High-profile layoffs, political fallout: What’s happening in Mollywood

The Malayalam film industry has been grappling with allegations of harassment and sexual abuse, particularly against female professionals. The issue, which has been simmering under the surface for years, came into the spotlight after the explosive findings of the Hema committee.

The 290-page report, commissioned by the Kerala government and headed by retired judge K Hema, revealed systematic harassment, abuse and a “criminal nexus” within the industry, leading to high-profile resignations and public outrage.

Notable layoffs

The public release of the Hema committee report has already led to an uproar within the Malayalam film industry. Two prominent figures, director Ranjith Balakrishnan and actor Siddique, have resigned from their respective positions amid allegations of misconduct.

Ranjith, a prominent filmmaker and president of Kerala Chalachitra Academy, has resigned following allegations of inappropriate behaviour by a Bengali actress. The actress alleged that Ranjith misbehaved with her during a film shoot a few years ago. However, Ranjith denies the allegations and claims that he is the “real victim”.

“Since the day I became the president of the Academy, I have been attacked by a certain section of the population. I have to prove to the society that the allegations are false. I have decided to take legal action and bring out the truth,” he was heard saying in an audio clip sent to a television channel, as reported by news agency PTI.

“Many people, including the media, are attacking me without understanding the truth. In this context, I have decided to resign from my post,” Ranjith added.

Actor Siddique, who served as the general secretary of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA), also resigned following allegations of sexual abuse by an actress. She accused Siddique of sexually assaulting her during a film discussion when she was just 21 years old.

Several members of AMMA, including vice-chairman Jayan Cherthala and actor Anoop Chandran, have supported Siddique’s decision to resign, saying it was morally and ethically right.

What is the Hema Commission report?

The Hema Committee was formed by the Kerala government following a sexual assault case involving an actress. The actress alleged that she was attacked by a group of men while she was travelling in 2017. The case made national headlines when actor Dileep, one of the biggest names in Malayalam cinema, was named as one of the accused. Dileep was arrested and held in custody for three months before being released on bail.

The commission was mandated to examine the working conditions of women in the Malayalam film industry and suggest measures to improve their safety and dignity.

The commission’s report, which took five years to come to light, details numerous cases of sexual harassment, exploitation and gender discrimination faced by women in Malayalam cinema. The report highlights the existence of a “power nexus” within the industry, where a small group of influential men, including producers, directors and actors, allegedly decide the fate of female professionals. Those who refuse to comply with their demands are systematically ostracized and pushed out of the industry, the report says.

Political consequences

The report’s release has sparked strong reactions from political parties and public figures. The opposition Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) has called for a thorough probe by a team of women IPS officers, while the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have demanded strict action against those implicated in the report.

The Kerala State Women’s Commission has also taken up the issue and recommended setting up grievance committees on film sets.

The Women in Cinema Collective (WCC), a group of female professionals in the Malayalam film industry, has welcomed the publication of the Hema Commission report.

“It has been a long journey for us! We believed that our fight for justice for all women who want a dignified professional space in the film industry was the right fight. Today we are proven right. The publication of the Hema Commission report is another step that WCC has taken,” a Facebook post read.

Ranjith’s resignation was welcomed by many, including Culture Minister Saji Cheriyan, who said the Left government in Kerala had always supported victims of sexual harassment.