Atika Chohan is a screenwriter and joint secretary and Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) member, Screen Writers Association (SWA). She has written ‘ Margarita with a Straw’, ‘ Waiting’ and has co-written Meghna Gulzar’s upcoming film on acid attacks with Deepika Padukone in the lead.
“As soon as the MeToo movement erupted in Bollywood, SWA promptly put together an ICC to handle cases for its employees and provide guidance to its members against workplace sexual harassment. Day one of being into existence and we had writer producer Vinta Nanda’s complaint against actor Alok Nath case in front of us. This was a challenge since as a trade union with the structure of civil jurisdiction body we enforce no legal control over Alok Nath since he is not our member, unlike CINTAA where he was a member and thus could face interrogation and eventually a membership expulsion. Be that as it may, we felt compelled to do our best for Vinta who is our member and to express solidarity I accompanied Vinta to the Oshiwara police station to file her FIR. We were apprehensive about the approach that Mumbai police may have on the whole process but we found them hugely competent and supportive. They were sensitive and neutral and Vinta and I were satisfied with the elaborate statement that took us two days to fully file and lock. Personally I think Vinta’s complaint has galvanized the MeToo movement in the industry since she is one of the very few women who have actually taken the complaint beyond the naming and shaming and pursued the matter legally. Her case does not only help her get legal closure and justice but also creates a precedence for bringing some sort of tangible consequence to blatant and everyday sexual harassment in the industry. As a woman who is an industry professional I personally have developed tremendous respect for Vinta after spending the two days with her in the police station. Imagine what this verdict will do for the all the cases to follow. I have full faith in the jurisdiction and I know that Vinta’s legal verdict will preface a new beginning for women who now refuse to tolerate or normalize power abuse and sexual misconduct in the work sphere.”
