There has been a stir in the Malayalam film industry for the past several days. The reason is the Hema Committee report. Due to this report, even the politicians and actors associated with South Indian cinema have come under the scanner. One by one, many big names are being targeted and this whole matter is also being called MeToo-2.0. What is the Hema Committee report, who all are getting involved in the matter and what has come out in the report, know the special things in 10 points…
1. What is Hema Committee?
In February 2017, an incident of sexual abuse of an actress in a moving car came to light in the Malayalam film industry. Actor Dileep’s name came up in this incident, after which the government formed the Hema Committee to investigate it. This committee submitted its report to the government in December 2019, which has now been made public after five years. This report has raised serious questions about the mistreatment of women in the Malayalam film industry.
2. Committee headed by retired Justice Hema
The ‘Hema Committee Report’ was brought keeping in mind the safety of female Malayalam film actors. A 3-member committee headed by retired Justice Hema was formed in 2019 to research every point related to women’s safety in the industry regarding the immoral demands made on female actors. This report of the committee came out on August 19 due to the RTI Act 2005, till now it was not released by the Kerala government. As soon as the report came out, there was an uproar in the Malayalam industry.
3. What’s in the report?
A. Sexual abuse is a big problem – The biggest problem for women in the Malayalam film industry is sexual exploitation. They are afraid to speak out against it. They fear being fired, removed and banned. Big names in the industry are also involved in this crime. These include directors, producers and production controllers. When women approach them for work, they are asked for sexual favours. If a woman does not compromise, she fears losing work opportunities.
B. “Adjustment” and “compromise” became common words – Newcomers have a bad image of the industry. Compromise is a necessary and very common word in the Malayalam film industry. Newcomers have to adjust to sexual favours to succeed here. However, not everyone is like this. The entire film industry is in the hands of men. A few producers, directors and actors rule the entire industry. If someone tries to speak against them, he or she receives threats and can be thrown out of the industry.
C. If you are doing intimate scenes on camera then why not off set – Male actors openly pressurize for sexual favors. They believe that if women are comfortable doing intimate scenes in films, they will do the same off set as well. Female actors have shown video clips, audio clips, screenshots and WhatsApp messages as proof of this. When staying in hotels, male actors knock on the door at night and sometimes the doors are broken. The report says that the industry believes that women can go to any extent to become famous or earn money.
D. Toilet is also a problem – Female artists face problems in meeting their daily basic needs. Lack of basic facilities like toilets during outdoor shoots is also a problem for them. The production unit does not provide toilet breaks. Big stars have toilet facilities in their vanity vans, but junior artists are not allowed to use them.
E. Lack of written contract- Written contracts are often not made in the Malayalam film industry. Producers make written contracts only with big actors. Due to this, many times crew members do not get the fixed fees. The situation of women is even worse because many times they have to work without a written contract.
4. Understand the chronology of exploitation
1. Directly demanding sexual favours in exchange for work. Sexual exploitation and abuse and harassment at the workplace if not adjusted. Not providing basic facilities like toilets, changing rooms and thus harassing during work, lack of security.
2. Pressure to remain silent after harassment, arbitrary ban on work to intimidate. Male dominance and gender-based discrimination. Indecent behaviour under influence of drugs and alcohol at the workplace.
3. Obscene and indecent comments on protest, not paying the agreed fees due to lack of written contract, online exploitation and cyber attack.
4. Discrimination in fees between men and women. Not giving opportunities to women in technical field. Lack of legal awareness. Lack of official committee or organization to solve problems, hence no hearing. Gradually boycott and then out of the industry
Overall, the Hema Committee report has exposed the serious cases of sexual abuse in the Malayalam film industry. The report has revealed the names of about 10 prominent personalities against whom serious allegations have been leveled. Let us know which prominent personalities have been named in this report and what are the allegations against them.
5. Complaint of actress Meenu Munir
Actress Minu Munir on August 28 filed a complaint against several established actors of the Malayalam film industry, such as Mukesh, Jayasurya and Edavela Babu. She has accused them of attacking the modesty of a woman under Section 354 of the Indian Penal Code. Minu alleged that these actors tortured her mentally and physically.
6. Jayasuriya controversy
After an FIR was filed against actor Jayasurya, he has denied all the allegations. Jayasurya said that these allegations are very stressful for him and his family. He is currently living in America and is planning to take legal action in this matter. He wrote on Facebook, “My family and I have been in America for more than a month. During this time, two false allegations of sexual harassment have been made against me.”
7. Director Mohammed and Charmila’s case
Actress Charmila has accused a senior director of making inappropriate proposals. Charmila said that the director offered her an ‘adjustment’ for sexual favours and when she refused, she was removed from the film. She also accused MP Mohan, who conspired to oust her from the film. Charmila says that many actresses suffer such cases silently.
8. Ranjit and Babu accused
Director-actor Ranjith has been accused by a budding actor of committing unnatural acts with him in a Bangalore hotel in 2012. Ranjith has given his clarification in the matter, but the victim has lodged a complaint with the police. A junior artist has accused Babu of demanding sexual favours while obtaining AMMA membership. Babu has been accused of similar things in the past as well.
9. Allegation on Siddiq
Veteran actor Siddique has been accused by an actress of sexually abusing and raping her by calling her to a hotel on the pretext of a film project in 2016. After this allegation, Siddique has resigned from the post of General Secretary of AMMA. Meanwhile, Kerala Police has registered a rape case against actor and CPI(M) MLA M Mukesh. After the complaint filed by Meenu Munir, Mukesh has called it an attempt of “blackmail” and has threatened legal action. Mukesh denied the allegations and said that this is a conspiracy to harm his image.
10. Some other actors are also in JD
This list does not end here, but it includes more names. After the report, the names of other accused have also come to light. These include Edavela Babu, Maniyanpilla Raju, director VK Prakash and production executives Vichu and Noble. After the revelations of the report, superstar Mohanlal resigned from the post of AMMA president and requested people not to harm the Malayalam film industry in this way. He says that many people are earning their livelihood from this. Mohanlal said that strict steps need to be taken to reform the film industry and all the allegations should be investigated impartially.
Source (PTI) (NDTV) (HINDUSTANTIMES)