The actor said she had to relocate to Chennai because of these incidents and sought justice and accountability for the trauma and suffering she endured.
Published Aug 26, 2024 | 12:42 PM ⚊ Updated Aug 27, 2024 | 5:52 PM
Actor Minu Muneer alleges sexual harassment by Jayasurya, Mukesh, and Edavela Babu. (Facebook)
Following the release of the Justice Hema Committee Report, more women actors are coming forward with allegations of sexual abuse they faced on film sets. The latest to speak out is actor Minu Muneer.
Minu Muneer accused prominent figures in the Malayalam film industry, including actors Jayasurya, Maniyanpilla Raju, Edavela Babu, and Mukesh, advocate Chandrasekharan and production controller Noble, of sexual harassment.
In a Facebook post, Minu Muneer detailed her harrowing experiences. “I am writing to report a series of incidents of physical and verbal abuse I suffered at the hands of Mukesh, Maniyanpilla Raju, Idavela Babu, Jayasurya, Advocate Chandrasekharan, production controller Noble, and Vichu, in the Malayalam film industry.”
She added, “In 2013, I was subjected to physical and verbal abuse by these individuals while working on a project. I tried to cooperate and continue working, but the abuse became unbearable. As a result, I was forced to leave the Malayalam film industry and relocate to Chennai. I had spoken out against the abuse in a newspaper article.
“I am now seeking justice and accountability for the trauma and suffering I endured. I request your assistance in taking action against them for their heinous actions,” her post read.
Later, addressing the media on Monday, 26 August, Minu Muneer specifically accused actor Jayasurya of behaving inappropriately with her during the filming of De Ingottu Nokkiye in 2008. She claimed that Jayasurya asked her to accompany him to his flat in Trivandrum.
A screengrab of Minu Muneer’s post where she accused Jayasurya of behaving inappropriately with her. (Facebook)
Minu Muneer also accused Edavela Babu of sexual harassment in exchange for membership in the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA).
She claimed that Mukesh made sexual advances and abused her.
Further, Minu Muneer revealed that when she approached the then-AMMA president Innocent for help, he suggested she join the association. However, Mukesh, Edavela Babu, and Jayasurya—who were part of the executive committee—denied her request.
She claimed that actor Maniyanpilla Raju expressed his desire to visit her in her hotel room while filming Da Thadiya (2012). He displayed anger when she refused his advances.
Amid these circumstances, an eight-year-old video resurfaced on social media where actor Saritha, ex-wife of Mukesh, spoke to the media saying he was brutally violent and abused her often.
In the video, Saritha claimed, “Mukesh is a very abusive man. He’s characterless and a very violent person. He used to beat me up in front of his father. He doesn’t respect women. He used to bring women home, drink, and beat me up in their presence. He never fulfilled family responsibilities.”
Widely circulating this old video on social media, some netizens wondered how he contested and won as the CPI(M) MLA.
“He beats me up in front of his father”
Here is an 8-year old video where Mukesh’s ex-wife and actor Saritha speaks about his brutal abuse.
And yet, he contested and won on CPI(M) ticket in 2016 & 2021 and is now a sitting MLA.
Such is the extend of misogyny in society. pic.twitter.com/VLfjVxyDRS
— Siddharth (@DearthOfSid) August 25, 2024
Following these allegations of sexual harassment, Maniyanpilla Raju addressed the media where he dismissed Minu Muneer’s accusations as fabricated. He alleged that those who failed to secure roles in films were now coming forward with such “false claims”.
“Let the investigation team do their job. If they find me and others guilty, we must be punished,” he said.
Maniyanpilla Raju also expressed his support to the Women in Cinema Collective (WCC) and demanded a thorough investigation by the government, emphasising the need for the truth to come to light.
He cited the example of the late former chief minister Oommen Chandy, who was accused in the Solar Case but was later found innocent, to illustrate his point.
Meanwhile, CPM MLA Mukesh dismissed casting director Tess Joseph’s allegations of sexual harassment made against him, saying he never met the woman and it was a political conspiracy.
“I am being targeted as CPM MLA. I don’t know who is behind it. Political gain is their motive. I never met this lady. I clarified it when she raised allegations against me in 2018. Citing an incident that took place about 26 years ago is silly. I am sure they would not have thought about raising such an allegation against me if I was not a CPM MLA,” Mukesh added.
Tess Joseph alleged that Mukesh misbehaved with her while filing the “Kodeeswaran” reality show for Surya TV. At the time of the Metoo movement in 2018, she claimed that Mukesh repeatedly disturbed her during her stay in a hotel.
Meanwhile, the WCC, in a Facebook post, urged the women in Malayalam cinema to bring about a change by standing together.
The Malayalam film industry has been rocked by other allegations, including those against veteran actor Siddique, who resigned from his position following a sexual assault allegation by actor Revathy Sampath.
Kerala Chalachitra Academy chairman Ranjith also resigned after being accused of misbehaviour by Bengali actor Sreelekha Mitra.
As the industry grapples with these revelations, actor Tovino Thomas announced on Sunday, 25 August, that he is willing to provide his statement to the state government’s investigation team if requested.
(Edited by Y Krishna Jyothi)
