Report exposes Kerala film industry

A few months after the attack on Ms. Menon, the Women in Cinema Collective (WCC) – a group formed by some of her peers in an industry known for its variety of successful mainstream and critically acclaimed films – filed a petition with the government, asking for swift action in the case and to address the issues faced by women in the industry.

In the report, retired judge K Hema says the WCC told her that “women are being silenced because the reputation of the film industry must be upheld”.

The panel interviewed dozens of men and women, including artists, producers, directors, screenwriters, cameramen, hair stylists, make-up artists and costume designers, and “collected evidence, including video and audio clips and WhatsApp messages”.

The report describes sexual harassment as the ‘worst evil’ faced by women in cinema. The panel saw evidence that ‘sexual harassment remains shockingly widespread’ and ‘continues unchecked and uncontrolled’.

The industry “is controlled by a group of male actors, producers, distributors, exhibitors and directors who have acquired enormous fame and wealth” and were among the perpetrators, it added.

“Men in the industry openly make demands for sex without any scruples as if it were their birthright. Women have few options but to comply – or refuse at the cost of their long-awaited dream of pursuing cinema as their profession.

“The experiences of many women are truly shocking and so serious that they have not even shared the details with their closest relatives.”

Many of the people approached by the panel were initially reluctant to speak because they were “afraid of losing their jobs”.

“At first we found their fear strange, but as our investigation progressed we realized it was justified. We are concerned for their safety and that of their immediate family members.”

The report, the WCC says, has confirmed its position. “For years we have said there is a systemic problem in the industry. Sexual harassment is just one of them. This report proves it,” Beena Paul, an award-winning editor and one of the founders of the WCC, told the BBC.

“We were always told that we were troublemakers (for raising such issues). This report proves that it (the situation) is much worse than we thought,” she said.