Mollywood, which has recently seen notable success in cinema and box office collections, is now facing a significant moment of reckoning. Malayalam actor Siddique and acclaimed director Ranjith Balakrishnan have both resigned from their respective positions following serious allegations of misconduct.

Siddique, who served as the general secretary of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA), stepped down after a young actor reiterated her allegations of sexual assault, first made in 2019. Siddique confirmed his resignation, stating, “I have formally submitted my resignation to AMMA president Mohanlal due to the allegations against me.”

Similarly, director Ranjith Balakrishnan resigned from his role as chairman of the Kerala Chalachitra Academy. This move followed allegations by Bengali actor Sreelekha Mitra, who claimed that Ranjith made inappropriate advances during the pre-production of a 2009 film.

These events come in the wake of the Justice Hema Committee’s report, which has highlighted widespread issues of sexual abuse and the casting couch within the industry. The Malayalam film community now faces a crucial moment to address these concerns and consider its response. Further updates will follow as the situation develops.

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