India’s ‘Me Too’ moment: Sexual abuse claims rock Kerala’s film industry after groundbreaking report

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 29 — The Kerala film industry is in turmoil after a groundbreaking report exposed widespread sexual abuse and poor working conditions in the industry.

The 290-page Hema Commission report, which details widespread harassment and exploitation of women in Malayalam cinema, has led to a flood of complaints to the police and significant outrage among industry executives, the BBC in a report published today.

The Hema Committee was formed in 2017 by the Kerala government following a shocking sexual assault on a leading actress. It was headed by a former judge of the Kerala High Court.

The high-profile case involved actor Dileep, who was accused of criminal conspiracy and was arrested for three months before being released on bail. The case is still pending in court.

Since the report’s publication, public accusations have increased.

Bengali actress Sreelekha Mitra has accused renowned director Ranjith of sexual harassment, prompting him to resign as president of the state’s prestigious film academy.

Mitra has also filed a complaint with the police.

In addition, there are many complaints that echo the report’s revelations that women in the sector are often pressured to ‘compromise’ on career opportunities.

Notable examples include the allegations levelled by Minu Muneer against prominent actor and lawmaker Mukesh, in which he alleged that unwanted physical advances were made during the shooting of a film.

Mukesh denies these allegations and accuses Muneer of blackmailing him and welcomes any investigation into the matter.

The report, which was filed in 2019 but only released last week after significant delays and legal battles, has prompted numerous women, including some who have given up acting, to come forward with their own allegations of sexual misconduct.

The revelation has led to more than a dozen police complaints against prominent male stars, with several of these stars also filing complaints of their own.

In response to the scandal, the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA) has dissolved its top governing body. AMMA president, superstar Mohanlal, resigned on “moral grounds” following the allegations against some of its members.

“This is just the tip of the iceberg. Only a few people have spoken out so far. There could be more serious problems,” actor Mala Parvathy told BBC Hindi.

The Kerala government, which was initially criticised for delaying the release of the report, has now set up a special team to investigate the complaints.

The Kerala High Court has demanded that the entire report, including previously redacted portions, be submitted for scrutiny.

The response within the Malayalam film industry has been mixed.

Some actors and industry figures have welcomed the report and are calling for a thorough investigation. Others, however, are concerned that the report could unfairly damage the reputation of all men in the industry.

As the investigation progresses, debate grows over the report’s implications and the future of an industry long praised for its progressive films but now facing widespread criticism and calls for reform.