak her mind in a diplomatic manner while top talents like Dulquer Salmaan and Fahadh Faasil continue to remain silent.