Following a complaint lodged by Malayalam Singer Amrutha Suresh, Kadavanthra police in Ernakulam, Kerala arrested Malayalam actor Bala alias Balakumar.
As reported by Manorama, Bala’s arrest is because of long-term abuse allegations. The charges against him pertain to outraging the modesty of a woman, and some are juvenile justice matters.
The incident has again opened up a debate on harassment and domestic violence in the Malayalam film industry, drawing parallels with the current concerns of safety and treatment of women at work in the sector.
The actor’s driver has raised his voice against him for beating Amrutha on various occasions which he had witnessed in person. Those included instances in front of their 12-year-old daughter, Avantika.
As per reports he described the physical and mental abuses openly on Facebook: “Now, I don’t want to hide anything since their relationship is over. Bala had ill-treated her in a brutal manner & i was a witness to that. She had scars on her body for which she had been to treatment. I was witness to all these.”
This falling-out is all the more heart-rending considering the recent debate raging in the Malayalam film fraternity about the treatment meted out to women. Barely a few years ago, the very state was in turmoil following a high-profile harassment case involving stalwarts of the cinema.
Claims of rape, intimidation, and worse, had snowballed into protests and renewal calls in the various strata of the film fraternity. Bala’s arrest is a bitter reminder that such things are quite rampant, not only among high-profile actresses but among many of us in our personal lives, as well.
In the light of Bala’s arrest, a video emerged containing Avantika, who pointed out that her father was misbehaving with her and also with her mother. Emotional hassles have compounded things with Amrutha alleging that she was stopping him from seeing their daughter.
Bala made a video statement against his daughter’s accusations stating that if Avantika didn’t want to meet him, he wouldn’t interfere in her life again. That is just a public exchange adding to the complexity of their family situation and the impact it might have on this young girl.
Another complaint Amrutha has is that Bala has also made venomous posts on social media, which only added to the trauma that she and Avantika went through. Their daughter being a part of this battle has raised questions regarding the fallout of such fights on children.
Bala’s association with the Malayalam film fraternity adds more meaning to this case. It’s actually third generation acting stock, considering the fact that his grandfather owned Arunachala Studios while his father directed more than 350 films.
Bala has made his presence felt in the industry with a myriad of acting roles-ones that include the Malayalam film “Kalabham” in 2006; it is not long ago that he acted in an action comedy called “Bad Boyz,” earlier this year. As the case evolves, there is an immediate need to protect better people in the field of entertainment.
Such charges against Bala are more in the nature of a reflection of a systemic problem rather than a personal malady which has been dominant in the Malayalam film industry. The issue spells out a message of curbing harassment and abuse so that all are safe, and especially women and children.