WCC proposes to implement a cinema code of conduct in Malayalam film industry – All you need to know

According to the film industry code of conduct, there should be employment contracts for all film workers at all levels, including the film title, employer and employee details. See the full report.

Kerala has launched an investigation into rape allegations involving several prominent stars from the Malayalam film industry. The development comes in the wake of a surge in the #MeToo movement sparked by the release of the Justice Hema Committee report, which exposed a culture of sexual exploitation in Kerala’s entertainment sector. The allegations came to light after the Kerala High Court ordered the publication of the five-year-old report, which was originally prepared following the 2017 abduction and sexual assault of a leading female actor. The report was authored by a panel that looked into the safety of women in the film industry.

On September 7, the Women in Cinema Collective (WCC), who played a key role in pushing for the investigation, said a Code of Conduct for Cinema Visitors to address these persistent issues, and seek feedback from the public and industry insiders. The WCC said on their social media page: “To rebuild the Malayalam film industry as an equal and safe workplace for all, we are starting a series today with our proposed recommendations. We hope that all members of the industry come together in open solidarity and spirit to adopt a Cinema Code of Conduct that will help transform our film industry for the better on and off screen. Stay tuned!” the post read.

What is Code of Conduct for Cinema Goers?

According to the code, there should be employment contracts for all film workers at all levels, specifying the film title, employer and employee details. The agreement should specify the terms and conditions of remuneration and payment, work profile, duration of work and the nature of credits to be provided. The proposal states that the remuneration, terms, duration and credits should be specified in the agreement. Temporary workers should also have contracts. The WCC also wants to disclose the name of the film and the details of the employer and employee. Earlier, the committee suggested the need to implement the Posh Act of 2013 against sexual harassment and prevent gender discrimination, biased interactions and sexual harassment.

The WCC, which has been campaigning for the report’s publication for years, had earlier said in a note: “The order that breaks the long and disappointing silence indeed gives hope to all of us who have tirelessly striven for a breakthrough.” It added that proposing implementation of solutions without revealing the findings was an exercise in mockery of the system. “We strongly believe that this step (by the SIC) to reveal the findings with accountability can be an authentic basis for real solutions, change and process,” the WCC noted.

The version of the report now available to the public has been heavily redacted to protect the privacy of those who gave statements, with all identifying details, including the names of the perpetrators, removed. However, the report has since encouraged many women in the industry to share their traumatic experiences publicly, sparking a new wave of #MeToo in Kerala.

Kerala Police have so far registered FIRs against 11 persons, ten of whom are from the film industry based on complaints filed by women. Those booked include actors Mukesh, Nivin Pauly, Siddique, Jayasurya, Edavela Babu and Maniyanpilla Raju, directors Ranjith and VK Prakash and production heads Vichu and Noble. Actor Baburaj, directors Tulasidas and VA Shrikumar Menon have also been named in complaints, but no FIRs have been registered against them so far.

Meanwhile, the special investigation team of seven police officers, four of whom are women IPS officers, is currently taking statements of victims who have come forward with their complaints but have not yet questioned the accused. The Kerala High Court has decided to constitute a special bench with a woman judge to hear the cases related to the Justice Hema Committee report.