Khushbu Sundar on #MeToo in Malayalam Cinema

In response to the ongoing #MeToo movement in the Malayalam film industry, actress-politician Khushbu Sundar has hailed the Kerala government’s formation of the Justice K Hema Committee as a vital step in addressing the sexual harassment and abuse faced by women in cinema. Sundar’s remarks came via her official X (formerly Twitter) account on Wednesday, following the release of the committee’s 235-page report, which highlights numerous cases of harassment and exploitation in the industry. The report was released last week after the committee was formed in the wake of the actress’s 2017 sexual assault case.

The Justice K Hema Committee was formed to investigate the systematic abuse of women in the Malayalam film industry, which has come under scrutiny after high-profile allegations were made. The report documents disturbing cases of sexual harassment and exploitation, confirming what many industry insiders have feared. Khushbu Sundar, a prominent BJP leader and former member of the National Commission for Women (NCW), has extended her support to the committee’s efforts, calling it a crucial step towards confronting and dismantling the toxic environment that women professionals in the film industry find themselves in.

💔 This moment of #Me, too Dominating our industry breaks you. Kudos to the women who stood their ground and emerged victorious. ✊ The #HemaCommittee was desperately needed to break the abuse. But will that happen?

Abuse, asking for sexual favors and expecting women to compromise in order to…

— KhushbuSundar (@khushsundar) August 28, 2024

In her detailed X-post, she praised the women who bravely came forward to share their experiences and advocated for the importance of standing up against abuse. She expressed frustration with society’s tendency to blame and shame victims, and emphasized that while abuse and exploitation are prevalent across a range of areas, women disproportionately bear the burden of these challenges. She urged empathy and support for victims, and stressed that not all women have the privilege or opportunity to speak out.

Sundar confronts past and intimidation

She also reflected on her personal experiences and answered questions about why she had not spoken out sooner about the abuse she suffered at the hands of her father. She said she had been sexually abused by her father at the age of eight, an experience she did not begin to publicly challenge and confront until she was a teenager. Sundar explained that her silence was not a compromise for career advancement, but a result of the complex personal struggles she was dealing with.

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Sundar also shared an anecdote from her early career in South Indian cinema. She recalled a disturbing incident with a producer who made inappropriate advances. Sundar, defending her stand, confronted the producer head-on and showed her determination against such exploitation. She stressed the need for both women and men to support each other in the fight against harassment and create a more protective work environment.

Sundar’s plea leads to reforms in the industry

Sundar’s comments and the Justice K Hema committee report have sparked a wide-ranging debate. They have highlighted the widespread problems of abuse within the Malayalam film industry and the need for continued reforms and support for those affected.

As the industry grapples with these revelations, Khushbu Sundar’s efforts and the committee’s findings are crucial to driving change and ensuring survivors’ voices are heard and respected.

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