Malayalam actress Bhavana opens up on her experiences and ordeals in her filmi career
Malayalam actress Bhavana opens up on her experiences and ordeals in her filmi career
News comes to light that Malayalam actress Bhavana times actor Bhavana took unwavering stands and made statements that rippled through Malayalam film industry
Bhavana turned 37 today,
June 6. The actress fearlessly swam against the prevailing tides of the mainstream Malayalam film industry five times.
In the domain of winsomeness, it’s very for actors to make a lasting impact on the audience with their first performance. However, Bhavana defied the odds and captured the hearts of Malayalis with her debut film Nammal directed by Kamal.
Her portrayal of the character Parimalam instantly struck a chord, propelling her into the limelight. The following year, she was flooded with six film offers, out of which four turned out to be resounding blockbusters viz: Jayaraj’s Thilakkam, Siddique’s Chronic Bachelor, Johny Antony’s CID Moosa and Kamal’s Swapnakoodu. From that point onward, Bhavana’s journey in the Malayalam film industry knew no bounds, with numerous opportunities pouring in from other industries as well.
But, in 2017, everything took a dramatic turn as February of that year, the actor was kidnapped and subjected to assault while she was on her way home from a film shoot. Malayalam superstar Dileep was accused of being the mastermind behind the heinous crime and was subsequently arrested in July and he was later granted bail in October.
She got support but ultimately it’s her battle and she felt lonely. But, it was not the horrific assault she endured that shattered her, but rather the responses of her peers, which clearly showcased their self-interest or biased sympathies towards the accused.
Regardless of being deeply affected, Bhavana did not succumb. Instead, she fought back fiercely, showcasing remarkable strength. Therefore, the name Bhavana now not only signifies a tremendously gifted actor but also embodies the courage to persist in the pursuit of justice.
Right from the beginning, Bhavana made it a point to be unapologetic on everything. Even when there was a prevalent culture of victim-blaming, she never uttered anything that suggested she was to blame, though the actor later revealed that a blame game went on within her for a very long time. She, however, fully embraced her identity as a survivor in public and never allowed herself to be labelled as a victim by anyone. About a month following the abduction and assault, Bhavana gave an extensive interview to Malayalam magazine Vanitha. During the chat, she strongly spoke out against the injustice she had experienced, showcasing her unwavering determination to fight for justice.
Ultimately, Bhavana broke her silence, and underlined the need for institutions to support. victims of sexual violence
She said, she was engaged in a battle, and will persist until she achieves victory. This battle is not only hers, but it represents all girls in Kerala. She has only one thing to tell all girls, if ever you find yourself in a similar situation, do not let it drain your spirit. And even in those circumstances, do not panic and be extra vigilant.
She further recounted the entire incident that took place on that fateful day, acknowledging, she has enemies within the film industry and it was an experience that exceeded her wildest nightmares.
Bhavana further added that there are many people who supported her when this unfortunate incident happened in her life. They prayed for her and openly told her to bring out the truth behind this incident.
Following the incident in 2017, the actor chose to remain silent for an extended period. During this time, significant developments took place in the case, including the arrest of actor Dileep, who was suspected to be the mastermind behind the crime. Bhavana also refrained from addressing the issue publicly, respecting the sub-judice nature of the case. Additionally, others conscientiously adhered to legal guidelines and refrained from mentioning her name in reports.
However, five years later, the actor finally decided to break her silence and expressed her gratitude to everyone through a heartfelt message on social media. She thanked all those who supported her in her quest for justice, acknowledging their unwavering presence during her difficult journey.
She shared a note on social media on January 10, 2022 that
It has not been an easy journey. The journey from being a victim to becoming a survivor. For 5 years now, her name and her identity have been suppressed under the weight of the assault inflicted on her. Though she isn’t the one who has committed the crime, there have been many attempts to humiliate, silence and isolate me. But at such times she has had some who stepped forward to keep her voice alive. Now when she hears so many voices speak up for her, she knew that she is not alone in this fight for justice. shared on social media on January 10, 2022.
To see justice prevail, to get wrongdoers punished and to ensure no one else goes through such an ordeal again, she shall continue this journey. For all those who are standing with me, a heartfelt thank you for your love.
The International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK) has always held a special place in the hearts of movie enthusiasts, but the 26th edition of the event became a momentous occasion due to the profound socio-political statement made by the government by inviting Bhavana for the inaugural ceremony. On March 18, 2022, the 26th IFFK commenced with the graceful presence of Bhavana, adding a touch of elegance and significance to the proceedings.
As Bhavana entered the Nishagandhi Auditorium in Thiruvananthapuram, she was greeted by a crowd of passionate spectators who had gathered there, erupting into enthusiastic cheers and honouring her with a standing ovation. The inaugural ceremony was also graced by the presence of Kurdish woman filmmaker Lisa Calan who survived an ISIS bomb attack.
Expressing gratitude to the organisers for extending the invitation to her, Bhavana delivered a brief yet impactful speech:
She extended her warm greetings to all those who script good films, enjoy watching good films and also to all women like Lisa who are continuing their fights defying all odds.
In one of the most remarkable and influential interviews of recent times, Bhavana opened up with renowned journalist Barkha Dutt on the latter’s digital platform Mojo Story during the ‘We the Women’ programme. She openly discussed her experiences, addressing topics that are often overlooked.
When Barkha asked her on the source of her courage, Bhavana expressed, that it makes her very angry and very sad (that perpetrators of sexual assault get rehabilitated)… It’s not every day that she feels empowered and ready to fight. So many days, she wanted to give up.
She added that We need to normalise the idea of the person who has gone through a trauma coming out in public and voicing it out. We must normalise that as a society, normalise that courage.
Though Bhavana had, in the beginning, stated that the conversation won’t be a ‘tell-all’ as the trial was underway, she fearlessly tore into those who were constantly involved in victim-blaming and stated that some even said that she should not have travelled that late in the night. “There was also propaganda that she staged it, and that the case is fake. She was devastated… While she was trying to pick up the pieces, trying to stand up and face life again, these kinds of things were pulling her down… It was hurting and painful for her.
Pointing out that it was really overwhelming to see the kind of support and love she received from her family, friends and audience, Bhavana had to go to the court for 15 days, sitting in the court from morning to evening. She was trying to prove that she didn’t do anything wrong and that she was innocent.
She ended the conversation with yet another powerful statement. She would rather give a strong fight without worrying about the outcome.
Among all the stands Bhavana took and the impactful statements she made, one, in particular, stands out because it probably caught the accused off guard. They likely didn’t anticipate her speaking up, filing a police complaint, and continuing to fight the legal battle even after six years had passed.
Despite being fully aware of the potential consequences and the likelihood of facing victim-blaming, Bhavana fearlessly chose to pursue the legal battle by filing a police complaint on the very day the heinous crime occurred, which was February 17, 2017.
While three of the seven accused individuals were apprehended within two days, the main accused, Sunil Kumar, also known as Pulsar Suni, was arrested on February 23. Three months later, a letter supposedly written by Pulsar Suni to actor Dileep surfaced. This prompted Dileep to claim that he had received a phone call from someone alleging to be Suni’s prison mate, demanding a sum of 1.5 crore rupees to keep Dileep’s name out of the case. Dileep went further and made disparaging remarks against Bhavana, accusing her of having been friends with her primary assailant.
News Edit K.V.Raman
