A lower court in Kochi has reportedly dismissed petitions by Malayalam film producer Sandra Thomas to allow her to contest for president at the Kerala Film Producers Association (KFPA). The order, passed on August 13, a day ahead of the elections, has made it unfeasible for her to approach a higher court.
Sandra stated that the court verdict was disappointing and unexpected and that she will seek legal advice on how to proceed. Her petitions also challenged the appointment of the returning officer by the KFPA.
With elections looming, she will instead be contesting for a post on the Executive Committee. She will also contest for a key post at the Film Chamber of Commerce.
The returning officer rejected Sandra’s nomination for president last week, on the grounds that only two of her films were produced under her current banner, Sandra Film Productions. The officer claimed that her earlier film could not be counted as it was produced by a company she no longer represents.
Sandra pointed out that she has more than three films with her name on the censor certificates, and the production banners should not matter.
Sandra was previously associated with Friday Film House, along with actor and producer Vijay Babu, but later quit the partnership and began to work independently under her banner, Sandra Thomas Productions.
Following this, she submitted petitions to the court, challenging the appointment of the returning officer and asking the court to intervene and conduct the elections impartially. She had also asked the court to delay the election for the post of president until her cases were heard. But all three petitions were dismissed.
On August 10, Vijay Babu posted on his social media page that Sandra cannot represent Friday Film House or contest the posts she was not eligible for. He further added that ‘as far as he knew, the censor [certificate is given] to the firm and not to an individual’. Sandra replied to his comments, reiterating that she has not claimed rights at Friday Film House and her contention was with the KFPA in not considering the censor certificates in her name while she was a partner at the firm. “As a regular member of the KFPA, I can legally contest the key post of the association, and there is nothing in Vijay Babu's post that can legally refute that,” she stated.
Watch: The more they isolate us, the stronger we get: Sandra Thomas interview