Liju Krishna, the director of the film ‘Padavet’, has filed a complaint against actress and director Geethu Mohandas and the women’s organization WCC. Liju alleged that Geethu Mohandas is mentally stalking her in a press conference held ahead of the release of Patavett. Liju alleged that Geethu Mohandas had continuously campaigned against the movie Padavet and that despite cooperating with the investigation of the sexual assault case against him, he tried to erase his name from the movie by colluding with the WCC.
Liju Krishna said that when he heard the story of Padavet movie, Geethu asked for some changes, but when he did not accept this, they had an enmity and because of that, he hurt him. Liju Krishna said that they will investigate whether Geethu is behind the harassment complaint and will fully cooperate with the investigation.
“She and I attended a birthday party at a hotel in Kochi, where some filmmakers were also present. They meet by chance at that party. It was raining outside that day and we all sat in the room because it was raining. After some time they came and talked to me. He asked if he wanted to get wet in the rain. I said I like to get wet in the rain. They said they had something to talk to me about and could go to the Balkans. They talked to me for more than half an hour. As soon as we started talking, I realized that they were talking openly, because they were afraid that I would say this. I sat listening to what they were saying. They were drunk. They told me that you should not say this. I laughed and said, ‘I’ll put it out there. I will reveal the wrongs you have done to me.’
Then there was a tone of menace in their voice. A warning was given in such a way that someone like you would not be able to move forward. I had confidence that the film I was making would happen. I listened to everything they said with a smile. There were many people watching all this. But they didn’t hear what we were talking about. Because they were all inside the room. We talked in the rain.
Later, when the Covid wave changed, we went into shooting the film. At that time some unexpected things happened in my life as everyone knows. In the last days of shooting I was taken away from the location. I don’t want to talk about it now because that incident is under consideration of the law. Legal proceedings are in progress.
But then the following events happened. My production company was constantly getting emails. Legal notices are coming to all the organizations in the film. The demand was to remove my name from this film. There has even been a discussion that if my name is changed in this film, they will support the film. As my colleagues and the production team were aware of the issue, I did not have to take much trouble to convince them.
With this, news about this started coming in some media. None of the mainstream media reported this. But then I came to know that these media and those who give it are their very close people. It was very difficult for me, my family, the film and my friends. This conversation came to the point where he would not agree to release the film. The producer and other organizations may have given specific replies to these mails. There was a big fight to keep my name in my film I did. People who stood with me in that fight are sitting here. They kept saying that they would not agree to take this film forward. Lead actor Nivin Pauly and producer Sunny Wayne have taken a decision that no matter what happens, the film will not be released without my name. Their position was that no matter what happens in the name of it, there is nothing wrong with it. As a result, the film is now going to release.
We never know what will happen to us once we get out of here. They are very powerful and they will cut us off from everything and make us politicalless and marginalize us. These are the people who deal precisely with good, evil and social consciousness. But they have the power to corner us very nicely. I don’t know what will happen to me when I get out. But whatever happens, I’m not afraid. I have learned that a man reaches a state of fearlessness only when he is exploited.
The complaint was that I did not take the correction they told me in the story of the movie Patavette. Maybe people will tell you not to act in this movie. You didn’t hear that. When a point was reached they demanded that my name should not appear in my film. This is clear to us from the constant mails sent to manufacturers. An organization called WCC was constantly sending mails. We are people who respect the WCC. And we understand the need for it. But what I was trying to say is that some individuals stand above the organization by using the power of this organization.
Everything arises from ego? Ask the technicians about the problems they have caused and you will know. Because all these problems affected them too. Nivin comes to Padavette after Moothon and Tharumugam with that group. When Nivin sat with them, I understood from Nivin that they were interested in hearing the story, which was probably the reason why he talked about the story with excitement. I am telling them the story in 2019 because I feel it will positively support the film. But I didn’t want to tell them the story. When they asked for corrections in the story, I was adamant that I would decide what I wanted to do. They said that this film would not have happened if that was the case.
I am saying that let us find out whether Geethu Mohandas is behind the harassment complaint against me. I am fully cooperating with the investigation. I have not asked anyone for support in this matter. My team and I have decided to fight it legally. Making a big budget film with a mainstream superstar is a daunting task for a new director. It was when the film was released that there was a demand to release it without my name.
Letters have been sent to all organizations in Kerala and even to the All India Film Producers Association to change my name. Today, when my film was released and my name was shown on the silver screen, there is evidence that even today a complaint has been sent to change my name. Such action is very unfortunate for new people. Organizations are expected to take action against this. Neither Nivin Paul nor Sunny Wayne reacted to this as legal matters should be approached legally. They are the people who wanted to talk about this issue more than I did. I am sure that whenever you ask them, their response will be the same as what we have said.” – said Liju Krishna.