Mohanlal’s old video on #MeToo goes viral

An old video of Indian actor and film producer Mohanlal dismissing the #MeToo movement as a “fad” has gone viral, sparking outrage on social media.

This follows Mohanlal’s resignation as president of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA), following the damning findings of the Hema Commission report on systematic abuse in Mollywood.

In the viral video, Malayalam superstar Mohanlal is seen downplaying the significance of #MeToo, saying it is just a ‘fashion trend’.

It is worth mentioning here that the Hema Commission report, headed by Justice K. Hema, investigated sexual harassment and gender equality in the Malayalam film industry. The report, made public on August 19, revealed that an all-male group of 15 industry figures controlled opportunities and perpetuated exploitation.

As West Bengal grapples with ongoing protests against the brutal rape and murder of a woman doctor in Kolkata, Kerala is witnessing the rise of its own #MeToo wave.

The Hema Commission report has revealed systematic abuse of women in the Malayalam film industry (Mollywood), leading to a series of high-profile dismissals.

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Following the publication of the report, actor Siddique resigned as general secretary of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA) on August 25, followed by filmmaker Ranjith’s resignation as chairman of the Kerala Chalachitra Academy. FIRs have been filed against both the individuals.

On August 27, the entire executive board of AMMA, including its chairman Mohanlal, resigned, citing “moral responsibility.”

The firing, however, did little to shield Mohanlal from public scrutiny. Shortly after, a 2019 interview resurfaced online in which Mohanlal dismissed the #MeToo movement as a “fad” and “fashionable.”

In the interview, he laughed off the idea of ​​a male equivalent of #MeToo and downplayed the movement. He also claimed to be unaware of the movement and avoided commenting on AMMA’s handling of the 2017 sexual harassment scandal involving actor Dileep.

The resurfaced video has sparked outrage on social media, with many condemning Mohanlal’s dismissive stance. Commentators have expressed disappointment, with some accusing him of being complicit in the industry’s toxic culture. Despite the backlash, Mohanlal has yet to comment on the controversy.

On the other hand, other prominent actors such as Nani, Prithviraj Sukumaran and Vikram have expressed their disgust at the findings of the Hema committee report, which points to a shift in the way the industry is responding to issues of harassment and abuse.