WCC seeks industry's support for Leena Manimekalai who faces travel curtails

The Women in Cinema Collective has come out in support of filmmaker Leena Manimekalai who has been facing several travel obstacles due to the petitions filed by director Susi Ganeshan.

In 2018 under the #MeToo movement, Leena had alleged that Susi Ganeshan had sexually harassed her in the past. In response, Susi Ganesan filed a defamation suit against Leena and petitioned to revoke her travel documents. On September 9, 2021, Leena's passport was seized, reported The News Minute.

As a result, Leena is unable to travel abroad, limiting her work opportunities and livelihood. She has been unable to attend screenings of her films at foreign universities. she was also unable to go to Canada to complete her MFA at York University, where she is enrolled on a full scholarship. On their official Facebook page, WCC made these arguments and pleaded with the film industry to support her.

WCC issued a statement saying that women who came forward during the #MeToo movement have put their lives and livelihoods at high risk to call their sexual perpetrators out.

The association urged members of the film industry to support Leena in the "highly trying times". "The #metoo movement has empowered many women but it's also very important for us to support those who have put everything at risk for their own healing and to help make the workplace safer for all of us," read the statement.