The Justice Hema Committee report is the result of women in the Malayalam film industry saying ‘enough is enough’. Will other film industries take a cue and wake up to their realities at least now?
Published Aug 28, 2024 | 3:00 PM ⚊ Updated Aug 28, 2024 | 3:00 PM
Hema committee report on Malayalam film industry. (South First)
Skeletons of sexual harassment have been tumbling out of the Malayalam film industry closet ever since Justice K Hema Committee report became public. The report that exposes the nightmarish world women in Malayalam cinema have to endure has become a catalyst, bringing about a new wave of #MeToo movement.
Heads are rolling. The fallout of the Hema committee report has forced accountability. From popular filmmaker Ranjith stepping down as Chairman of Kerala Chalachitra Academy to superstar Mohanlal leading the mass resignation of the executive committee of the Association of Malayalam Cinema Artists (AMMA), the impact so far has been strong.
The report’s biggest impact is the courage it has given to women in the industry. More and more are finding the strength to speak up. Their words are taken more seriously now than they were a few years ago. Take for example the case of Revathy Sampath who alleged that Siddique had sexually assaulted her in 2016.
Revathy spoke about what Siddique did to her in 2019 but nobody trusted her. Today, the reiteration of her experience has compelled the popular actor to step down as general secretary of AMMA. A rape case has been filed against him now.
Ever since the Hema committee report threw light on the sexual abuse of women in Malayalam cinema, a section of fellow Indians, who love to hate Kerala, have found new reasons. The Malayalam film industry (aka Mollywood) is the new punching bag for the ‘Hate Kerala’ campaigners.
Yes, the industry deserves to be questioned for victimising women for years. Its superstars deserve to be shamed for conveniently ignoring the plight of their female colleagues or even perpetuating abuse. Even today, as dozens of allegations are coming to the fore, the male stars of Malayalam cinema — from doyens like Mammootty and Mohanlal to the younger, supposedly progressive actors like Fahadh Faasil, Nivin Pauly, Kalyani Priyadarshan, Mahima Nambiar, Nikhila Vimal, Anaswara Rajan are choosing to look the other way.
The exception in 2017 were the likes of Prithviraj Sukumaran and Tovino Thomas who stood up for the survivor leading actor in a case where Dileep is an accused.
What the haters forget, however, is it is people from the same industry who made the Hema Committee Report possible.
The Hema committee report is the direct result of advocacy and demand of Women in Cinema Collective (WCC). Women from the industry came together to form WCC in 2017 following the sexual assault of a prominent actor allegedly orchestrated by another Malayalam superstar, Dileep.
The women in Malayalam film industry have exposed the rot in the system. Malayalam film industry’s women are giving strength to more survivors to speak up. Women in the Malayalam film industry are holding their male counterparts accountable. It is women in the Malayalam film industry who have started a clean-up process. Women from Malayalam film industry are fixing their home. Malayalam film industry’s women are pushing for safer workplaces, equal pay, right to dignity and livelihood for all.
While one can hate ‘Mollywood’ as much as they want, the fact remains that the Malayalam film industry has taken a step that none of its counterparts have taken. Can the Hindi film industry aka Bollywood, or Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, Bhojpuri, Marathi counterparts claim women are not subjected to harassment? Speaking up and acknowledging is the first step towards solving a problem.
An ostrich-like approach of other film industries in India doesn’t mean they are better. It only means they are afraid to even acknowledge their realities. The #MeToo movement in India has exposed the dark underbelly of the entertainment industry, including Hindi cinema, with prominent producers, actors, directors identified as predators.
Every industry may not have a Justice Hema Committee report but it definitely has women who need the support to speak up, assurance of justice instead of witch-hunting. If anything, other film industries should be taking a cue from the Malayalam industry, especially its women, and start a clean-up process and make the workplace safer for women.
In short, if you are done hating the Malayalam film industry, now learn from its women. Smash patriarchy, question misogyny, stand up for what is right and get down to fixing a system that is designed to break, abuse, harass and discard women.
