Latest news with #SandraThomas
Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Sandra Thomas wears burqa in protest against sex offenders in positions of power at Kerala Film Producers Association
Actor-producer Sandra Thomas shocked everyone when she turned up in a burqa to file her nomination at the Kerala Film Producers Association (KFPA) for the upcoming elections. After filing her nomination, she told the press why she wore it in protest against sexual offenders sitting in positions of power. Sandra Thomas told the press that her wearing a burqa was a form of protest against the abusers in Producers Association. Sandra Thomas wears burqa to protest against sex offenders In videos Sandra re-shared on her Instagram, she can be seen dressed in a black burqa, with only her face left visible, as she filed a nomination at the KFPA. Manorama Online reported that she said, 'In light of my previous experience, I feel a veil is appropriate attire to wear in the presence of the current office bearers. This is also my protest against the four accused, who have been accused of a serious crime, still being administrators here. Moreover, they are also contesting in the upcoming elections as president and secretary.' Sandra also reportedly told the press that the KFPA is 'not a safe place for women', adding, 'This is an organisation that has been monopolised by ten to fifteen people for decades now. Changes must be made. No matter what place it is, it will stagnate if only a few people control it. The Producers Association is below all organisations in Malayalam cinema today because the current rulers have brought it to that state. The industry will only change when changes are made here.' About Sandra Thomas This is not the first time that Sandra has spoken up against sexual abuse and exploitation in the Malayalam film industry. She recently also claimed that producers set aside budgets in Mollywood to procure drugs for stars. In November 2024, Sandra was expelled from the producers' body on charges of breaching organisational discipline and norms. She had questioned the silence of film organisations, including KFPA, on the startling revelations made in the Hema Committee Report. In December 2024, the Ernakulam Sub Court stayed the order to expel her. Sandra has now filed a nomination to run for the Presidency of KFPA.
Indian Express
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
In purdah, Kerala film producer protests ‘male domination'
Sandra Thomas, one of the few women producers in the Malayalam film industry, filed nomination to contest for the post of president of Kerala Film Producers' Association (KFPA) on Saturday, intensifying her battle with the leaders of the association. She arrived at the KFPA office in Kochi wearing a black purdah to file her nomination to contests in the upcoming executive committee elections scheduled for August 14. Speaking to The Indian Express, Thomas said her gesture was a mark of protest against the 'male-dominated' association and purdah was the 'most appropriate attire to wear' based on her past experiences with people leading the producers' body. 'The producers' association has been run by a coterie of 10-15 men for the last several years. There is no representation for women. They don't even invite women to give a flower to someone on a dais during a function,' said Thomas, 38, who owns Sandra Thomas Productions. She has previously filed a police complaint against four office-bearers of KFPA — president Anto Joseph, secretary B Rakesh, executive committee members Anil Thomas and Ouseppachan Valakkuzhi. In her complaint, she alleged that they used derogatory language during a meeting on film distribution. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the case filed the chargesheet before a court in Kochi in April. The KFPA office-bearers were booked under IPC Sections 354A (sexual harassment), 509 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman), 506 (criminal intimidation) and 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of a common intention). 'Those named in the case are set to contest the elections even as the trial is yet to begin. Ideally, they should stay away from the elections,' said Thomas, whose run-ins with the KFPA began after she wrote a letter to the executive committee questioning the office-bearers for their silence over the findings of the Hema Committee report on the issues faced by women in the Malayalam film industry. 'I was sent a show-cause notice for my remarks, and I sent my explanation twice. Citing the explanation unsatisfactory, they expelled me from the producers' association in November 2024,' said Sandra. She, however, got a reprieve from a court in Kochi as it stayed the KFPA decision to revoke her primary membership in December 2024. 'They also harassed me by sending a fake story about me to all producers in the annual report of the body,' said Thomas, who promised that she would break the monopoly and bring in positive changes if she got a chance to helm the body. 'The producers' association had over 600 members in 2016. Now, it has come down to 316 members with voting rights. It is being run on the whims and fancies of a select few who expel anyone expressing dissent over their actions. They are not giving membership to new people. The bye-law says that even if you have produced only one film, you are eligible for membership,' she said. Thomas also alleged that the KFPA is not making efforts to help struggling producers and is denying pensions to them while giving them to wealthy producers. Meanwhile, KFPA vice president Suresh Kumar dismissed the allegations as baseless. 'This is all part of a publicity stunt. Has any other woman producer raised the issue of discrimination? As for the criminal case against our office-bearers, there is no law barring people accused in cases from contesting in elections of an association. In our country, even public representatives have cases against them,' said Kumar. He also said it is wrong to say that the KFPA has not done anything for its members, 'The producers association built a modern building in Kochi with assets worth over Rs 15 crore. It has the facility to make the master copy ready for digital distribution, such as UFO and Qube. It helps producers save the immense cost associated with content mastering,' said Kumar. Thomas co-founded the production company, Friday Film House, with actor-producer Vijay Babu, and they produced movies such as Amen, Philips and the Monkey Pen and Aadu. Thomas and Babu parted ways in 2017. She is married to businessman Wilson John Thomas, and the couple has twin daughters.
