Everyone’s half my age but I am excited about this chapter: Sandra Thomas on why she enrolled in law school now

Just a week ago, producer Sandra Thomas faced one of the most significant challenges in her career. She contested for the positions of president and secretary in both the Kerala Film Producers’ Association and the Kerala Film Chamber of Commerce—two of the most influential film bodies in the state. Although she didn’t secure a win, Sandra considers herself victorious. Backed by several independent producers in her stand against misogyny, she believes the support she received marked a personal triumph.

Now, Sandra is turning the page to a new chapter in her life: she has enrolled in a three-year regular law course at Christ Law Academy in Bengaluru. Speaking to Onmanorama, she revealed that the idea of studying law had been on her mind for a while, thanks to encouragement from those closest to her.

“My mom was the first to suggest the idea to me during Covid. Although I considered it, I eventually dropped the plan. In recent months, I was inundated with several legal cases and often drafted my own statements after consulting with my lawyers. My first lawyer suggested I should try law, noting that I was good at it. I received the same encouragement from my second lawyer, which is when I finally decided to pursue it,” she said.

Initially, Sandra planned to pursue a long-distance course and had even registered at another college in Bengaluru. However, a last-minute call from a member of the Christ Law Academy management changed everything.“That was a last-minute decision as I could not imagine staying away from my little girls. But I guess, I will pull through,” she said.

Sandra says her family has been incredibly supportive, and her daughters understand the reasons behind her decision. “I have currently rented and one BHK apartment in Bengaluru and I plan to travel between Kerala and Bengaluru. But I will definitely miss my family,” she said.

Classes run from 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., after which Sandra has her afternoons free. “There are very few Malayalis in my class, and most of the students are half my age. Two girls from Kerala texted me when they found out I was going to be their classmate. It’s a fresh and exciting start,” she said, laughing, and added that she hopes her candid nature won’t cause any friction with her professors.

This new journey, she says, has broadened her perspective and reinvigorated her passion for learning. “I had reached a phase in my career where I felt I had done a lot. But this experience has shown me that there’s still so much more to explore and achieve.”

Reflecting on her recent electoral loss, Sandra views it as a valuable learning experience. “In hindsight, I’m grateful for it. That setback pushed me to step into an entirely new territory.” Meanwhile, Sandra hasn’t stepped away from her primary passion. She currently has two new film projects in the pipeline, proving that this producer-turned-law-student is far from done making her mark.