Ranjith's 'misogynistic' legacy: From creating ‘problematic’ male characters in movies to accusations of real-life villainy 

It's quite a coincidence that Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy chose to rephrase the iconic ‘Po Mone Dinesha’ dialogue during a political rally in Kerala the very same day that Ranjith, the screenwriter who penned that memorable line, was arrested on charges of alleged sexual assault of an actress. 

Ranjith, once a celebrated filmmaker known for his string of hits and his creation of strong, alpha male characters in Malayalam cinema, had over the years evolved into a controversial figure. His cinematic portrayals were quite often accused of leaning into themes of misogyny, which mirrored the problematic masculinity present in many of his characters — be it the brash Mangalassery Neelakandan from ‘Devaasuram’ or the daring Induchoodan from ‘Narasimham.’ These characters, celebrated by audiences for their power and dominance, reinforced a narrative that glorified the male gaze and entrenched sexism. 

His women characters, though seemingly progressive in films like ‘Spirit’ and ‘Nandanam’, functioned within the patriarchal and elitist framework set by society. Ranjith's controversies escalated further after he assumed the position of Chairman of the Kerala Chalachithra Academy in 2022. His attitude in his interactions with certain filmmakers was allegedly feudal. A notable incident occurred at the regional film festival in Kozhikode, where he dismissed protests by filmmaker Kunjila as ‘child's mischief’ after she raised concerns over her film ‘Asangadithar’ being excluded from the festival. Kunjila had reportedly expressed her grievances directly to Ranjith, but he dismissed her protest at the venue. One of the most pointed instances came when he questioned the significance of Dr. Biju, an award-winning director who has garnered international acclaim, in an interview with a leading news portal. His remarks were seen as dismissive and elitist, drawing strong reactions from the film community and beyond. So much so, that a group of nine members from the Kerala Chalachithra Academy wrote to the state government, urging his removal from his post. These criticisms, coupled with his recent legal troubles, have only added fuel to the fire, casting a long shadow over his legacy in both the film industry and the political landscape. 

Then came the allegations of sexual assault, not once but twice. The first accusation surfaced when Bengali actress Sreelekha Mitra accused him of sexual assault before the Hema Committee. She recounted the harassment she allegedly faced when he invited her to his flat under the pretext of discussing a role in his film ‘Paleri Manikyam: Oru Pathirakolapakathinte Kadha.’ Though the allegation resulted in Ranjith's resignation from his post as the Chairman of the Kerala Chalachithra Academy, the case, which was filed before the High Court, was later quashed on technical grounds. The court ruled that the complaint was made after 15 years, thus falling outside the statute of limitations. However, the scandal didn’t end there. Soon after, a male actor came forward, accusing Ranjith of unnatural sex after being invited to the director's hotel room. This case was dismissed by the Karnataka High Court, citing inconsistencies in the complainant’s statements. 

Filmmaker Joshy Joseph, who had been a strong ally of Sreelekha Mitra, alleged that Ranjith was a repeat offender. According to him, the director had "used" his influential connections to "escape" the consequences of his actions. Joshy told Onmanorama that Ranjith's confidence in his powerful backing allowed him to "manipulate" situations to his advantage. Joshy also questioned Ranjith's claim of conspiracies, saying, “How much can you constantly conspire against a person? He has always claimed there was a conspiracy against him.” 

While the frequent allegations against Ranjith have shocked the general public, those working within the industry are not surprised. A source close to the industry, who wished to remain anonymous, said, "Even his close friends thought he would have changed, especially after undergoing a major lifestyle shift following his liver transplant." 

Directors such as Dr Biju and Alleppey Ashraf also publicly condemned Ranjith's behaviour, attributing his downfall to "arrogant attitude" and "problematic approach" towards women. They believe that his "sense of entitlement" and "sense of superiority", both on and off the screen, contributed significantly to his downfall. While these incidents have occurred repeatedly, what is still troubling is how a larger section of Mollywood filmmakers and actors continue to maintain stoic silence in the issue.