Malayalam Producer Sandra Thomas Acknowledges Drug Usage In Mollywood; Reacts To the Ban On Shane Nigam And Sreenath Bhasi

The biggest news in the Malayalam film industry right now is drugs. Following Tini Tom, producer Sandra Thomas acknowledged the reportedly widespread drug use in Mollywood. The producer, who is well-known for supporting Malayalam films like Aadu, Philips and the monkey pen, and others, claimed that many other producers were also suffering as a result of actor drug use.

Sandra Thomas acknowledged drug use in the Kerala film business and urged strict action. According to reports in Cinema Express, she said, "It’s true that drug usage is rampant in Malayalam cinema. It’s high time we controlled it because there are plenty of issues associated with it. People who take these drugs don’t sleep at night, so they’re always late for the shoot. We also don’t know when they’re sober. They’ll nod at all our instructions, but they won’t be listening. They keep forgetting the time and dates. At the end of the day, it’s the producer who suffers." The Film Employees Federation of Kerala (FEFKA) and the Kerala Film Producers Association banned Shane Nigam and Sreenath Bhasi last month for a variety of reasons, including being uncooperative, indisciplined, using drugs, and more. In response to the issue, Sandra Thomas has now discussed if she will ever collaborate with them. Speaking of Shane Nigam and the RDX controversy, she stated, "It’s a nightmare to handle uncooperative actors. While hiring actors, we send them the script first. They agree to be part of the project after reading the script, right? So there’s no question of ordering any alterations during a shoot. But in Shane Nigam’s case, I don’t know what’s wrong with his request to check the edited footage. It becomes a problem only when he tries to be involved in the process and demands modifications according to his wish". She added, "As far as I know, the film bodies have reached a consensus with the exhibitors ensuring that films with Shane Nigam or Sreenath Bhasi don’t get released in theatres. These are influential people who can also block the digital and satellite rights. As a producer, how can I invest in a film with them despite knowing that I won’t be able to recover it? Cinema is ultimately a business. I can’t put myself in trouble for the sake of helping others."