Hema Justice Commission Report Exposes Sexual Exploitation of Women in Malayalam Film Industry; Kerala Opposition Demands Police Probe

Hours after the damning report of the Justice K Hema commission on the conditions of women working in the Malayalam film industry, which made shocking revelations about how women are sexually exploited in the industry, was finally released on Monday, Kerala’s Leader of Opposition V D Satheesan slammed the Pinarayi Vijayan government for keeping the report under wraps since 2019. Hema Commission report on Malayalam film industry released by Kerala government reveals shocking details of sexual exploitation and misogyny.

Justice Hema (retd) submitted her report in 2019 after being appointed by the Vijay government in 2017 at a cost to the state government of Rs 1.50 crore. However, the report was released only after a protracted legal battle on Monday, even amid last-minute attempts to delay its release. “This is a serious crime committed by the Vijay government and we want to know why this report was kept in cold storage. Was it to save those who perpetrated the exploitation? The need of the hour is a special police investigation team headed by a top woman IPS officer and bring all the wrongdoers to book, whoever they are and wherever they are,” Satheesan said.

Incidentally, Minister of Culture and Films Saji Cherian said that he has been the minister for the past three years and so far no complaint of exploitation has been received by him. “A report has been published now which talks about such things but I am ready to order an inquiry if there is a complaint. I want to let everyone know that there is no need to worry and any woman who comes with a complaint will not face any coercion,” he said. “We are holding a conclave in the coming months where all the leading figures of the film industry from different segments will be invited and a superficial discussion will take place and all burning issues will be addressed,” Cherian added.

The 289-page report of the Hema committee begins: “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: ‘Do not trust what you see, even salt looks like sugar’.” “The experiences that many women have had in the cinema are truly shocking and so serious that they have not even shared the details with their closest relatives. Surprisingly, during our research we found out that certain men had also had a lot of problems in the industry and that many of them, including some very prominent artists, had been illegally banned from working in the cinema for a considerable period of time. It was shocking to know that the only reason for such an illegal ban was due to very stupid reasons. They would have consciously or unconsciously ‘incited the wrath of some person from the powerful lobby in the industry, which rules the industry’, the report said. ‘Malayalam film industry ruled by mafia’: Justice K Hema commission report exposes abuse, casting couch, discrimination against women

“The biggest problem faced by women in the film industry is sexual harassment. It is the worst evil faced by women in the industry. Most of the women in the industry, who are known to be very brazen, are reserved and reluctant to share their bad experiences in the industry, especially sexual harassment. They are afraid to tell even their colleagues in the industry, fearing the consequences they may face. They fear that if they share their problems with others, they will be ostracized from the film world and exposed to other forms of harassment as such persons are powerful in the industry and all the men in the industry support them. By using fans and fan clubs, there would be severe online harassment against them (female artists) on social media. They would also face threats to life, not only for themselves but even for their close family members, as stated by several witnesses. Thus, they are silenced in the film industry,” Justice Hema’s report said.

“According to women in cinema, the harassment starts right from the beginning. From the statements of various witnesses heard by the commission, it appears that the production manager or the person making an offer for a role in cinema first approaches the woman/girl or, if it is the other way around, when a woman approaches a person in cinema who is looking for an opportunity in cinema, she is told to make ‘adjustments’ and ‘compromises’ to get her into cinema. ‘Compromises’ and ‘adjustments’ are two terms very familiar to women in the Malayalam film industry and they are asked to make themselves available for sex on demand.”

“There may be cases of consensual sex, but women in cinema are generally not willing to share a bed to get a chance in cinema. Another witness stated before the commission that there can also be women who are willing to adapt to the demands and she herself has seen certain mothers who manipulate the situation to their advantage and believe that there is nothing wrong with it. The witness stated that this is a shocking reality. According to women in cinema, it is a sad situation that a woman has to give in to sexual demands to get a job in cinema, while there is no such situation in any other field, as was indicated by many witnesses questioned before the commission,” the report said.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 20, 2024 08:37 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).