MeToo in Mollywood: Shahabaz Aman backs Gowry Lekshmi

Singer Gauri Lekshmi and musician Shahabaz Aman

As the Justice Hema Commission report creates a stir in the Malayalam film industry, Mollywood music director Shahabaz Aman on Monday, August 26, spoke out in support of composer, songwriter and singer Gowri Lekshmi, who recently revealed that a senior music director had tried to abuse her.

In a revelation she made after the release of the Justice Hema Committee report, she said she had decided never to work with the composer again after he allegedly demanded compromises in exchange for opportunities.

This confession adds to the stir as the debate over the exploitation of women in the Malayalam film industry continues to grow louder.

He extended his support to the singer who entered Mollywood in her early teens and highlighted the seriousness of Gowri’s allegations. In a statement, he said the allegations against the composer should be taken seriously and if Gowri felt comfortable enough, she should address him publicly.

The statement said: “The allegations made by singer Gowri Lekshmi against a senior composer must be taken seriously. If Gowri is willing, the name should be made public. She is currently hurt by the cyber attacks and has been ridiculed for presenting her life experience in the form of a song.”

He added that the trauma this causes must be taken into account.

“Dear Gowri, you are amazing. You are a fantastic singer. You speak clearly. Go ahead and break barriers!” he wrote in a social media post.

Related: From Racism in Kollywood to Sexual Exploitation in Mollywood

Report of the Hema Justice Commission

The Kerala government on August 19 released the Justice K Hema Committee report, which exposed harassment of women actors in the film industry. The report was released after the Kerala High Court rejected actor Ranjini’s pleas against the release of the report. She had said that she was among those who had given their statements to the committee but had not been given a copy.

The report delves deep into everything from wage discrimination to sexual exploitation, and exposes the hidden harassment in the Malayalam film industry. It also revealed the casting couch culture and the silent suffering of women in cinema. The government released a 233-page document, with some parts that reveal the personal information of actors omitted.

The report said that female actors are typically expected to provide sexual favors to insiders. The controller or the one making an offer for a role in the cinema first approaches the woman (in some cases a girl) or if it is the other way around, a woman approaches every person in the cinema seeking an opportunity, she is told that she has to make “adjustments” and “compromises” to make her way into the cinema, the report said.

“Compromise” and “adjustment” are two terms that are very familiar to women in the Malayalam film industry and they are asked to make themselves available for sex on demand. The report also throws light on the difficult challenges faced by women in the Malayalam film industry.

(Edited by Neena with inputs from Sreelakshmi)

(South First is now on WhatsApp and Telegram)