India Today
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- India Today
Malayalam producer files nomination in burqa after legal battle with film chamber
Malayalam film producer Sandra Thomas arrived at the Kerala Film Producers' Association office in Kochi on Saturday, July 26, dressed in a burqa, to file her nomination for the executive committee elections scheduled for August is running for the post of president amid her long-standing rift with the association's current leadership. Sandra explained that she chose to wear a burqa for safety while entering a space long dominated by men. She added that she will contest as part of a panel comprising women and producers determined to bring about positive change within the association.'I felt this is the apt cloth to wear here, after all the experiences I've had. This place has been a monopoly for years, of 10 to 15 men,' she told the media after filing the her feud with the Kerala Film Producers Association (KFPA), the producer's move has reignited conversations around gender, power, and transparency in Malayalam cinema. Her rift with the association deepened after she wrote to the executive committee, criticising the office-bearers for staying silent on the Hema Committee report, which highlighted issues faced by women in the Malayalam film industry. She also accused the current leadership of association sought an explanation from Thomas regarding her remarks, but after finding her response unsatisfactory, they issued a show-cause notice that ultimately led to her removal. In her complaints, Thomas accused senior officials of using derogatory language during a meeting on film distribution, prompting a police case to be along with fellow producer Sheela Kurian, had previously called for a change in the KFPA leadership, accusing the association of being run according to the interests of a select few.- EndsMust Watch
The Hindu
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Sandra Thomas ups the ante by filing nomination for president of Kerala Film Producers' Association
Malayalam film producer Sandra Thomas arrived at the office of the Kerala Film Producers' Association in Kochi on Saturday (July 26, 2025) wearing a purdah to submit her nomination paper for the election to the executive committee of the producers' body scheduled on August 14. She is contesting for the post of president amidst her protracted rift with the current leadership of the association. She said that wearing a purdah was the safest option while visiting a space that has been dominated by men for long. She said that she will be part of a panel that will contest the election against the current leadership. It will include women and producers, who wanted to usher in a positive change, she said. The rift between her and the association had widened after she had written a letter to the executive committee blaming the office-bearers for their silence over the findings of the Hema Committee report on the issues faced by women in the Malayalam film industry. She had also raised allegations of misconduct against the current office-bearers. The executive committee had expelled her from the primary membership of the association in November 2024 on charges of having breached the disciplinary norms. In December 2024, the Ernakulam Sub Court stayed the decision by the KFPA to suspend producer her from its primary membership.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Sandra Thomas slams male monopoly in producers' body; vows to lead with reform
Producer Sandra Thomas made a striking appearance at the Film Producers' Association office as she arrived draped in a full veil—an act she described as both personal and symbolic. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now 'Based on my past experiences, I felt this was the most appropriate attire to wear here today,' she told the media, as reported by Manorama News. By veiling herself, Sandra signaled her critique of what she describes as an unsafe and exclusionary space for women within the organization. Allegations against current leadership Sandra didn't mince words as she pointed directly at the existing leadership. 'Those with police charge sheets are the ones currently heading this association,' she said, alleging that the Producers' Association had become a male-dominated stronghold. Hridayapoorvam - Official Teaser 'It's no longer a safe space—not just for women producers, but for women in general,' she added. According to Sandra, the same group of 10 to 15 individuals have controlled the association for decades, creating a monopoly that she believes has stalled progress. 'Any space that gets monopolized by a few will eventually rot,' she said bluntly, arguing that the association is lagging behind other film organizations due to this entrenched control. 'I'm contesting to break the monopoly' Sandra declared her intention to contest in the upcoming election, with a mission to disrupt the status quo. 'I'm contesting to break the monopoly within the association. I will be submitting my nomination today,' she confirmed while speaking to the media. Her critique extended to the organization's operational failures as well, especially in financial transparency and accountability. 'The way it handled the film profit-and-loss accounting is a failure,' she said. 'Those who hide behind stars shouldn't be leading the organization.' If elected, Sandra promises a leadership that prioritizes inclusivity and real progress. 'If I become president, I will bring in meaningful, positive change,' Sandra Thomas concluded.
