#MeToo Wave: Will Sexual Exploitation in Tollywood Come to Light with a Report to Be Prepared in 2022?

Following the Hema Commission report on the Malayalam film industry, actresses from the Telugu Film Industry also suggested setting up a similar committee Tollywood and interestingly enough, Samantha also pushed for it. South was the first to report that a subcommittee was launched two years ago in Tollywood on sexual harassment and discrimination, but it has still not been made public.
However, the Government of Telangana has been pressuring the commission to make the findings public, but there has been no response or follow-up to the disclosure. Netizens on social media have been discussing that the Telangana government is trying to protect the film industry and several feminist organisations have also been calling on the government to make the report public in the past few days.
Actress Shakeela a few days ago reported that sexual exploitation and abuse is high in the Tollywood industry. After her, many television actresses came forward to state that the report submitted by the sub-committee on June 1, 2022, is not yet out and asked the Telangana government to take immediate action.
Samantha after the Hema committee report in the Malayalam film industry was announced, took to social media to Women in Cinema Collective (WCC) whose efforts exposed the sectarian abuse in the industry. She wrote: “For years I have followed the incredible work of WCC in Kerala. Their journey has not been easy. Now that the serious implications of the Hema Commission report are coming to light, we owe a debt of gratitude to WCC. A safe and respectful workplace should be the bare minimum, but many have to fight for it. But their efforts have not been in vain. I hope this is just the beginning of a much-needed transformation. My love and respect go out to my friends and sisters in WCC.”