Actor and Nadigar Sangam General Secretary Vishal sets up commission to probe exploitation in Kollywood

Tamil actor-producer Vishal

Actor and Nadigar Sangam General Secretary Vishal on Thursday said a committee will be set up in the next 10 days to investigate cases of sexual exploitation and harassment in the Tamil film industry.

Addressing the press on his 47th birthday, Vishal was asked about the recent revelations in the Hema Commission report in Kerala and whether a similar commission could be set up in Tamil Nadu.

“The Nadigar Sangam will form a committee in the next ten days,” Vishal was quoted as saying. “Preparations are underway. An announcement will be made soon. It is our duty to do so.”

He stressed that the Nadigar Sangam, an actors’ union in Tamil Nadu, is not just for the men in the industry. “It is also for women to know that someone is there for them.”

The report of the three-member Justice Hema Committee, formed in 2017, was made public on August 19, 2024, revealing shocking, horrific stories of discrimination, exploitation and sexual harassment of women in the Malayalam film industry. The report, submitted by the committee to the Kerala government in December 2019, was released with limited redactions. It has subsequently triggered a nationwide reckoning over how women are treated in the film industry in India.

In Kerala, the executive committee of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes (AMMA) was dissolved amid mounting allegations of sexual abuse and misconduct by women against some of its members. Among those dismissed were AMMA president and senior actor Mohanlal.

Speaking to the media, Vishal said that “there are definitely crazy men who have no respect for women and make such demands”.

“Women should be careful,” Vishal said. “They should verify whether the company is legitimate and whether they are really making a film as they claim. They should check all this before signing. They should be fearless and slap such men with slippers,” the actor-producer stated.

Vishal also said that there are ‘fraudsters’ in the Tamil industry who exploit women in the guise of opportunities.

“In the Tamil film industry, there are fraudsters who promise female artists roles in films, call them for photoshoots and auditions and then disappear. Women should be wary of them,” he said.

He continued: “If women in the industry feel disrespected or uncomfortable or feel like they’re being exploited by men, they should be given a slap on the wrist. Women should be brave in all circumstances.”

On allegations of sexual abuse against prominent figures in the Malayalam industry such as actor and CPI(M) leader Mukesh and actor Siddique, Vishal said, “If you have committed a crime, you have to go to jail. You cannot escape after ruining a woman’s life.”