Amidst a spate of #MeToo claims, Kerala forms SIT based on Hema Commission report

The young woman left the room shortly after Prakash did and returned to Kochi. The next morning, she discovered that she had missed several calls from him. When she called him back, Prakash asked her not to harm his reputation and sent her Rs 10,000 as travel expenses.

“I did not confide in anyone and was afraid to file a formal complaint. Now I have confidence because Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has promised protection and support to women who face such experiences,” the writer said.

“This was my first experience in the film industry. I don’t have any influential connections here. If you don’t like the story, reject it. Don’t insult me ​​by calling me under the guise of a discussion. If you can’t help it, be honest about it. Don’t humiliate people like me,” she added. “What I said is true and I stand by it. I have already filed a complaint with the special investigation team.”

The controversial Hema Commission report, released by the Kerala government on August 19, 2024 after a five-year wait, has alleged that sexual exploitation is rampant in the Malayalam film industry and that women are being asked to make “compromises” in exchange for work.

The Hema Commission under Justice K. Hema was formed to address the issues faced by women in the Malayalam film industry following a 2017 sexual abuse case involving actor Dileep. The case, in which an actress was kidnapped and abused by several accused, including Dileep, has been ongoing since then. The report, submitted in 2019, was not released earlier due to its sensitive content.

According to the report, the Malayalam film industry denies opportunities to those who are not willing to “cooperate” and provide sexual favours. There is a general perception that actresses are here to make money and will therefore sleep with anyone.