Findings of Hema committee report are more heartbreaking because they are known: Swara Bhasker-Telangana Today

Actor first from Hindi film industry to speak out on what is being described as Kerala’s #MeToo moment

New Delhi: Showbiz has always been a patriarchal power structure where a woman who speaks out is labelled a troublemaker, says actor Swara Bhasker. The findings of the Justice Hema Committee report on sexual exploitation in the Malayalam film industry are creating a stir and more and more people are coming forward to share their experiences.

The actor, the first from the Hindi film industry to speak out publicly about what is being described as Kerala’s #MeToo moment, shared a lengthy post on Instagram after reading the 233-page report by the government-appointed panel.

“Do other language industries in India even talk about such things? Until we face the uncomfortable truths that we all know around us, the burdens of existing abuses of power will continue to be borne by those who are vulnerable… It was heartbreaking to read the findings of the commission. Even more heartbreaking because it is familiar. Maybe not every detail and not every nitty gritty, but the bigger picture of what the women have testified is all too familiar,” she wrote.

Bhasker, known for her outspoken views on topical issues, expressed solidarity with the women who spoke out and with the members of the Women in Cinema Collective (WCC). They demanded that the Kerala government set up an expert committee to look into the working conditions in their industry.

“Showbiz is and has always been a male-centric industry, a patriarchal power structure. It is also very perception-sensitive and risk-averse. Every day of production shooting, as well as pre- and post-production days, are days when the meter is running and money is being spent. No one likes disruption. Even if the disruptor has made her voice heard for what is ethically correct. It is so much more convenient and financially practical to just move on,” she wrote in the post.

While the comprehensive report was released on August 19, the panel appointed by the Kerala government to look into issues of sexual harassment and gender inequality was constituted after the 2017 actress assault case involving actor Dileep. Silence is the convention and is valued, practical and rewarded in the film industry, the 36-year-old added.

“Showbiz is not only patriarchal, it is also feudal in nature. Successful actors, directors and producers are elevated to the status of demigods and whatever they do is permissible. If they do something untoward, the norm is for everyone around them to look away. If someone makes too much noise and does not drop a problem, label them as ‘troublemakers’ and make them bear the burden of their over-enthusiastic conscience,” she wrote.

Bhasker, known for films such as the Tanu marries Manu franchise, No Battey Sannata And Veere Di Weddingsaid the prevalence of sexual harassment in showbiz around the world is being “normalized” by silence.

“This is happening all over the world. It’s normalizing sexual harassment in showbiz and making a predatory environment ‘the way things are.’ Let’s be clear, when power relations are so skewed, newcomers and other women who accept these conditions cannot be blamed for working within a framework they didn’t create. Accountability must always be held to those who hold the power and create conditions where women have no choice if they want to work,” she added.

The actor gave a shoutout to the members of the WCC, women who testified and those who consoled each other, and all those women who have endured sexual harassment and violence in the industry. “You are heroes and you are doing the work that people in positions of power should have been doing: respect and solidarity with you!”

On Tuesday, Mohanlal, a celebrated actor and president of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA), along with other top officials, resigned amid heavy criticism over allegations of sexual abuse levelled against some of its members.

Following the report, many female actors, including a Bengali actor, have openly come forward with allegations of sexual harassment against some of the well-known faces of Malayalam cinema, including leading director Ranjith and actors Siddique and Mukesh.