Eight years ago, in February 2017, the Malayalam film industry was shaken when news emerged that a well-known actor had been abducted and sexually assaulted by a group of men in a moving vehicle while travelling on one of the busiest roads in the state. The incident was not only horrifying in itself but also deeply unsettling for an industry known for its camaraderie among actors.

Soon, the case snowballed into a turning point that would redefine the industry’s power hierarchies. Dileep, one of Malayalam cinema’s most influential stars — who had initially expressed solidarity with the survivor — was arrested and charged with orchestrating the assault. The allegations that he had conspired to carry out the crime sent shockwaves through the film fraternity and the wider public, igniting u

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