Bina Paul, film editor and co-founder of Women in Cinema Collective. | Photo credit: The Hindu
More than eight years after the abduction and sexual assault of the popular actress, Monday’s verdict in the case acquitting actor Dileep, the alleged mastermind, came as a surprise to Bina Paul, a film editor and one of the founding members of the Women in Cinema Collective (WCC), which was formed after the incident in 2017. Speaking to The Hindu, she says the verdict has left a lot of questions in her mind.
“Because there was so much support for her and with the kind of evidence pouring in through the media, we really thought it could turn out differently and there would be an explanation for what happened. These questions need to be answered at some point because it’s very important for the survivor to know and understand them to have closure. We don’t want to lose faith in the judiciary because we won’t have to read this case until we have to have a verdict move on.” He feels the ruling could have wider ramifications, including a chilling effect on survivors who want to speak out.
Follow | Bina Paul: WCC will stick with the survivor regardless of her decision | Video Credit: The Hindu
“The people on the other side in this case have been very powerful. We have so many cases in Kerala like the ‘ice cream’ case that have gone this way. So on that level it’s not surprising. I would like to tell the survivors not to be affected, but there could be a feeling that there is no way to answer these questions. What if I have a problem and I’m not very sure that the process will be long, when I know that I will get justice? a tough test for she often talked about what she had to go through,” says Ms. Paul. As many as 28 prosecution witnesses, including actors Bhama, Edavela Babu, Bindu Panicker and Sidhique, reportedly turned hostile during the trial.
For a moral compass
“Everyone has their own moral compass. If you’re not able to follow that moral compass, it’s nothing to do with the industry. It’s to do with you as a person. If you said something, you should stand by it. The verdict will probably explain to us what happened and how they realized the fact that so many people changed their minds,” he says.
He says Mr Dileep’s reaction outside the court on Monday, during which he hurled accusations at the actor and ex-wife Manja Warrier, the police and the media, was “a bit startling”. “I thought it was quite surprising. Maybe there’s a lot of anger in him and he wants to get it out. He’s going to twist another story and I think we have to be prepared for all of that,” she says.
“The Flooded Moment”
On the “willingness” with which industry bodies, including the Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes (AMMA), called emergency meetings to discuss Mr Dileep’s reinstatement in their organisation, she said it may be because the industry has a “commercial” view of everything. Ms. Paul feels that the case was a watershed moment that changed many things in the industry and society of Kerala.
“Her fight led to issues of gender and safety in the industry, which led to the K. Hem committee report. All this cannot be changed. There is no turning back. The WCC will stand by her whatever her decisions are. We will continue our advocacy to make this place completely free of sexual violence and a safe space for women to work. The survivor said she gave her strength and power to change.” she said. he says.
Published – 8 Dec 2025 21:09 IST
