The ugly side of Kerala cinema exposed by Hema Commission report

The shocking findings of the Hema committee that have now come to light have exposed the deep-rooted patriarchy and sexual exploitation prevalent in the Malayalam film industry. The report comes at a time when the rape and murder of a young doctor in Kolkata has already sent the nation into a frenzy. The ‘Me Too’ moment in Kerala has exposed the gender inequality and the stranglehold of a powerful ‘mafia’ on an industry that has grown by leaps and bounds in recent times. The committee, headed by retired Kerala High Court judge Justice K Hema and comprising veteran actress Sharada and retired IAS officer KB Valsala Kumari, was formed after the gruesome abduction and sexual assault of an actress in 2017, allegedly at the behest of a superstar actor. The Women in Cinema Collective (WCC), which was formed in the wake of the incident, urged the government to ensure justice for the rape victim and address the issues faced by women in the Malayalam film industry. After two years of extensive study and interviews with around 264 women, many of whom were reluctant to speak out for fear of losing their livelihoods or even their lives, the committee submitted its report in 2019. It took five years for the state government to release its findings, with 62 paragraphs redacted to keep the victims and perpetrators supposedly anonymous. Now, the Kerala High Court has ordered the state government to submit the report in its entirety.

The report exposes the appalling conditions under which female artistes work, often without toilets or dressing rooms. The culture of seeking sexual favours in exchange for work is pervasive. Women are often harassed with midnight knocks on their hotel room doors during outdoor shoots; they are urged to ‘compromise’ and ‘adjust’ for job security, the report said. The report highlighted the atmosphere of fear that forced women in Malayalam cinema to compromise their dignity and self-respect. It found that a ‘mafia’ of around 15-20 very powerful figures controlled the film industry in Kerala and even the careers of senior actors depended on their patronage. The case of veteran actor Thilakan comes to mind as his defiance of the powerful lobby led to an informal two-year ban on him. The report pointed out the acute gender disparity in pay and benefits. It is this discrimination that the WCC fought against, for which they were mocked by the all-powerful Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA). The most influential voices in Malayalam cinema, such as Mohanlal and Mammooty, prominent members of AMMA, have remained silent on the committee’s findings. The younger generation of actors too has remained silent on the issue.

Is the wind of change finally blowing through Kerala cinema? The serious allegations levelled against noted director and chairperson of Kerala Chalachitra Academy Ranjith by Bengali actress Sreelekha Mitra and against AMMA General Secretary Siddique by a young actress have forced them to resign. With more revelations against actor and CPM MLA M Mukesh, under pressure, the Kerala government, which had until recently said that the law would take its own course, has set up a Special Investigation Team (SIT) of seven police officers to study the Hema Commission report. However, this is being seen as a farce and nothing more than a time-wasting tactic as it is unlikely that all the 264 women who testified before the Hema Commission will appear before the SIT to substantiate their allegations. One of the members of the SIT is known to have close links with the superstar who was accused of orchestrating the kidnapping and rape of the actress in 2017.

So, will the big fish get away? During his resignation, Ranjith denied all the allegations and alleged that there was a right-wing conspiracy to discredit the Left government in the state. The shocking inaction of the Pinarayi Vijayan government in the face of this damning report has exposed the nexus between a section of the film industry and the Left government. This is not to say that sexual exploitation and deep-rooted discrimination against women in the film industry, especially young artistes and junior technicians, is not prevalent in other film centres. However, the extent of the malaise in Kerala has been exposed thanks to the Hema committee. It is now up to the Malayalam film industry to stop the rot and ensure a safe working environment for women. Women must be encouraged to name their oppressors so that heads roll and the fear that prevails in the industry is removed once and for all. Malayalam cinema has rightly been hailed as a pioneer in many ways, but an environment so toxic and exploitative cannot be tolerated.