'Treated me like a maid'; Famous costume designer against director Ratheesh Balakrishnan Poduval

Ratheesh Balakrishnan Poduval is a top-tier director who made the state award-winning movie ‘Nna Thaan Case Kodu’. Despite his promising calibre to take Mollywood to new heights, the director's condescending conduct was an open secret within the film world. Even in an interview, the director admitted to always shouting at his assistants and others as he termed it as his ‘job’. And now, on expected lines, costume designer Liji Preman. who worked with Ratheesh Balakrishnan Poduval, has approached the Ernakulam Munsiff Court with a complaint.

According to Liji’s complaint:

Despite working for 110 days in the movie directed by Ratheesh, Liji was denied proper remuneration. It was earlier agreed that Liji would work for 35 days for a salary of Rs 2.25 lakhs. However, the film set was a horrible place for the costume designer, who faced mistreatment, abuse and humiliation. The complaint says that the director would humiliate her in all public view. It was under this strenuous situation that she backed out from the project, but she made sure that all the work for the film was completed promptly. Despite this, the makers decided to not include her name on the credits nor give her proper compensation.

Lji then had to approach Fefka where a compromise was negotiated. According to Liji, the producer was open to settling things, which also included adding her name to the credits. But, it was at the insistence of the director that Liji was further ignored.

The costume designer is now heading for proper legal action.