Producer Sandra Thomas claims portion of Malayalam film budgets being earmarked for drugs: ‘Even separate rooms are allotted'
The purported rampant inflow of drugs into the Malayalam film industry has been a hot topic for quite some time now. While these were initially just speculations — mostly hearsay — things took a serious turn recently when actor Vincy Aloshious filed a complaint with the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA) against her Soothravakyam co-star Shine Tom Chacko, alleging that he harassed her while under the influence of drugs. Although she chose not to pursue legal action against him, the incident brought renewed attention to the growing issue of drug abuse in the industry.
In 2023, when allegations of substance abuse among industry insiders spilt into the public realm, producer-actor Sandra Thomas was one of the prominent voices affirming that there was 'rampant drug usage' in Malayalam cinema. Fast forward two years, and according to her, not much has changed. In fact, the situation may have only worsened, with the environment becoming even more conducive to such behaviour.
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She also recently tore into the associations concerned for their inefficiency in monitoring the issue and for failing to implement measures to curb such harmful practices at their root. 'The associations concerned should have taken a proper stand against drug use in Mollywood at least five or ten years ago. Everyone is aware of what is happening on the sets. But no one took a corrective step, as they need these people in their future projects,' she said during a chat with Onmanorama.
Sandra went one step forward and even alleged that the makers were now earmarking money from the film's budget for procuring drugs. 'Now, a special budget is being allotted exclusively for this. Even separate rooms are allotted for this purpose. However, the associations say the entire industry cannot be blamed just because of one or two people. I heard Listin (producer Listin Stephen of Magic Frames) give such a statement a few days ago. So, aren't people like Listin aware of this problem? Don't they know that drugs are lavishly available and are used on the sets? They have refused to take a step against it. It has now reached a stage where both men and women and everyone, irrespective of their status, use it,' she said.
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Sandra continued, 'Producers are unwilling to raise a complaint because of fear it will stall their projects. If someone is caught on the sets, the shooting gets stalled. It also ruins the goodwill of the actor. What is the point in doing a movie with him if his goodwill is lost?'
Known for bankrolling movies such as Friday (2012), Zachariayude Garbhinikal (2013), Philips and the Monkey Pen (2013), Peruchazhi (2014), Aadu (2015) and Adi Kapyare Kootamani (2015) with actor-producer Vijay Babu under the banner of Friday Film House that the two founded jointly, Sandra Thomas departed from the firm in 2017. She later established Sandra Thomas Productions and made her comeback by bankrolling Nalla Nilavulla Rathri (2023).
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