It’s been whispered here and there, Manju Warrier is leaving the Women in Cinema Collective. On Tuesday afternoon, Malayalam news channel Kairali News ran a story that the actor has indeed quit and conveyed her decision to Mohanlal, the President of AMMA.
But a source close to Manju Warrier told TNM that this was not true and that the actor was still with WCC.
Two WCC members have confirmed that the organisation which is at loggerheads with Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes has not received any communication of resignation from Manju.
Vidhu Vincent, filmmaker and a key member of the collective told TNM that Manju had not informed WCC of any such decision and that they too had heard the rumours through media.
Manju had left the WhatsApp group where members had discussions. But that happens sometimes, and members may leave when they go away for work, and then join back later, Vidhu added.
There have been disagreements, that is true, Vidhu says. Manju had some differences with some of the stances taken by members of the group. Vidhu is talking about the decision taken by some members to leave the Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes (AMMA) when actor Dileep, a rape accused, was reinstated. The survivor of the attack was among those that left AMMA.
“Some wanted to leave, and some others wanted to stay and have a dialogue. Manju may have a different opinion,” Vidhu says.
Actor Revathy, a member of WCC told TOI that if Manju has quit, she has to say it.
Revathy also told TOI, 'Manju had told us that she wants to stay away from this entire thing for a while. All of us at WCC said 'yes, its your personal decision, please go ahead'. From that point onwards, Manju has not been part of any decision or discussion in the WCC. As a democratic organisation, we respect that."
There has been much speculation that Manju was under pressure as her film with Mohanlal in the lead, Odiyan, is about to come out soon. Mohanlal had taken charge as the new president of AMMA on the day the decision to take back Dileep was taken.
Manju had been the first to say there is a conspiracy behind the attack on her friend and co-actor last year in Kochi. She was also among the few who came to meet the Chief Minister and form the WCC a few months after the assault.