A day after drawing criticism for publicly endorsing actor Dileep’s latest film Prince and Family, CPI(M) General Secretary and senior leader MA Baby has issued a statement, justifying that his comments were not meant to endorse Dileep, the eighth accused in the 2017 abduction and sexual assault case of a prominent woman actor in Kerala.
In a statement issued on May 25, Monday, Baby said that he watched and later promoted the film at the persistent request of its director, Binto Stephen. “Many friends have directly or indirectly expressed their disapproval over my remarks on Prince and Family. I want to clarify that I was compelled to watch the film due to repeated requests from a young aspiring filmmaker from Kerala,” he said.
Baby added that the film, which he viewed in a Delhi theatre along with members of the Malayali community, delivered a “socially relevant message.”
“It does not boast extraordinary artistic merit, but I found it to be a simple, wholesome film devoid of violence or vulgarity. That’s why I shared my appreciation—without mentioning anyone other than the director,” he said.
Baby said that his intention was not to justify or support the actor accused in the sexual assault case. “Some have interpreted my comments as an endorsement of Dileep. That was not my intention. I regret that this has caused distress to the party and its supporters,” he said. “Some comrades expressed their disagreement with good intentions, while others may have acted otherwise. I acknowledge their concerns.”
Prince and Family is Dileep’s 150th film and was produced by Listin Stephen under the Magic Frames banner. The ensemble cast includes Dhyan Sreenivasan, Bindu Panicker, Siddique, Manju Pillai, and Urvashi.
Actor Dileep, who plays the lead role in Prince and Family, was arrested in July 2017 on charges of criminal conspiracy in connection with the abduction and assault of a fellow actor. He is accused of orchestrating the crime over personal grudges. Though he was later released on bail, the trial remains ongoing. In 2022, he was additionally accused of plotting to intimidate the police officers investigating the case.
Meanwhile, in a strongly worded joint statement, over 40 women’s rights advocates, lawyers, and activists demanded the immediate withdrawal of Baby’s remarks.
“We express deep concern over CPM General Secretary M.A. Baby’s public endorsement of a film featuring actor Dileep,” the statement reads. “This support comes despite Dileep being the primary accused in a brutal assault case involving a female colleague, earning him the notorious label of ‘quotation rapist.’”
The Kerala Feminist Forum highlighted the ongoing struggle for justice led by the survivor and the Women in Cinema Collective, pointing to the positive societal changes triggered by the Hema Committee report and sustained women-led movements. “Against this backdrop, it is deeply problematic for a national leader of the state’s ruling party to publicly champion an accused perpetrator,” they stated.
The forum declared the endorsement a betrayal of the principles of justice and women’s safety. “Should this demand go unheeded, we are prepared to mobilize once again. We will take to the streets to defend women’s fundamental right to live with dignity and security. This is not merely a warning—it is a commitment to continue our fight for justice.”