Thanks in part to the Hema Committee Report, the Malayalam cinema industry is going through a cathartic moment as female artists muster the bravery to tell their #MeToo stories. Many women now feel empowered to share their stories about working in a field marred by sexual misconduct because to this research. The Kerala Police have now filed their first case in response to these charges in light of the new findings. Ace actor Mohanlal, the president of the film body AMMA (Association of Malayalam Movie Actors), and every member of the executive committee resigned on August 27 as a result of pressure from female artists and civic society.
Earlier, on August 25, two prominent figures in the Malayalam film industry stepped down amid mounting allegations. Director and Kerala State Chalachitra Academy chairman Ranjith resigned following accusations of sexual misconduct by Bengali actor Sreelekha Mitra. Actor Siddique, general secretary of AMMA, also resigned after being accused of rape by Malayali actress Revathy Sampath.
Based on Mitra’s accusation, the police in Kochi filed a non-bailable case against Ranjith on August 26. A seven-person SIT team, comprising four female IPS officers, would handle the matter. The squad was formed on August 19 to look into the claims after the Hema Committee report was made public. The presence of female officers has prompted more female artists to voice their grievances on social media. Actor and CPM politician M. Mukesh is among the numerous well-known figures in the film business whose names are now coming to light. The accusations also target filmmakers Sreekumar Menon and Thulasidas; actors Jayasurya, Shine Tom Chacko, Edavela Babu, and Maniyanpillai Raju; and actor Baburaj, joint secretary of AMMA.
The Larger Issue
Kerala’s predicament is representative of a larger one that the global film industry is facing. The Hema Committee study is noteworthy because comparable accusations made against celebrities have frequently been disregarded by other sectors. Remember the 2018 #MeToo movement in India, wherein director Sajid Khan, actor Nana Patekar, and actor Alok Nath were accused of sexual misconduct? But eventually, a lot of cases were closed, and the problems were dismissed.
Despite being the first literate state in India, Kerala is not immune to widespread sexual exploitation in the film industry. The report, commissioned by the Kerala Chief Minister at the request of the Kerala-based Women in Cinema Collective (WCC), aimed to address sexual harassment and gender inequality in the industry. The WCC was formed in response to the reported assault, with investigations by the Kerala Police reportedly leading to Malayalam actor Dileep. The three-member Committee was led by former Kerala High Court judge K. Hema.
The Hema Committee report, submitted to the Kerala government in December 2019, was finally released with limited redactions on August 19, 2024. The report confirmed what many women artistes had long endured: accounts of severe sexual harassment, discrimination, and exploitation by influential figures in the industry.
The Challenges
Speaking out has been a difficult battle for survivors who fear being shunned by society and the film industry; they have had to face down powerful actors, directors, and producers who have large fan bases and political clout; they have had to confront an indifferent government that delayed the report’s release for five years before releasing a redacted version only after significant pressure; and now that allegations have surfaced against two-time CPM MLA Mukesh, the Left government is under further scrutiny. The opposition Congress and BJP have called for a case against him and his resignation.
The key question still stands: will there be significant reform in the Malayalam cinema business, or is this movement just another short-lived uprising? Because of the authority vested in the accused, the sluggishness of court cases, and the diminished employment prospects for victims, previous movements have frequently faded with time. To address this pervasive issue where offenders have frequently gone unpunished, the Hema Committee’s recommendations must be institutionalized along with other measures like legal protection for survivors, structural reforms like tribunals, fast-track courts, and strong prosecutorial teams with women members.
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