Malayalam actress Sowmya accuses Tamil director of RAPE: “He used me as a sex slave”

In recent developments that have sent shockwaves through the Malayalam film industry, actress Sowmya has made serious allegations against a prominent Tamil director, accusing him of grooming her as a sex slave and subjecting her to prolonged sexual assault. These revelations add to a growing list of similar allegations that have emerged in the industry, highlighting systemic issues of exploitation and harassment.

Sowmya, a popular actress from the 90s, has opened up about her harrowing experiences and alleged that the abuse began when she was just 18 during the shooting of her debut Tamil film. According to reports, Sowmya described how the director, under the guise of a father-daughter relationship, gradually abused her trust. She revealed that the director’s inappropriate advances escalated into rape, an ordeal that lasted for almost a year while she was still in college. Despite her discomfort, Sowmya felt compelled to work with the director due to a sense of obligation and the pervasive culture of silence and shame that surrounds such incidents.

Malayalam actress Sowmya accuses Tamil director of RAPE: ‘He used me as a sex slave…’

she told NDTV: “One fine day, when his wife was not there, this man kissed me, calling me his daughter. I was completely frozen. I wanted so badly to tell my friends, but I couldn’t… I was ashamed, I thought I had done something wrong and that I was obliged to be nice to this man.”

“So I kept practicing, going to dance rehearsals… every day I went back and gradually, step by step, this man used my body completely to his advantage. At one point he forced himself on me… so he raped me. This went on for almost a year while I was in college.”

Actress Sowmya alleged that despite the director calling her his ‘daughter’, he ‘spoiled’ her and assaulted her. She further accused her of ‘grooming her as a sex slave’. She said: ‘It took me 30 years to heal and recover from this sense of ‘shame’… I encourage survivors to report all such abuse.’

The timing of Sowmya’s allegations coincides with the release of the Justice Hema Committee report, which has exposed widespread sexual misconduct in the Malayalam film industry. The report has prompted several women in the industry to speak out, leading to an official inquiry and filing of FIRs against several film personalities.

Sowmya’s decision to break her silence after decades is a significant moment for the industry as it underscores the deep-rooted power imbalance and culture of impunity that has allowed such behaviour to continue. She indicated that she plans to disclose the director’s identity to the special police team set up by the Kerala government, which is actively investigating the allegations.

The Hema Committee, which was set up to investigate and address these issues, has been instrumental in creating a platform for victims to voice their experiences. Sowmya has publicly expressed her gratitude to the Committee for its support and for bringing these issues to light. The Committee’s findings have already led to increased pressure on the industry to implement reforms that protect actors from exploitation and harassment.

This revelation has wider implications for the Malayalam film industry, which is now at a crossroads. The unfolding scandal has led to introspection and debate about the treatment of women in cinema and the urgent need for systemic change. Industry stakeholders are being called upon to promote a safer and fairer working environment to ensure that such abuses do not go unpunished.

As the investigation continues, the industry must confront its past mistakes and commit to meaningful reform. The courage of performers like Sowmya to share their stories is a vital step towards change, and offers a glimmer of hope for future generations of performers who aspire to work in an industry free from fear and coercion.

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