Three makeup artists who are members of all the Kerala Makeup Artists and Hairslists (AKCMH) affiliated with the Kerala Film Federation (FEFKA) continued their hunger strike demanding, among other things, the expulsion of the secretary general of Fefka B. Unnikrishnan and the secretary of AKCMH, Pradeep Rangan, for the second day, in front of the Union office here on Thursday (January 30, 2025).
Women in collective cinema (WCC) and actors such as Kallingal and Parvathy Thiruvothu Drafts have supported the surprising artists of Makeup Rohini, Angel and Elizabeth.
Protestant artists alleged that those who deposited before the Hema committee and resisted harassment are being persecuted with disciplinary actions such as suspension. In contrast, no measures have been taken until now against an AKCMH member accused in a case registered under the law of protection of children against sexual crimes (Pocso).
However, Mr. Rangan said that a conciliatory meeting has been scheduled to discuss the demands raised by the members of the union they protest.
The protesters wondered where the “Action Plan called” in FEFKA has disappeared under Mr. Unnikrishnan following the Hema Committee’s report “disappeared.”
Ensure the “right to work independently”, government intervention in the labor sector of the film industry, “stop the denial of work” are among the key demands raised.
According to the reports, a makeup artist had written to the prime minister who detailed the “exploitation” faced by the artists. In the letter, the person supposed the loss of work for allegedly resisting sexual progress and that no measures on the incident with Fefka were taken.
The protest is produced following a case recorded by Ernakulam Central Police against Mr. Unnikrishnan for a complaint by producing actor Sandra Thomas earlier this month.
In his statement, WCC has accused the union of “supporting members who face accusations while denying Job to survivors.
“When the makeup artists reported on sexual harassment and discrimination in the workplace, AKCMH, instead of trying to solve the problems they had issued warnings to fire them, while a member had already been expelled. The government must immediately intervene in the matter. The unions, which distribute memberships only against considerable payments, should at least guarantee the safety of women, ”said the CMI statement.
Published – January 30, 2025 12:04 pm ist
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