[Justice Hema Committee Report] Director Vinayan Moves Kerala HC Challenging Inclusion Of B Unnikrishnan As Member In Draft Policy Committee

The draft policy committee constituted in 2023 was entrusted with the creation of a draft policy for the film industry. The committee is headed by Director and Cinematographer, Shaji N Karun, Actor and MLA Mukesh (later removed from the committee), Actors Manju Warrier, Padmapriya, Rajeev Ravi, Nikhila Vimal, Santhosh Kuruvila, Ajoy and Unnikrishnan.

It was submitted that even though the committee was constituted as early as 2023, they were not active until the publication of the Justice Hema Committee Report.

Director Vinayan submitted that he was unaware of the constitution of such a committee. He submitted that he was shocked to find that Unnikrishnan was a member of the draft policy committee constituted by the Government.

Director Vinayan alleged that Unnikrishnan is a kingpin in the power group of cinema and he was exploiting the cinema industry as the Secretary of FEFKA. It is alleged that the inclusion of B Unnikrishnan in the draft policy committee would only perpetuate illegalities, atrocities, unconscionable bargains, male domination, crimes in Cinema, unequal treatment and exploitation of women.

It was alleged that Unnikrishnan would not promote people who are talented and passionate about cinema and would only use his power and influence for other selfish purposes.

Director Vinayan further alleged that Unnikrishnan was involved in banning him from the Malayalam cinema industry which has been mentioned in the Justice Hema Committee Report also. The plea stated that Director Vinayan had approached the Competition Commission of India and the High Court challenging the ban imposed upon him by the power groups in Malayalam cinema. It was stated that the Competition Commission of India imposed a penalty upon Unnikrishnan and other officer-bearers of FEFKA.

“It is ironical that a person who has specifically contributed for the deplorable condition of the Kerala Cinema Industry, as revealed by the report of Justice Hema Committee, by his illegal, improper and arbitrary conduct, exposed his character and mode of exploitation tactics played by him to silence his opponents in the industry and to see that they are ostracized from the industry, is not fit to sit in a committee which is supposed to be constituted to undo the mischief and to preserve the Cinema industry from the attack of these type of persons with their selfish desire, to dominate the industry and thereby deny the really talented persons in every field touching the film industry their job in the film industry.” alleged the plea.

The plea is thus filed to quash the government order to the extent to which it includes Unnikrishnan as a committee member of the draft policy committee.

The plea has been moved by Advocates K R Prathish, P K Sreevalsakrishnan, S Unnikrishnan (Nellad), Akhil Babu, Krishna Das

Case Title: TG Vinay Kumar @ Vinayan v State of Kerala