Shahabaz Aman has come in support of singer Gowry Lekshmi, who had recently revealed that she was abused by a senior music director.
Published Aug 27, 2024 | 10:27 AM ⚊ Updated Aug 27, 2024 | 11:31 AM
Singer Gauri Lekshmi and musician Shahabaz Aman
Even as the Justice Hema Committee report is creating waves across the Malayalam film industry, Mollywood music director Shahabaz Aman, on Monday, 26 August came forward in support of composer, songwriter, and singer Gowry Lekshmi, who recently revealed that a senior music director had tried to abuse her.
In a revelation made after the release of the report by the Justice Hema Committee, she said that she had decided never to work with the composer again after he allegedly demanded compromises in exchange for opportunities.
This confession has added fury to the fire as the debate over exploitation that women face in the Malayalam film industry is getting louder.
Extending his support to the singer who entered Mollywood in her early teens, he shed light on the seriousness of Gowry’s allegations. In a statement, he said that the allegations against the composer should be taken seriously and that if Gowry felt comfortable enough, she should call him out in public.
The statement said, “The allegations raised by singer Gowry Lekshmi against a senior music composer should be taken seriously. If Gowry is willing, the name should be made public. She is currently wounded by the cyber attacks and has been ridiculed for presenting her life experience in the form of a song.”
He also added that the trauma caused by this should be taken into account.
“Dear Gowry, you are amazing. You are a fantastic singer. You speak clearly. Go ahead, and break down barriers!” he wrote in a social media post.
The Kerala government on 19 August, released the Justice K Hema Committee report revealing the harassment faced by female actors in the film industry. The report was released after the Kerala High Court rejected the pleas by actor Ranjini against the release of the report. She had said that she was among the people who had given their statements to the committee but did not receive a copy of the same.
The report delves deep into wage discrimination to sexual exploitation, exposing the hidden harassment in the Malayalam film industry. It also revealed the casting couch culture and the silent suffering of women in cinema. Leaving out some parts that reveal the personal information of actors, the government has released a 233-page document.
The report said that female actors are usually expected to grant sexual favours to insiders. The controller or whoever gives an offer for a role in the cinema first approaches the woman (girl in some cases) or if it is the other way around, a woman approaches any person in cinema seeking a chance, she is told that she has to make “adjustments” and “compromise” to make her way into the cinema, the report said.
“Compromise” and “adjustment” are two terms that are very familiar among women in the Malayalam film industry and, they are asked to make themselves available for sex on demand. The report also sheds light on the troubling challenges faced by women in the Malayalam film industry.
(Edited by Neena with inputs from Sreelakshmi)
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