Allegations of sexual misconduct have become the focal point of headlines, causing turmoil within the thriving film industry of Kerala.
This southern Indian state has recently been rocked by a wave of sexual abuse allegations against prominent male actors, ignited by a groundbreaking report examining the challenges faced by women in the film sector.
The Malayalam film industry, which annually produces 150-200 films, is renowned for its progressive storytelling and critical acclaim. However, the 290-page report by a three-member panel, known as the Hema committee, has unveiled troubling issues including dismal working conditions and widespread sexual harassment within the industry. Critical sections of the report have been redacted to protect the identities of survivors and the accused.
In the aftermath of the report’s release, numerous women, some of whom have left the industry, have come forward to share their experiences of assault and harassment, leading to over a dozen police complaints against male stars, with two also filing counter-complaints.
The fallout has led to a dramatic restructuring within the state’s largest film association, as the entire governing body of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA) was dissolved following the resignation of its president, Mohanlal, amid moral concerns surrounding accusations against some members.
Actor Mala Parvathy commented, “This is just the tip of the iceberg. Only a few have spoken up till now. More serious issues may emerge.”
The reception of this historic report is being closely monitored by various film industries across India. During the #MeToo movement, allegations of sexual harassment had been made against numerous filmmakers and actors, but few investigations followed.
The Kerala government established the Hema committee in 2017, led by a former High Court judge, in response to a high-profile sexual assault case involving a major actress. Dileep, a well-known actor, was named as a suspect and faced charges of criminal conspiracy. He has denied the allegations but was held in custody for three months before being released on bail, with the case still in court.
Following the report’s publication, Bengali actress Sreelekha Mitra publicly accused director Ranjith of past sexual harassment. Although he resigned from his position as chairman of the state’s film academy, he continues to deny the allegations. Mitra has also filed a police report.
Echoing complaints in the Hema report, other women have revealed experiences of being pressured to compromise for career opportunities.
Minu Muneer detailed an incident in which an actor embraced and kissed her without consent during filming, along with accounts of sexual misconduct from others, including actor Mukesh, who has denied wrongdoing while accusing her of blackmail. “I welcome any investigation into allegations made against me and others in the film industry,” he stated in a public post.
Two actresses reported that a director harassed them by knocking on their hotel doors late at night, with no response from him to the accusations.
Additionally, one actress has accused Siddique of rape in 2016 and filed a police complaint against him. Siddique, who resigned from his position as AMMA’s general secretary following the charges, has refuted the claims and accused the complainant of attempting to ruin his reputation.
The Kerala government, initially praised for establishing the committee, has faced scrutiny as the report’s delayed release has raised questions. Submitted in 2019, the report was made public only last week after years of legal challenges from industry stakeholders. Although the government stated they would investigate all police reports, they will not pursue cases independently. However, under mounting pressure, they have since formed a special team to handle the complaints.
The Kerala High Court has also directed the government to present the complete report, including redacted sections, for review.
Responses to the report within the Malayalam film industry are varied, with superstars like Mohanlal and Mammootty criticized for not speaking out publicly. Nevertheless, some actors have advocated for thorough investigations into the allegations, while a prominent film workers’ union has called for the disclosure of the accused names featured in the report.
Conversely, some individuals argue that the backlash unfairly targets all men in the industry as abusers. However, many view the report and ensuing changes as an essential step towards addressing deep-seated issues within a celebrated industry.
Actress Parvathy Thiruvothu, a founding member of the Women in Cinema Collective, emphasized, “I am not ok with people saying, ‘Malayalam industry is so rotten inside’. No, we are good inside, which is why we are fixing it.” She urged that it is the less publicized industries that should raise more concern.
