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When she walked into the office of the Kerala Film Producers’ Association on Saturday, July 26, Sandra Thomas was wearing a burqa. It was the “safest choice” of clothing for a woman appearing before the crop of office-bearers of the KFPA, she said. Sandra, a film producer and member of the association, had come to file her nomination for president in the upcoming election of the KFPA. It was time the monopoly of the men ruling the association ended, she stated.
Sandra has been vocal about her issues with the association and has allegedly faced harassment. She filed a case of sexual harassment against several members of the KFPA after the publication of the Hema Committee report last year, which revealed, among other issues, the workplace harassment of women. She spoke out about issues of women producers after the KFPA made a delayed response to the report.
“I made a serious allegation, and the police have filed a chargesheet accusing four of the office bearers, who continued in their positions even afterward, and are now going to compete for the next term,” she said.
She said the burqa was a mark of her protest at the continued presence of the accused men in the association. “I felt it was most fitting to wear a burqa to come before such a group.”
Sandra had earlier spoken out about her experience during a previous meeting when the men were apparently exchanging messages about the buttons on her clothes. “The burqa I wear (a clothing that is associated with Islam) has nothing to do with religion. I am a practising Christian; the burqa is also worn by Sarah in the Bible. I chose this clothing because, from my past experiences, it seemed the most fitting one to wear before the present crop of office bearers,” she reiterated.
In June, Sandra released threatening audio clips sent by production controllers against her and her family members. On Saturday, when she submitted her nomination, Sandra said that the situation that she complained against continued to exist in the association, and it would only change if there was a change in the leadership.
“A change in the office of the producers’ association will also be reflected across the rest of the film industry. I am sure there will be a change because there is a strong anti-incumbency sentiment among the members. They are just afraid to speak out about it in public. Anyone who raises questions is treated badly. I was expelled and I got my membership back after going to court. Sheela chechi (producer) got a showcause notice for asking questions. They, especially Listin Stephen (producer), mock women who tell them about the bad experiences they have faced. The office bearers continue term after term because no one would contest against them. That should change,” she said.