The Association requests the state police to investigate further into the atrocities and take necessary action against the culprits.
Published Aug 23, 2024 | 5:15 PM ⚊ Updated Aug 23, 2024 | 6:01 PM
AMMA members addressing the media on Justice Hema Committee Report. (Supplied)
The Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA) on Friday, 23 August, finally responded to the findings of the Justice Hema Committee Report.
Addressing the media, AMMA General Secretary Siddique stated that the Association welcomes the findings of the commission and requested the state police to investigate further into the atrocities and take necessary action against the culprits.
Siddique found fault with the media for creating the notion that the Justice Hema Committee report was against the AMMA.
“AMMA was mentioned in the report. But the Association is not on the wrong side. Justice Hem committee was constituted to study the issues being faced by our members. We stand by the report and haven’t chosen to stand by the culprits.”
When asked about the “mafia” and the “power groups” in the Malayalam film industry, Siddique clarified that he was unaware of any such nexus in Malayalam cinema.
According to the veteran actor, a high-power committee was formulated a decade ago with the representatives of all film-related associations in the state. “We are not sure if the report was referring to it. But no ‘power group’ controls the Malayalam film industry.”
Siddique added that he has been in the industry for decades and never saw a power group controlling the industry. “How can an industry function if there’s a group controlling all aspects,” he questioned.
The senior actor averred that after the Justice Hema Committee Report was published, there have been accusations that projected the entire Malayalam film fraternity in a bad light. “This is utterly painful. Every job sector has certain issues but nobody comes up with remarks blemishing the entire sector,” he pointed out.
About setting up Internal Complaints Committees (ICCs) on film sets, Siddique said the decision should be left to the production houses and AMMA cannot interfere in this matter.
He noted that the Justice Hema Committee didn’t summon many women who hold positions in AMMA. “For example, a complaint by a girl that a director knocked on her door was not brought to AMMA’s attention.”
He also reiterated that AMMA took serious note of the concerns raised by Tilakan’s daughter, even though she managed the issue herself without bringing it to AMMA.
Regarding Parvathy Thiruvothu’s comments that she was getting fewer roles since she was associated with the WCC, Siddique said he doesn’t believe the female actor was ever deprived of opportunities in films.
“While AMMA has limited involvement in addressing the infrastructure challenges faced by women in Malayalam cinema, it is not right to say that no facilities are available now. Much has changed in recent years,” he pointed out.
Meanwhile, AMMA executive committee member and actor Jomol announced that she never faced any bad experiences in the Malayalam film industry.
AMMA executive committee members Vinu Mohan, Jayan Cherthala, and Ananya were present.
Incidentally, the AMMA’s media interaction came amid the criticism that the Association refrained from reacting to the report because it was at fault.
The Justice Hema Committee Report revealed that women actors face extreme discrimination in the Malayalam film industry. The report also dwelt at length on the casting couch and how women feel insecure in the workplace.
The Justice Hema Committee was formed to study the issues of sexual harassment and gender inequality in Malayalam cinema after the 2017 actress assault case involving actor Dileep.
The committee filed its report in 2019 but the government didn’t release the same as it was suspected to contain sensitive information about the industry.
(Edited by Y Krishna Jyothi)
