I have always been a fan of Malayalam films. For those who may not know, the Malayalam film industry is one of the largest film industries in India. The films they produce are some of the best. The performances are solid and some of the best films I have seen in the last 10 years have come from the industry. I had also heard that this was an industry that was very professional – one where everyone worked as one, things got done on time, everyone was respected and there was never/rarely any ego-hassles. Little did I know that this was all a facade.

The first time I started exposing the dirty truth of this industry was in 2017 when a prominent actress was kidnapped and sexually assaulted by a group of men. Investigations revealed that these men were hired by actor Dileep (a leading actor in the industry) because the actress probably did not give in to his advances. When this incident happened, there was initially no support for the woman. However, at the insistence of the Women in Cinema Collective (WCC), a committee was set up to look into these abuses. This committee was headed by retired Justice K. Hima to look into cases of sexual abuse in the Malayalam film industry. The report was submitted in December 2019 but remained hidden from the public until recently despite multiple requests to the Kerala High Court to do the same.

The report is over 200 pages long and paints a grim picture of the systematic sexual harassment and abuse faced by women in the Malayalam film industry. The report is supported by substantial evidence including video clips, audio recordings and screenshots of inappropriate messages sent by members of the industry to female actors, further corroborating the allegations of harassment and abuse.

Below are my 8 key takeaways from the report (warning: some findings are highly sensitive)

1. Sexual harassment is rampant, with women describing being forced to engage in sexual activity to secure roles or maintain their position in the industry. Women are often pressured to conform to sexual demands from actors, producers, directors and other powerful figures, or risk being blacklisted. The cycle of abuse is endless.
2. The casting couch is widespread and normalized, with women being pressured into sexual relationships with powerful figures in exchange for roles.
3. An organized group of men, called a “mafia,” exercises considerable control over the industry. This group intimidates both men and women, effectively excluding or blacklisting dissenters.
4. Working conditions for women are terrible, with a lack of toilet facilities and changing rooms, making them even more vulnerable.
5. Women who respond to sexual advances are often given derogatory code names, which further objectify and dehumanize them.
6. The men are conditioned to demand sex and expect the women to do what they want, when they want it. The report describes cases where drunken crew members violently knocked on women’s doors at night, demanding sexual favors.
7. There are large differences in pay and working conditions between male and female employees. Women often receive lower wages and fewer benefits than their male colleagues.
8. Minors are also victims of sexual abuse, revealing a disturbing trend of pedophilia, where young girls are exposed to the same pressures as adult women.

So what did the men have to say? And the government? The report reveals a disturbing indifference and apathy among both male members of the Malayalam film industry and the state government. While many male members of the industry dismiss the seriousness of sexual harassment as a common problem in all workplaces, the state government’s insistence on requiring a formal complaint from a victim before taking action, coupled with the delayed publication of the report under the guise of protecting the privacy of witnesses, is likely a deliberate attempt to shield influential men from accountability, thus perpetuating a culture of impunity and silence. Bear in mind that some Malayalam stars go on to become politicians, making it likely that both groups are working together.

A logical question some of you may be asking is what was the outcome of the investigation. Were the perpetrators caught? Are things better now? The answer is unfortunately NO. Actor Dileep is still making films. Still a star. Still has a huge fan base. He was jailed for a few days and then released. What happened to the actress who was attacked – nobody knows. The state government is doing nothing. They keep insisting that a woman should come forward and file a formal complaint so that they can take the next step. The government knows that no woman will come forward. Because the women know that if they do, they will either be killed or their chances of getting justice are zero.

Women don’t need men to protect them; they need powerful men to stop protecting each other. I am convinced that the Nirbhaya culprits are in jail because they are poor. If they were rich, they would be untouchable. I have no hope that anyone from the Gowda/Prejwal Revanna family, TMC functionaries involved in Sandeshkhali or big film stars will ever face justice.

JusticeForSurvivors #StopSexualHarassment #ReformFilmIndustry #SupportVictims #AccountabilityNow #StopProtectingAbusers #SafeWorkplace #SpeakOutAgainstAbuse #GenderEquality #FilmIndustryKerala #ProtectTheVulnerable #StopSilenceOfVictims

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