Directors' body suspends Kol filmmaker after 'kiss' allegation

KOLKATA: Actor-turned-filmmaker Arindam Sil was on Saturday suspended by the Directors Association of Eastern India (DAEI) for an indefinite period after sexual harassment allegations surfaced against him on the sets of a film he is directing. The suspension comes into force with immediate effect. Sil is the first big casualty in Tollywood after sexual abuse claims rocked film industries in other states.

A letter mailed to Sil by DAEI president Subrata Sen and secretary Sudeshna Roy said, "Due to certain allegations made against you, and prima facie evidences we have with us, which are of deep concern and is maligning to the entire organisation, DAEI has decided to suspend you from membership for indefinite period or till the allegations against you are cleared."

Sen told TOI that after Sil sent an apology letter to West Bengal Commission for Women (WBCW), there was no option but to issue the sus-pension letter to him.

Reacting to DAEI's action against him, Arindam Sil told TOI: "I got this mail from DAEI in the evening while I was attending a Ganpati Puja. Nobody from DAEI contacted me and asked for any clarity from my end. The mail said their action is based on 'prima facie evidence'. However, they didn't clarify what the evidence are. I gather my letter to (WBCW) sent on Friday was this evidence."

Sil claimed he was explaining a shot to his actors on the sets of the film in the presence of a male actor, the DOP, a still photographer, his assistant director and other technicians. "The allegation was that I kissed the actress on her cheek. Actually, while showing the shot, my face and her cheek had accidentally brushed. I kept telling the (WBCW) that my accidental act was unintentional and I am extremely clinical while showing my shots to the actors. But I was told by chairperson Leena Gangopadhyay that I should remove the word 'unintentional' from my letter to the commission since the actor had felt bad. Unfortunately, my conversation (with WBCW) was not recorded. But I have my costume assistant, my still photographer and executive producer as witness. I agreed but never imagined that DAEI would use the letter against me. I will now take legal advice," Sil said.