Manchu Vishnu and Sumalatha call for commissions in film industry

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Telugu actor and president of (Movie Artists Association) MAA Manchu Vishnu took to his social media account on Friday, September 6, to announce that he has requested the Telangana government to set up a committee to ensure the safety and representation of women in the Telugu film industry.

This move comes in the wake of the Justice Hema Committee report and demands from the Telugu industry to make public the report of the sub-committee set up in 2019 to look into sexual harassment and gender discrimination in the industry.

Vishnu wrote on X that he met with Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and Cinematography Minister Komatireddy Venkat Reddy: “It is our priority to ensure a safe environment for everyone, both in front of and behind the camera. MAA is committed to continuous improvement and welcomes suggestions from industry stakeholders to make our industry a benchmark for safety and empowerment.”

Kannada actress and former MP Sumalatha also indicated that she plans to write a letter to the central government advocating stricter protection for women in the film industry.

Sumalatha expressed her concerns about the unpleasant experiences of women in the Malayalam film industry. She noted that many women had confided in her about harassment and pressure to work for opportunities.

She stressed that power groups exist in every film industry and political sphere, not just Malayalam cinema. She called for a constitutional body similar to a censor board to enforce laws for the safety of women in the film industry.

The former MP also praised the Women in Cinema Collective for encouraging women to speak out.

She also expressed her respect for the courage of the women who have come forward. She said she has not witnessed any such incidents herself, but has heard disturbing stories, such as harassment in hotel rooms or inappropriate behavior on set.

She stressed that creating a safe environment for women is a shared responsibility and that this problem is not limited to the Malayalam industry but affects all film industries in the country.

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Call for committees to address sexual harassment

Following the Hema Commission report, over 150 film professionals have urged the Karnataka government to set up a commission headed by a retired judge to tackle sexual harassment in the Kannada film industry.

In a letter dated September 4, the celebrities urged Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to look into the systemic issues affecting women in Kannada cinema. The letter was sent on behalf of the Film Industry for Rights and Equality (FIRE), a collective that advocates for a safer work environment.

Sandalwood celebrities, including actors Kichcha Sudeep and Ramya, signed the letter, which stressed the need for a detailed investigation into the rampant sexual harassment in the Kannada film industry.

The Telangana government, led by then Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao, constituted a high-level committee in April 2019. The panel comprised actors and technicians from the Telugu film industry, police officials and retired government officials. It formed a sub-committee to collect detailed information on the issues and also take recommendations and legal action.

However, the report has not been released yet. Recently, following the WCC, Telugu women actors and directors have been urging the Telangana government to release the report in the past few days.

The Justice Hema Commission’s report on the issues faced by women in the Malayalam film industry was made public on August 19, five years after it was submitted to the Kerala government.

The release of the Justice K Hema Commission report on harassment and abuse in the Malayalam film industry has sparked a storm of protest. Several female actors have come forward with disturbing stories of abuse they faced at the hands of their male counterparts.

The Kerala government formed the Justice Hema Committee after the 2017 actress sexual assault case. The report revealed cases of harassment and exploitation of women in the Malayalam cinema industry.

(Edited by Y Krishna Jyothi)

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