While Khushbu called the committee a "much-needed break", Swara termed the findings of the report "heartbreaking, as it is familiar."
Published Aug 29, 2024 | 11:45 AM ⚊ Updated Aug 29, 2024 | 5:56 PM
Khushbu Sundar and Swara Bhaker speak on Hema Committee report. (X)
Actor-politician Khusbhu Sundar and Bollywood actor Swara Bhasker responded to the findings of the Justice Hema Committee report.
While Khushbu called the committee a “much-needed break”, Swara termed the findings of the report “heartbreaking, as it is familiar.”
Swara Bhasker is also the first one from the Hindi film industry to publicly speak up on what is being described as Kerala’s #MeToo moment.
She shared a lengthy note on Instagram after reading the 233-page report by the government-appointed panel.
The Kerala government constituted the Justice Hema Committee after the 2017 actress assault case and its report revealed instances of harassment and exploitation of women in the Malayalam cinema industry.
It has revealed exploitation and abuse of women, leading to many women actors coming out with allegations of harassment at the hands of their male counterparts and other men in the cinema industry.
Khushbu Sundar on Wednesday, 28 August, said the Kerala government-appointed Justice K Hema Committee was “much needed” to break the abuse faced by female professionals in Malayalam cinema and urged women not to compromise and the men to speak up for victims of sexual harassment.
The “MeToo” moment prevailing in “our industry breaks you,” the senior actor said in a post on ‘X.’
“Kudos to the women who have stood their ground and emerged victorious. The #HemaCommittee was much needed to break the abuse. But will it?” the BJP leader added.
“Abuse, asking for sexual favours, and expecting women to compromise to gain a foothold or accelerate their careers exist in every field. Why is a woman alone expected to go through the grind? Although men too face it, it’s marginally women who bear the brunt,” Sundar said.
Speaking about the abuse she faced at the hands of her father, Khusbhu said, “Some ask me what took me so long to speak about my father’s abuse. I agree I should have spoken earlier. But what happened to me, was not a compromise to build my career. I was abused at the hands of the person who was supposed to provide me the strongest arms to hold me if I fell.”
“The victim might be a stranger to you or me, but she needs our support, an ear to listen, and emotional backing from us all. When questioning why she didn’t come out earlier, we need to consider her circumstances – not everyone is privileged to speak out,” she said.
“To all the men out there, I implore you to stand by the victim and show your unwavering support,” she added.
💔 This moment of #MeToo prevailing in our industry breaks you. Kudos to the women who have stood their ground and emerged victorious. ✊ The #HemaCommittee was much needed to break the abuse. But will it?
Abuse, asking for sexual favors, and expecting women to compromise to…
— KhushbuSundar (@khushsundar) August 28, 2024
Swara Bhasker speaking on the findings of the report said, “Showbiz has always been a patriarchal power set-up where if a woman speaks up, she is labelled as a troublemaker.”
“Are other language industries in India even talking about such things? Until we don’t face the uncomfortable truths we all know exist all around us, the brunt of existing abuses of power will continue to be borne by those who are vulnerable…
“It has been heartbreaking to read the findings of the committee. More heartbreaking because it is familiar. Maybe not every detail and not every nitty gritty but the larger picture of what the women have testified to is all too familiar,” she wrote.
Bhasker, known for her outspoken views on topical issues, expressed solidarity with the women who spoke up and those who belong to the Women in Cinema Collective (WCC) who demanded an expert committee from the Kerala government to examine the working conditions in their industry.
“Let’s be clear, when power equations are so skewed, newcomers and other women who accept these conditions cannot be blamed for working within a framework they have not created. Accountability must always be sought from those who hold the reins of power and who create conditions where women have no choice if they want work,” she added.
The actor gave a shout-out to the members of the WCC, the women who testified and those who provided solace to each other and to all those women who have suffered sexual harassment and violence in the industry.
“You are heroes and you are doing the work that people in positions of greater power ought to have done already: Respect and solidarity with you!”
I finally got down to reading the findings of the #HemaCommitteeReport redacted version that has been made available. It’s heartbreaking.. and familiar. My thoughts.. @WCC_Cinema kudos to you ❤️ pic.twitter.com/fz2wsOLb3W
— Swara Bhasker (@ReallySwara) August 27, 2024
(With PTI inputs)
