KCA Reshuffle: After Ranjith Steps Down As Chairman Following Rape Charges, Prem Kumar Assumes Role

Amid the ongoing socking revelations in the wake of the Hema Committee Report, Kerala Chalachitra Academy appointed its new chairman following the resignation of #MeToo accused filmmaker Ranjith. Earlier, on August 25, the National Award-winning director stepped down as the chairman of the state-run Kerala Chalachitra Academy, amid a public outcry following accusations of sexual assault and misconduct by two actors against him. For immediate purposes, actor Prem Kumar has been appointed as KCA Chairman.

Actor Prem Kumar steps in as KCA Chairman

Actor Prem Kumar was the vice chairman of the Kerala Chalachitra Academy and has now taken the new role of the temporary chairman. Initially, the academy considered veteran director Shaji N Karun for the position. However, the Women in Cinema Collective (WCC) advocated for Beena Paul to be appointed as chairperson. To resolve the differing opinions, the government appointed Kumar as the temporary chairperson.

This is the first time someone without a directing background has led the film academy. Prem Kumar is now responsible for overseeing the distribution of state film awards, the cinema conclave, and the Kerala International Film Festival.

Prem Kumar became vice chairman of the Kerala State Chalachitra Academy in 2022. With a career spanning over 100 films and lead roles in 18 movies, his most recent appearance was in the film CID Ramachandran Retd SI, released earlier this year.

Sexual assault cases against Ranjith leads to his resignation from KCA position

Kerala police have recently registered two sexual assault cases against film director Ranjith. In Kozhikode, a young male actor accused Ranjith of forcing him to strip naked and sexually assaulting him in 2012. In a separate incident, Bengali actor Sreelekha Mitra lodged a complaint with the Kochi City Police, accusing Ranjith of misconduct during a film project discussion in 2009.

Meanwhile, Ranjith has moved the Kerala High Court seeking protection from arrest in the cases lodged against him.