The Hema Committee report has created a stir in the Malayalam film industry. After the report of this committee formed to look into the problems faced by women in the industry came out, the Malayalam film industry has come under fire.
After the report came out, female artists are also bringing forward new cases of sexual harassment, due to which two big names of the industry, actor Siddiqui and filmmaker Ranjit, resigned from their posts in two major film bodies of the industry. Despite such a big storm in the industry, the silence of big artists is a shocking thing.
However, now Prithviraj Sukumaran, one of the big faces of Malayalam cinema and who has worked from South to Bollywood, has broken his silence on this matter. Prithviraj, who was present at the launch of his football club, talked about the Hema Committee report and the safety of women in the industry.
The report needs to be taken seriously
According to Onmanorama, Prithviraj said that those who were accused of harassment in the industry should resign from positions of power and strict action should be taken based on the Hema Committee report. He also said that the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA) has made a mistake in handling this matter. Prithviraj also stressed on punishing those involved in sexual abuse.
Prithviraj accepted the fact that there is a ‘power group’ in the industry
According to the report, Prithviraj made a surprising statement. He said that he was ‘not shocked’ by the results of the Hema Committee report. He said, ‘My responsibility does not end with just ensuring that the location of my film is safe, it is important that the entire industry is safe for people.’ The Hema Committee report talks about a ‘power group’ of 10-15 privileged people in the Malayalam industry who control the industry and when women complain about harassment, they are banned.
Prithviraj also mentioned this and said, ‘I cannot deny that there is no organized power in the film industry just because I have not faced it. If any activity of banning artists is in practice, then action should be taken against it.’
Chiyaan Vikram calls crimes against women ‘abhorrent’
South star Vikram called the crimes against women in the country ‘disgusting’ and said that men should take responsibility for it. ‘Tangal’ star Vikram while talking to PTI said, ‘Every woman should be made to feel safe. She should be able to walk on the streets even at 3 in the morning and she should feel that she can walk, go home and no one will do anything to her. Every man will protect her, give her her space. What is happening is very disgusting.’
Vikram’s comment comes at a time when there is nationwide outrage over the rape and murder of a female doctor in Kolkata, and after the Hema Committee report, new cases of sexual harassment are being reported every day in Malayalam cinema.
Vikram said that women’s safety should be inspired by the cinema of ‘Tangal’ director Pa Ranjith, whose films always have a theme of changing the system from its roots. He said, ‘This is something that I am also trying to understand right now. What should we do? What does the country need to do? Should we start from a very young age? Should we develop an understanding of these things in children? As Pa Ranjith says – change the entire system and start from zero. I don’t know what, but something needs to be done.’
Source (PTI) (NDTV) (HINDUSTANTIMES)