The Hema Committee Report has an unexpected fallout: Many junior women artistes are being replaced by their male counterparts.
Published Dec 11, 2024 | 9:00 AM ⚊ Updated Dec 18, 2024 | 11:51 AM
Many who were not in the limelight found themselves losing jobs.
When the Hema Committee Report was unveiled on 19 August 2024, it marked a turning point for the Malayalam film industry, drawing intense scrutiny from across the Indian cinema landscape.
The report laid bare harrowing accounts of sexual harassment, exploitation, and discrimination faced by women in the industry.
It highlighted the stranglehold of a powerful clique of directors, producers, and technicians who wielded disproportionate control over women’s careers.
The findings exposed the absence of basic facilities such as changing rooms and toilets, alongside troubling issues such as illegal bans, substance abuse, wage disparity, and oppressive working conditions.
The revelations sent shockwaves through the industry, with prominent figures like actor Prithviraj Sukumaran urging organisations like AMMA to take definitive action.
The report also became a catalyst for the #MeToo movement in Mollywood, challenging entrenched practices.
However, an investigation by South First revealed a darker consequence for lesser-known women in the industry.
Many who were not in the limelight suffered job loss; one impact of the report was legal challenges and media trials that affected their livelihood.
Sandhya Manoj (name changed), shared her struggles with South First, stating that many producers now hesitate to hire women in the kind of role she plays, fearing potential complications.
Sandhya, who once supported her family through her work in cinema, highlighted the stark disparity in privileges within the industry.
“Before 19 August, life was easy. I had worked almost every day, and that was enough to feed my family. I also love this profession. But now, things have changed. I work on modest projects, not big-budget ones, and receive payments of ₹1,000 to ₹2,000 per day. These days, I don’t get calls from production people or even those I have assisted earlier. They hire new people, mostly men. Even the women who fight for justice won’t call us for work.”
Kaali, a seasoned action choreographer active in the Tamil and Malayalam film industries, is facing a tough time finding work.
Kaali is doing action choreography on a film set
Having worked for over 15 years, and established a name for herself in a field dominated by men, her career has hit the pause button as opportunities dwindle.
“People like me are already labeled ‘troublemakers’ because I’ve spoken out against injustices multiple times. Despite this, I train actresses for fight scenes with utmost care, and many sought my assistance for action sequences. But since the release of the Hema Committee report, I’ve lost nearly 20 projects,” Kaali told South First.
“No one in the industry seems to want to acknowledge they did wrong and correct their behavior toward crew members. Instead, they find it easier to replace us. While mainstream actresses have gained better facilities, safer accommodation, and improved working conditions, other sections of the workforce remain neglected,” she said.
“If these leading women do not advocate for us or recommend our names, how can change happen? Most people are selfish. They won’t even share a caravan for a toilet break in emergencies. What kind of equality is that?”
In August 2024, actress Ranjini approached the Kerala High Court challenging the release of the Justice Hema Committee Report. She argued that publishing the report would infringe upon her right to privacy and breach the confidentiality assured to witnesses.
Malayalam actor Ranjini. (Instagram)
Ranjini also insisted that the report should be released only with the consent of all individuals involved.
However, the Kerala High Court dismissed her petition, citing the absence of sufficient documentation to substantiate her claims.
“I was the first person to state to the Hema Committee. Yet, here I am, fighting against injustice alone. Yes, I am part of the Women in Cinema Collective, but the discussions and efforts we undertook did not yield the desired results.”
She asked: “What is the status of the film policy? Where is the government action?”
She asserted that despite the submission of the Hema Committee report, the film industry remains largely unchanged. More women have lost their jobs.
“After featuring in so many Tamil and Malayalam hit movies, I had to leave the industry overnight because of the harassment I faced. It wasn’t the source of my primary income. I had the financial backing to step away. Not everyone can do that. Many women in this industry have no other option,” she said.
Rajini said a grievance redressal tribunal would be the only way to make film sets more inclusive. “Even after several years away, when I returned, I faced issues with payment, despite being a senior actor,” she said.
Arathy Sebastian, a former Assistant Director in Malayalam cinema, said, “Women in cinema already receive lesser pay than men, even actors. As an Assistant Director, we were treated like slaves — by so-called progressive actresses too.”
“I was offered an opportunity to work on a Vineeth Sreenivasan movie as an Assistant Director. However, when I asked about payment, there was no assurance. So I dropped the project,” Arathy said.
Arathy said the industry was plagued with financial irregularities. “We had to sign numerous bills presented by the production controller. We were never informed where the assigned salaries go.”
Asked about the impact of the Hema Committee report, she said, “The report was phenomenal, but it led to many women losing their jobs. The industry has completely ignored the struggles of the underprivileged,” she said.
Ratheesh Raju, director of Moonnam Pralayam, said, “The Malayalam film industry has been cleansed. Of course, it affected many lives, including those of junior women artists, makeup and costume assistants. But today, people are more vigilant.”
Ratheesh Raju MR
Raju had personally witnessed abuse. “On the set of 2018 movie, I saw a woman supplier of junior artists allowing team members to exploit women after receiving payments from middle-level film crew members. These incidents were often unknown to leading actors, directors, or producers,” he told South First.
He said the change was perceptible: “I have women assistant directors in my team, including Jwala Parameshwaran. Those who continue to mistreat women are losing opportunities now,” he said, adding that younger crew members now have a voice and cannot be easily manipulated.
(Edited by Rosamma Thomas).
