On February 17, 2017, a Malayalam actress was abducted and sexually assaulted inside a moving vehicle near Angamaly by a gang that also filmed the crime, shocking Kerala. Actor Dileep was accused of masterminding the attack.
Avalkoppam (With her)!
Avalkoppam Candlelight: On February 17 every year, the Malayalam film industry is reminded of a day that should never have happened. A day when a woman was attacked, humiliated, violated inside a moving vehicle. A day when men decided they could break a woman’s body and spirit and walk away. But they were wrong. She spoke up. And that single act of courage shook an entire system that had long protected powerful men.
Nine years later, women are still standing, still speaking, and still refusing to be silent.
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The Women in Cinema Collective (WCC) has announced a candlelight vigil to honour the survivor and thank those who stood by her through the long, exhausting battle for justice.
The gathering will take place on February 17 at 6 pm across three cities: Kozhikode at Mananchira Open Stage, Kochi at Abdul Kalam Marg on Marine Drive, and Thiruvananthapuram at Manaveeyam Veethi.
In their emotional social media note, the collective said February 17, 2017 left the “sharpest scar,” but it was also the day the survivor chose courage over silence. That decision sparked the #Avalkoppam movement, “With Her”, which encouraged victims to become survivors and slowly pushed social change in Kerala.
The horrifying incident took place near Athani in Angamaly on February 17, 2017. A gang intercepted the vehicle in which the actress was travelling.
They forced their way in, assaulted her inside the moving car, and filmed the crime.
After the attack, the survivor ran to the residence of director-actor Lal for safety. Soon after, local MLA PT Thomas reached there and spoke to her. She later filed an official police complaint, setting the law into motion despite enormous pressure and public scrutiny that women alone are forced to endure.
On February 18, 2017, police arrested Martin Antony, the driver of the vehicle. His statement exposed the gang behind the attack allegedly led by Sunil Kumar also known as Pulsar Suni, a man linked to the film industry.
Investigators also recovered the vehicles used by the accused. Piece by piece, the story unfolded not because the system was quick, but because the survivor refused to stay quiet.
The case dragged on for years, a familiar pattern when powerful men are involved. Justice is always slow when the victim is a woman and the accused are men with connections.
After eight years of legal struggle, the trial court finally convicted six men. The first accused Pulsar Suni, second accused Martin Antony, third accused Manikandan, fourth accused VP Vijeesh, fifth accused H Salim, and sixth accused Pradeep were found guilty.
Each was sentenced to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment along with a fine.
But the verdict also included acquittals. Four accused were cleared including actor Dileep who was declared not guilty by the court.
The assault did not just expose criminals; it exposed an industry’s deep discomfort with holding men accountable.
In May 2017, women actors came together to form the Women in Cinema Collective. Their aim was simple but revolutionary; safe workplaces, equal respect, and zero tolerance for abuse.
In September that year, they launched the Avalkkoppam campaign to stand firmly with the survivor, especially when several influential figures publicly supported Dileep instead of the woman who suffered.
That moment showed exactly why such a collective was necessary. Too many powerful men rushed to protect a male star, not a violated woman. They tried to silence one woman in 2017. But nine years later, her courage still burns brighter than the power that once tried to crush it.
Avalkoppam!
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