Explained! Malayalam Film Industry's SHOCKING #MeToo Scandal
In this explainer, we will give you a lowdown on the shocking #MeToo scandal that has rocked the Malayalam film industry.
The Malayalam film industry, which is known for its forward-thinking and progressive cinema, has been rocked as a shocking #MeToo scandal has surfaced. In the latest development, the Kerala Police has registered a rape case against famous Malayalam actor Siddique, following a complaint by a young actress. For the unversed, the complainant had raised the allegation through the media earlier this week, and due to this, Siddique was forced to step down as the general secretary of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes (AMMA), an outfit of actors.
As per Indian Express, the woman had come forward after the release of the Hema Committee report, which has exposed sexual abuse and gender injustice in the Malayalam film industry.
The shocking scandal has shocked the entire nation, and in this article, we will give you a lowdown regarding the entire controversy. We will be covering the entire timeline of how the shocking case surfaced in public.
The entire timeline is as follows:
February 2017: A famous Malayalam actress, who has not been named, was allegedly assaulted in a moving car. As per an India Today report, five men kidnapped her, filmed the assault, and dropped her off. The actress then filed a police complaint. During the investigation, it was revealed that Malayalam actor Dileep had allegedly conspired with other men to "teach her a lesson". The actress' assault case is still under trial.
In the aftermath of this case, Women in Cinema Collective (WCC) was formed and a group of 10 women from the Malayalam industry including Manju Warrier, Parvathy, Rima Kallingal, Remya Nambeesan, joined forces to make the industry a safe place for women.
November 2017: The Hema Committee comprising Justice Hema, actress Sarada and bureaucrat KB Valsala Kumari, started its work. The body then came out with a statement asking women to come forward, promising that confidentiality would be maintained. As per several reports, over 80 women shared their testimony in front of Justice Hema.
2019: The Hema Committee then submitted its 296-page report to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. However, as per reports, for five years, the report kept lying on the shelves. The government ended up receiving backlash for its silence and not making the report available to the public.
What Does The Hema Committee Report State And When Was It Made Public?
The report was finally made public on August 19, 2024. The 296-page document has testimonies of many women in the Malayalam film industry. As per India Today, the report also mentions girls instead of women, indicating that minors might have also been victims of sexual harassment.
However, it is important to mention that the report does not name the perpetrators. The report states that the Malayalam film industry lacks basic amenities for women, such as changing rooms and toilets.
The report also consists of sexual harassment stories, the existence of a powerful lobby of top directors, producers, and technicians, and other major issues.
It also needs to be mentioned that several pages have been redacted from the final report, leading to questions being raised about who is being protected.
Shocking Sexual Harassment Claims
The Hema Committee Report also has a separate section, dedicated to drunk men (actors, producers, and directors), knocking on the doors of actresses' rooms for sex. As per several news reports, the Hema Committee report states, "The women working in the Malayalam film industry are forced to provide sex on demand at shooting locations. Otherwise, they would be punished and harassed by the all-powerful mafia."
"If the mafia is unhappy with any of the actresses, they harass them mentally by repeating the shots of intimate scenes on the set. One actress was asked to repeat a kiss scene 17 times by a director after she had complained," the report adds.
The report also states that the women were paid less than their male counterparts.
Aftermath of Hema Committee Report
Days after the report was released in public, two actresses came forward to expose their abuser. A female alleged that veteran actor Siddique, raped and harassed her when she was 19.
A Bengali actress Sreelekha Mitra also accused Malayalam director Ranjith of inappropriate behaviour and how she felt uncomfortable. Following this, Ranjith stepped down as Kerala Chalachitra Academy chairman.
Actress Minu Muneer, in a Facebook post, also levelled allegations against Mukesh, Maniyanpilla Raju, Idavela Babu, and Jayasurya of abuse. She mentioned that the incident occurred on the sets of a 2013 film.
