‘We knew our careers could end’: Parvathy Thiruvothu on forming WCC, facing ‘empty threats’

Parvathy Thiruvothu, one of the founding members of the Women in Cinema Collective (WCC), has revealed that the organisation's creation was fraught with risks. In the wake of the Kerala actor abduction and assault case in November 2017, she and her fellow women working in the Malayalam film industry formed WCC, despite knowing that it could potentially cost them their careers.

Parvathy told Manorama News that even though she initially believed powerful groups in the industry were indispensable, she later realized that Malayalam cinema could function without them. She expressed her gratitude towards those who attempted to intimidate her, stating that their empty threats never materialized and now she is no longer scared.

The WCC's formation, however, was not a decision made lightly. Parvathy recalled that they knew they might lose their jobs and that many such things could happen when they decided to move forward on this path. She also pointed out that women in the industry are often pushed aside if one of their films does not do well, unlike male counterparts who continue to receive opportunities even after repeated failures.