Sexual harassment allegations rock Malayalam film industry

Several prominent film actors and directors are the subject of a police investigation into sexual abuse and harassment

By: Pramod Thomas

SEVERAL prominent film actors and directors are at the centre of a police investigation into sexual abuse and harassment in the southern Indian state of Kerala, a case that has only heightened the country’s outrage over violence against women.

The Malayalam film industry, or Mollywood as it is popularly known, has been rocked by a series of allegations of sexual harassment against several actors and directors. At the same time, there are ongoing protests by doctors across India against the rape and murder of a junior doctor in Kolkata.

The investigation in Kerala began after police received multiple complaints from female actors accusing male colleagues of sexual harassment and abuse.

The complaints came soon after a government-appointed committee, the Justice Hema Committee, released a report highlighting widespread sexual harassment and discrimination in the Malayalam film industry.

Mollywood, which produces around 150-200 films annually, is a dynamic industry known for its critically acclaimed and progressive Indian cinema.

Sparjan Kumar, inspector general of police in southern Kerala, said nine formal complaints have been filed against members of the film industry, including prominent actors and a director.

So far, 16 complaints have been received from women in the industry and a special seven-member police team has been formed to investigate these allegations.

Well-known actors M Mukesh, Jayasoorya and Maniyanpilla Raju have been named in the probe following complaints by female actors. Mukesh, who is also a state legislator representing the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)), is facing a rape charge based on allegations made by a female actor.

The case was registered under Section 376 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), which relates to rape, at Maradu police station in Kochi.

Additional cases have been filed against Jayasoorya and Maniyanpilla Raju under Section 354 of the Penal Code, which pertains to assault or use of criminal force against a woman with intent to outrage her modesty.

Actor Siddique has also been charged in a separate case relating to the alleged rape of an actress eight years ago, while director Ranjith is accused of inappropriate conduct dating back to 2009. Both Siddique and Ranjith have resigned from their positions in industry bodies following the allegations.

The controversy has led to a political row in Kerala. The ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) has come out in support of Mukesh and argued that he should not resign unless his guilt is proven. However, senior leaders such as CPI leader Annie Raja have called for Mukesh to resign and have stated that he no longer has the moral or legal standing to continue in office.

KK Shailaja, a senior CPI(M) leader and former minister, said a special investigation team was thoroughly probing all allegations. She stressed that the government would not shield any criminal and would act on the findings of the investigation.

These allegations come after the Justice Hema Committee report exposed the widespread exploitation and harassment of women in the Malayalam film industry. In response, the Kerala government set up a special investigation team to look into the complaints, with the aim of ensuring a safer working environment for women in the industry.

What is the Hema Commission report?

The Hema Commission report, a landmark investigation into the Malayalam-language film industry in Kerala, has revealed widespread sexual harassment and poor working conditions for women.

The 290-page report, led by retired judge K Hema and submitted to the government in December 2019, was only recently made public after nearly five years of delay due to legal challenges.

It exposed a “mafia of powerful men” controlling the industry and described conditions as appalling, with widespread sexual harassment and inadequate facilities such as toilets, changing rooms and transport for women on film sets.

The report was launched in the wake of the 2017 attack on prominent actress Bhavana Menon, which highlighted the mistreatment of women in the industry.

The Women in Cinema Collective (WCC) has called on the government to take action, highlighting systemic problems. The committee gathered evidence from various members of the industry, showing that women were often silenced to protect the industry’s reputation.

The findings show that male actors, producers and directors demand sexual favors as if it were their right, leaving women with little choice but to comply or give up their careers.

The commission’s report includes recommendations for improving safety and working conditions. The commission emphasizes that the aim is to make the film industry a safe and viable career option for everyone.

The report’s publication led to calls for action against the accused, with public protests and political debates taking place in Kerala.

Allegations of harassment and abuse in the Indian film industry are not new. In 2018, the #MeToo movement rocked Bollywood after actress Tanushree Dutta accused veteran actor Nana Patekar of inappropriate behavior on a film set in 2008. Patekar has denied the allegations.

Since then, Dutta claims she has faced professional repercussions, describing the Hema Commission report as “useless” and arguing that previous attempts to create safer workplaces for women have failed.

Conversely, Parvathy Thirutothu, an award-winning actress and a prominent member of the WCC Asian news channel that she considered the publication of the report “a victory.” She said the report had created an opportunity for significant change in the industry.

Jeo Baby, director of the critically acclaimed film The Great Indian Kitchenwho examined patriarchal structures within the family expressed a similar sentiment as the BBC.

He acknowledged that while gender issues remain a challenge, there is momentum within the industry for change. “This is the right time to correct this. The film industry must fight this together,” he said.

(with input from agencies)