(This article was first published on 5 July 2018 and has been reposted from The Quint’s archives.)
Video Editor: Purnendu Pritam
Padmapriya was one of the three actors, including Revathy and Parvathy, who wrote to the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA) asking for an emergency meeting, after the organisation reinducted rape-accused actor Dileep into their ranks on 26 June 2018.
In February 2017, a Malayalam actress was abducted and allegedly assaulted by four men, who also reportedly took photographs of the incident. Dileep was accused of being the one who plotted and ordered the assault over an alleged personal vendetta.
Dileep was removed from AMMA after public outrage over the incident. However, after actor Mohanlal was made President of the association, the organisation reinducted Dileep into its fold in its annual meeting on 26 June.
Dileep, who has acted in over 130 Malayalam films is accused of, among other crimes, gang rape, criminal intimidation, causing the disappearance of evidence, and criminal conspiracy.
Four members of AMMA, the survivor, Rima Kallingal, Remya Nambeesan and Geetu Mohandas resigned from the Association after Dileep was reinducted.
Over 100 actors also wrote to AMMA condemning the decision.
Fourteen actors said they wouldn't join AMMA, after Dileep was reinducted.
In their letter to AMMA general secretary Edavela Babu, Padmapriya, Parvathy and Revathy asked for an emergency meeting on 13 or 14 July, to discuss four key points including the steps AMMA has taken to help the survivor.
While AMMA has agreed to a meeting on the points, they are yet to confirm a date for the same, and have not stated whether the meeting would include the actors who asked for it.
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