FEFKA union revokes membership of makeup artiste who spoke to Hema Committee
In another incident of targeted harassment of survivors in sexual harassment cases, a Kerala makeup artists' union cancelled the membership of a makeup artist, who had given statements to the Hema Committee and the Special Investigation Team probing allegations of abuse in the Malayalam film industry. Makeup artist Sivappriya Maneeshya was removed from the All Kerala Cine Make-Up Artists and Hair Stylists Union, which operates under the Film Employees Federation of Kerala (FEFKA). The reason cited for the removal was a dispute in an unofficial WhatsApp group of makeup artists. Speaking to TNM, Sivappriya said she received an email announcing the cancellation of her membership from the union on January 10. Maneeshya said she would file a complaint to the state Labour Minister and also initiate legal action against FEFKA demanding compensation for wasting seven years of her career. “I was insulted in an unofficial WhatsApp group following my revelations. The action was allegedly taken based on my response. They want us to silently suffer these insults, which I can't. FEFKA is a wolf in sheep’s clothing,” she said.Sivappriya said that her membership was cancelled the day when FEFKA stood in solidarity with actor Honey Rose in a sexual harassment case filed against businessman Boby Chemmanur. “Honey definitely deserves support. So do the makeup artists in this industry. The union is protecting all the accused while targeting us,” she said.SIT registers two FIRsThe SIT had registered two FIRs based on the complaint of Sivappriya against makeup artists Saji Koratty and Ratheesh Ambady. Subsequently, Ratheesh was arrested on October 18. According to the complaint, the alleged incidents happened in 2018 and 2023. Saji was accused of seeking sexual favours, while Ratheesh allegedly sent indecent messages to her on WhatsApp. Following the release of the Hema Committee report, Sivappriya, along with other makeup artists, spoke to the media about the abuses they had faced in the industry for a long time. Following this, the FEFKA invited them for a meeting on September 1. The makeup artists later alleged that the FEFKA office bearers accused them of destroying the union and criticised them for talking to the media. In the meeting, dubbing artist Bhagyalekshmi allegedly insulted them by stating that makeup artists were 'malarnnu kidannu thuppunu' (lying on their backs and spitting), hinting that they were harming their own careers by speaking out. Though FEFKA had promised to take disciplinary action against the accused in the cases, nothing has been announced so far. Harassed on WhatsApp groupSivappriya said that she was targeted and insulted on the WhatsApp group ‘Team Makeup’, an unofficial group of makeup artists. “When insults became unbearable, I said that the union had turned into a brothel after Pradeep Rangan took charge as the secretary. The union later sent me a show-cause notice. I didn’t respond to it,” she said and added that she did not want to respond (to the show-cause notice) or apologise when she had been insulted. The union has also served show cause notices to other makeup artists. Sources said that some apologised to maintain their membership, while others explained their stand. Pradeep Rangan, secretary of the union, refused to comment on the developments. Sivappriya said she has been facing an ‘undeclared ban’ in Malayalam cinema ever since she complained about the abuse at FEFKA seven years ago. An industry veteran of 15 years, Sivappriya now works predominantly in Tamil and Telugu industries and occasionally in Malayalam with the team of her mentor Pattanam Rasheed.Women hair and makeup artists in Malayalam cinema pay the price for speaking out
IN another incident of targeted harassment of survivors in sexual harassment cases, a Kerala makeup artistes' union cancelled the membership of a makeup artiste who had given statements to the Hema Committee and the Special Investigation Team probing allegations of abuse in the Malayalam film industry.
Makeup artiste Sivappriya Maneeshya was removed from the All Kerala Cine Make-Up Artistes and Hair Stylists Union which operates under the Film Employees Federation of Kerala (FEFKA). The reason for the removal was a dispute in an unofficial WhatsApp group of makeup artistes.
Speaking to TNM, Sivappriya said she received an email announcing the cancellation of her membership from the union on January 10. Maneeshya said she would file a complaint to the state Labour Minister and also initiate legal action against FEFKA demanding compensation for wasting seven years of her career.
“I was insulted in an unofficial WhatsApp group following my revelations. The action was allegedly taken based on my response. They want us to silently suffer these insults, which I can't. FEFKA is a wolf in sheep’s clothing,” she said.
Sivappriya said that her membership was cancelled the day when FEFKA stood in solidarity with actor Honey Rose in a sexual harassment case filed against businessman Boby Chemmanur. “Honey definitely deserves support. So do the makeup artists in this industry. The union is protecting all the accused while targeting us,” she said.
SIT registers two FIRs
The SIT had registered two FIRs based on the complaint of Sivappriya against makeup artistes Saji Koratty and Ratheesh Ambady. Subsequently, Ratheesh was arrested on October 18. According to the complaint, the alleged incidents happened in 2018 and 2023. Saji was accused of seeking sexual favours, while Ratheesh allegedly sent indecent messages to her on WhatsApp.
Following the release of the Hema Committee report, Sivappriya, along with other makeup artistes, spoke to the media about the abuses they had faced in the industry for a long time. Following this, the FEFKA invited them for a meeting on September 1.
The makeup artistes later alleged that the FEFKA office bearers accused them of destroying the union and criticised them for talking to the media. In the meeting, dubbing artiste Bhagyalekshmi allegedly insulted them by stating that makeup artistes were 'malarnnu kidannu thuppunu' (lying on their backs and spitting), hinting that they were harming their own careers by speaking out.
Though FEFKA had promised to take disciplinary action against the accused in the cases, nothing has been announced so far.
Harassed on WhatsApp group
Sivappriya said that she was targeted and insulted on the WhatsApp group ‘Team Makeup’, an unofficial group of makeup artistes.
“When insults became unbearable, I said that the union had turned into a brothel after Pradeep Rangan took charge as the secretary. The union later sent me a show-cause notice. I didn’t respond to it,” she said and added that she did not want to respond (to the show-cause notice) or apologise when she had been insulted.
The union has also served show cause notices to other makeup artistes. Sources said that some apologised to maintain their membership, while others explained their stand.
Pradeep Rangan, secretary of the union, refused to comment on the developments.
Sivappriya said she has been facing an ‘undeclared ban’ in Malayalam cinema ever since she complained about the abuse at FEFKA seven years ago.
An industry veteran of 15 years, Sivappriya now works predominantly in Tamil and Telugu industries and occasionally in Malayalam with the team of her mentor Pattanam Rasheed.
