The report of the Hema Committee on the condition of women in the Malayalam film industry has shocked everyone. After this report, more actresses are sharing incidents of sexual harassment that happened to them and the Malayalam industry has come under question.
Meanwhile, the President of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA), senior actor Mohanlal and the entire association resigned en masse. Popular South actress Parvati has now questioned the resignation of Mohanlal and AMMA and called this move ‘cowardly’.
Parvathy criticized AMMA’s resignation
Women in Cinema Collective (WCC) is currently playing a major role in raising the issue of women’s safety in Malayalam cinema, on whose request the Kerala government formed the HEMA Committee. WCC’s founding member Parvati has now said that AMMA’s resignation is ‘an attempt to escape responsibility’.
Speaking to journalist Barkha Dutt, Parvati said, ‘When I heard the news of mass resignations, my first reaction was – ‘How cowardly is this’. How cowardly is this that they stepped down from their posts when they were to be held accountable before the media. This is a quick escape. Because of this, the entire responsibility has again fallen on women to take this issue and debate forward. How wonderful it would have been if they had at least shown the intention to find a solution to this issue with the state government and other parties.’
Parvati got angry at AMMA committee and Kerala government
Parvathy raised several important questions and expressed her anger over the resignation of AMMA. She said, ‘This is the same executive committee that welcomed back the main accused in the 2017 sexual assault case while the case was going on. This is the same executive committee that claimed that such a thing (sexual harassment in the industry) did not happen until allegations were made against them. And it was very irresponsible on the part of the government to make statements like – ‘If women have complaints, they should just file an FIR and reveal the names.”
Parvati said that such statements once again put the onus on women to reveal the names, shame (the accused) and then face whatever happens next.
Parvati further said, ‘My question has always been what proof of justice have you given that you want us to name and shame? What will happen to us after this… what will happen to our careers, lives, legal fees and mental health issues? No one cares about this. Why is it repeatedly put on women to deal with problems that have not been created by us?’
Let us tell you, amidst the turmoil in the Malayalam industry, Mohanlal resigned from the post of President of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA). His resignation shocked everyone. There was an executive committee of 17 members along with Mohanlal in this association and all of them resigned collectively. Some of the men in the Malayalam industry who have recently been accused of sexual harassment were also members of AMMA.
Source (PTI) (NDTV) (HINDUSTANTIMES)