Sexual harassment report exposes dark side of Malayalam film industry, layoffs follow

In February 2017, the Malayalam film industry was rocked by a shocking incident when popular actress Bhavana Menon, known for her work in Malayalam, Tamil and Kannada films, was attacked in a moving car. The assailants, a group of five men, abducted her, filmed the attack and later released her. Following this traumatic incident, Bhavana Menon filed a complaint with the police, which led to a high-profile investigation.

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The investigation took a surprising turn when it was revealed that Dileep, a well-known Malayalam actor and a former co-star of Bhavana Menon, was allegedly involved in orchestrating the attack, Wion reported. The case attracted a lot of attention, especially after Dileep, a powerful figure in the industry, was arrested. Although he was in custody for three months, he was eventually released on bail. The case is still pending, with several witnesses having turned hostile over the years.

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The Bhavana Menon case led to wider scrutiny of the Malayalam film industry, particularly its treatment of women.

In November 2017, following the incident, the Kerala government set up the Hema Committee to investigate and address the issues faced by women in the industry, it reported India TodayThe committee, headed by retired judge Hema, actor Sarada and civil servant KB Valsala Kumari, invited women to share their experiences and promised confidentiality.

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More than 80 women came forward to testify, revealing a toxic environment within the Malayalam film industry. The commission’s findings, compiled in a 296-page report, were submitted to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in 2019. However, the report remained shelved for almost five years, leading to criticism and suspicions that the government was shielding influential figures in the industry.

The 296-page report was finally made public on August 19, 2024, revealing a grim reality.

The testimonies described widespread sexual harassment, the existence of a powerful lobby of directors, producers and technicians, and systemic problems that had long been ignored. The report revealed that basic amenities such as dressing rooms and toilets were often not provided to women on set. But the most alarming revelations were the accounts of sexual harassment and exploitation.

The report detailed how women were often forced to perform sexual favors for powerful men in the industry. It described instances of drunken actors, producers and directors knocking on female actors’ doors at night, demanding sex. Those who refused were harassed, including being forced to repeatedly perform intimate scenes on set. The report also highlighted the significant pay gap between male and female actors, even in films starring women.

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“(The industry) is controlled by a group of male actors, producers, distributors, exhibitors and directors who have acquired enormous fame and wealth” and they were among the perpetrators. Men in the industry openly make demands for sex without any scruples as if it were their birthright. Women have little choice but to oblige – or refuse at the cost of their long-awaited dream of pursuing cinema as a profession,” BBC quoted the report.

After the report was published, a few actors found the courage to come forward and share their stories. A female actor accused veteran actor Siddique of raping and harassing her when she was 19. Although she had made similar allegations in 2019, she was met with skepticism and criticism at the time. However, the Hema Committee report gave credence to her claims, prompting Siddique to resign as the secretary general of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA), the Economic Times reported.

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Similarly, Bengali actor Sreelekha Mitra accused Malayalam director Ranjith of inappropriate behaviour, leading to his resignation as chairman of Kerala Chalachitra Academy. Further, actor Minu Muneer accused several prominent figures, including Mukesh, Maniyanpilla Raju, Idavela Babu and Jayasurya, of assault on the sets of a 2013 film.

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Following mounting public pressure, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan held a “high-level meeting” with police officials and formed a seven-member special team to probe the reported abuse faced by women working in the industry. The Kerala State Women’s Commission has recommended setting up grievance redressal committees on film sets, NDTV reported.

The Hema Committee report has exposed the dark side of the Malayalam film industry. While the firings of Siddique and Ranjith are seen as steps in the right direction, the revelations have also fueled a broader conversation about accountability and protection of women in the industry.

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