The prolific Malayalam-Hindi filmmaker Priyadarshan is in a state of shock over what happened to the Malayalam actress (name withheld) who was abducted and reportedly raped by her own former driver and his accomplices on Friday night.
Priyadarshan who has worked with the actress is distressed by what he considers to be distortions in the way the awful crime has been reported in the press.
First of all, she was not raped. How can something so grave and evil be trivialised by wrong reportage? I spoke to her after the awful incident and she very clearly told me she was not raped. Yes, she was abducted apparently by her former driver, who has already been arrested thanks to the swift intervention and action of the cop in-charge, and his friends. The accused forced themselves into her car and took pictures apparently with the intention of demeaning and blackmailing her.Priyadarshan, Filmmaker
Priyan brings up the subject of women’s safety. “It is shocking and unbelievable that this could happen in Kochi. Here it is a very tightly-knit community. Everyone knows everyone else, so no one does anything that would bring shame to the person and community. That such a heinous crime could be committed in tranquil peace-loving Kerala and that too by the victim’s own driver, is shocking beyond words. How can women be safe in our country when those whom they trust betray them?”
The distressed director wonders what the criminals hoped to achieve. “She can easily identify them. So I don’t know how they thought they could get away with it. What is more, she is not a helpless victim. She is brave and progressive and she is a celebrity. She knows the most influential people in Kochi. The top cop who has been assigned the job of nabbing the criminals is known to be a man of action. He has already nabbed the main culprit, the driver, and the rest would soon be arrested.”
Priyadarshan also can’t get over the fact that this gruesome crime was committed against someone so close to him. “She is someone I know very well. She is bubbly, chirpy, friendly, warm and she’s very popular in the Malayalam film industry. In fact so popular that there is a surge of solidarity and support for her from all over Kerala and especially Kochi.”
The filmmaker also described his experience of working with the actress and raised the question that if this could happen to an actress, how safe are other women? “She is a joy to work with, hassle-free, easy-going and brings positivity to the sets. When she was around on the sets we were all smiling constantly. She is a sunshine girl. She spreads happiness everywhere. If this can happen to her, how safe are the girls in other industries and work places and in other parts of the country known to be less safe than Kerala?”
Priyan also shared that the actress was planning to get married next month and the horrific incident will not change her plans. “The entire Malayalam film industry has come forward for her. Like I told you, she is extremely popular and well-liked. She is engaged to marry a film producer. Her husband-to-be is standing by her in her hour of trauma like a rock-solid partner. They are getting married next month. This incident in no way changes their plans,” ends Priyan.
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