EXPRESS DIALOGUES | We welcome a Hema committee for sandalwood, says KFCC president NM Suresh

The Justice Hema Committee threw light on sexual exploitation and inhuman working conditions in the Malayalam film industry. Following this, members of Film Industry for Rights and Equality (FIRE) met Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and urged him to set up a similar committee in Karnataka. What is your take on this?

As far as I know, there might have been incidents in the past. KFCC is the highest body regarding Kannada film industry. We are not related to FIRE anywhere. For all issues regarding films and artists, KFCC decision is the highest. Stalwarts like Dr. Rajkumar, Vishnuvardhan and Ambareesh had immense respect for KFCC.

The only complaint regarding sexual harassment that we received was in Shruthi Hariharan’s case and we resolved that. Since I took charge as KFCC President, there have been no such incidents and no female artistes have complained to us. If some unaccredited outfits have met the CM without KFCC’s knowledge and given a letter, we cannot respond.

Should the government set up a panel similar to the Hema Justice Commission?

If any artiste faces any sexual harassment or any problem in the Kannada industry, as the president of KFCC I promise that their complaint will be taken up immediately and justice will be done. And if the government takes a decision similar to the Malayalam industry and sets up a panel by appointing a retired judge and making guidelines, we will welcome that.

After the Justice Hema Committee report, the Chairperson of the Karnataka Women’s Panel wrote a letter to KFCC. What is this letter about?

We have called a meeting of all the artists on September 16th, where the Chairperson of the Karnataka State Commission for Women will be present. Those who have complaints can file them in her presence on that day.