Hema committee report should be investigated and strong action taken, says Prithviraj-Telangana Today

He said candidly that mistakes were made at AMMA and that strong action should have been taken in the past.

Kochi: Three-time winner of the Kerala State Film Award for Best Actor, Prithviraj, on Monday minced no words as he categorically demanded an inquiry into the findings of the Hema Commission report on the conditions and sexual exploitation of women in the Malayalam film industry and “strong” action against the violators, while noting that there have been lapses in the Association of Malayalam Movies Artistes (AMMA).

“What effect it will have, I don’t know and if it has to have an effect, it should. There should be a proper investigation into the report and if the allegations against anyone are found to be true, then very strong action should be taken and if they are found to be false, then the same strong action should be taken against those who made them,” he said.

Asked if the contents of the report surprised him, Prithviraj shot back: “Why should I be surprised, since I was one of the first persons to testify before the commission? Like you (media), I am also waiting to know what will happen.”

He said candidly that mistakes were made at AMMA and that strong action should have been taken in the past.

In response to another question about the presence of a ‘power group’ in the Malayalam film industry, as alleged in the report, he said, “Just because I say that I am not influenced by the power group, it does not mean that it is not there. And if such a group exists, I will say that such a thing should not happen.”

“I feel that in all organisations there should be a woman representative at the top post,” Prithviraj told a poser asking if things would have been better if a woman had held the top post of president or secretary general at AMMA.

He made it clear that it is in the best interests of everyone that if an accusation is made against someone, that person resigns from the office he holds.

When it was pointed out how a talented actress like Parvathy was being kept out, he shot back: “Before that happened, I was the one who had to bear it.”

Since last Monday, after the explosive report of the Hema committee finally came out, two film stars have resigned from their positions, while many more influential AMMA members have been named by their alleged victims.

On Sunday, Siddique, general secretary of AMMA, and Ranjith, president of Kerala State Chalachitra Academy and a film icon, resigned after two different actresses accused them of misbehaving towards them.

Other names named as tormentors include actor and former CPI-M legislator Mukesh, senior actors Maniyan Pillai Raju, Jayasurya, Edavela Babu, Baburaj and director Tulasidas.

Prithviraj said he had a programme on Monday and hence decided to meet the media only to express his views. He did not want to communicate through a social media post or a press release.