Hema Commission Report on Malayalam Film Industry Reveals Shocking Details of Sexual Exploitation and Misogyny

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Updated: Aug 19, 2024 9:56 PM IST

Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala) (India), August 19 (ANI): The Justice Hema Committee’s report on the Malayalam film industry has revealed shocking details of sexual exploitation of women working in it.
The report, released by the state government on Monday, found that in many cases, women are forced to provide sexual favours to gain opportunities in the sector.
The report that examined the issues faced by women in the Malayalam film industry has revealed inside details about the industry. The committee comprised of chairman Justice Hema (former High Court Judge), T Sharada (cine artist) and KB Valsala Kumari (former bureaucrat).
The government published the report after omitting 63 pages from the original 295-page report.
The report said the actress’ 2017 sexual assault case was not the only incident in the industry, but it had been reported.
The sexual assault on a Malayalam actress in a moving vehicle prompted the formation of the committee. Malayalam actor Dileep was accused in the case and is being prosecuted.
“The sky is full of mysteries; with the twinkling stars and the beautiful moon. But scientific research has shown that stars do not twinkle and the moon does not look beautiful. The study therefore warns: ‘Don’t trust what you see, even salt looks like sugar!'” the report begins with this paragraph.
The statements reveal that the production manager or whoever is casting a role in the film first approaches the woman/girl or even if it is the other way around, she is told to make “adjustments” and “compromises”. The words are very familiar to women in the Malayalam industry and they are asked to be available for sex on demand, the report said.

Women in cinemas are often accompanied by family and close relatives, as they do not feel safe staying alone in the accommodation provided for them. “In most hotels where they stay, the doors are knocked on by the men who work in the cinema, who are usually drunk. Many women stated that knocking is not polite or decent, but they bang on the door repeatedly, violently. In many cases, they felt as if the door would collapse and men would force their way into the room,” the report said.
The commission’s report also highlights an incident in which an actress was forced to pose as the wife of someone who had previously sexually abused her.
“…the next day she had to work with the same man as husband and wife, embracing each other. It was horrible. Because of what had been done to her during the shoot, her resentment and hatred were visible on her face. There had to be 17 retakes for just one shot. The director criticized her for the situation.”
Many male and female artists have stated that they are being publicly threatened and defamed by publishing all kinds of comments and posting certain vulgar photos, videos, etc. on Facebook and other social media.
They are also subjected to trolling and many messages are circulated on WhatsApp. Various comments of sexual color are made against them in public and even pictures of penises and other images are posted on the wall of the female artists followed by comments that they will be raped etc., to ridicule, threaten, demoralize and humiliate the female artist.
It has been found that about ten to fifteen persons in the cinema who are at the forefront of the Malayalam film industry form a power group and control the Malayalam film industry. According to the evidence, certain actors in the cinema (some of whom are also producers, distributors, exhibitors or directors) — all men — have acquired immense fame and wealth and now have complete control over the entire Malayalam film industry.
Many men in the film industry have stated emphatically to us that many people, including even famous actors, were banned from the cinema.
Their names were also mentioned. If a member of the power group is not satisfied with someone in the cinema, no matter how efficient he may be, even because of personal prejudices, all the members of the power group join hands and such a person is prevented from working in the cinema.
The Hema Commission was formed in response to a 2017 sexual abuse case involving an actor. It submitted its report to the Chief Minister on December 31, 2019. (ANI)