Despite reaching out to at least 10 producers for her new project, she claimed she was met with resistance.
Published Sep 09, 2024 | 11:33 AM ⚊ Updated Sep 09, 2024 | 4:10 PM
I've been banned for questioning sexual favours_ Malayalam director Soumya Sadanandan. (Supplied)
Malayalam director Soumya Sadanandan has revealed that she was banned from Malayalam cinema for challenging a prominent figure, who sought sexual favours from a female actor in exchange for money.
In a Facebook post, she shared her troubling experiences within the Malayalam film industry. Soumya Sadanandan also disclosed that she revealed this incident in front of the Justice K Hema Committee, which was formed to investigate the issues of sexual misconduct in Malayalam cinema.
This marks the first time someone who testified before the Justice K Hema Committee has publicly shared their experience.
The Malayalam director shed light on the pervasive issue of sexual misconduct in the industry, saying, “Even the so-called good guys have a dark side.”
Soumya Sadanandan alleged that her career in films had been stifled after a ban was imposed on her by influential figures in the Malayalam industry. Despite reaching out to at least 10 producers for her new project a few years ago, she claimed she was met with resistance. Two of them were female producers who understood that she was being “ostracised by the film fraternity”. Sadly, the project couldn’t take off.
Further, she expressed her gratitude to the Justice Hema Committee for its efforts and shared her distress over the hurdles she continues to face in the industry.
Screenshot of Soumya Sadanandan’s FB post. (Supplied)
The filmmaker also accused the lead actor and co-producer of her debut movie, Mangalyam Thanthunanena (2018), of editing the film without her consent. The movie, starring Kunchacko Boban and Nimisha Sajayan, did not perform well at the box office.
Having started her career as a television anchor and radio jockey, Soumya Sadanandan transitioned into filmmaking. She worked as an assistant and associate director on over 11 feature films.
She later directed the documentary Chembai: My Discovery of a Legend, which won the Jury Award at the National Film Festival in 2017.
Her short film Rabbit Hole also garnered acclaim by securing several awards at the Eastern Global Short Film Festival in 2018.
Following the release of a redacted version of the Justice Hema Committee Report, many industry professionals came forward to share their own harrowing experiences.
The 1990s actor Soumya revealed that she had been raped by a Tamil director, while actor Charmila alleged that a producer and his associates attempted to gang-rape her during the filming of Arjunan Pillayum Anju Makkalum (1997).
The Justice Hema Committee Report highlighted the widespread discrimination and insecurity faced by women in the Malayalam film industry. It pointed to the persistence of the casting couch and the general unsafe working environment for women in cinema.
According to the report, “Women in cinema frequently feel unsafe going to work alone.” It also confirmed that the casting couch remains a troubling reality in the Malayalam film industry.
(Edited by Y Krishna Jyothi)
