Malayalam cinema industry in turmoil: Tracking the fallout of the Hema Committee Report

The Hema Committee report, revealing tales of sexual exploitation and inhuman working conditions in the Malayalam film industry, has led to many prominent actors facing consequences

Mahila Congress workers sit in a Sathyagraham demanding prosecution based on Hema Committee report in Kochi on August 23, 2024. | Photo Credit: Thulasi Kakkat

The K. Hema Committee report on the issues faced by women in the Malayalam film industry was made public on August 19, 2024, five years after it was submitted to the Kerala government. The report revealed horrid tales of sexual exploitation, illegal bans, discrimination, drug and alcohol abuse, wage disparity and in some cases, inhuman working conditions.

The 235-page report, published after redacting the names of the witnesses as well as the accused, notes that the Malayalam film industry is under the clutches of certain male producers, directors and actors.

The committee confirms the rumoured existence of the practice of “casting couch” in the industry. The report also highlights the lack of changing rooms or toilet facilities on the set, especially in outdoor locations

Here is a timeline of the events that followed the incident leading up to the submission of the Justice Hema Committee report:

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The debates sparked in the public sphere by the release of the report appeared to have emboldened many women to speak out about harrowing experiences they have had in the past.

A Special Investigation Team (SIT) consisting of senior women police officers has been constituted for conducting a preliminary inquiry into allegations of sexual harassment against a few actors of Malayalam cinema.

In 2017, a popular Malayalam woman actor came forward alleging abduction and sexual assault on her in Kochi. The Kerala police investigation team zeroed-in on actor Dileep, who was booked on charges of conspiring to carry out the sexual assault. After the survivor identified herself on social media, the industry saw an unprecedented shake-up, leading to the formation of the Women in Cinema Collective (WCC). Based on a petition by the Collective, the LDF government set up a committee headed by retired Justice K. Hema, also comprising former actor Sharada, and retired IAS officer K.B. Valsala Kumari.

Bengali actor Sreelekha Mitra accused filmmaker and now-former chairperson of the Kerala State Chalachitra Academy Ranjith of behaving misappropriately with her during the pre-production period of the 2009 Malayalam film Paleri Manikyam: Oru Pathirakolapathakathinte Katha. He eventually submit his resignation. Later, the police lodged a non-bailable case under Section 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty) of the Indian Penal Code against him.

Actor Siddique quit as the general secretary of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes (AMMA) following allegations of sexual assault levelled by actress Revathy Sampath. The police eventually lodged a case against him on charges of on charges of illegally detaining and threatening the woman.

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• Hema committee report should spur systemic changes in the film industry, says WCC member Bina Paul

  

• Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan promises effective intervention if those who deposed before the Hema committee prefer complaints

  

Actor Minu Muneer alleged that some of the big names in the industry subjected her to physical and verbal abuse. Those named included Communist Party of India (Marxist) MLA and actor M. Mukesh, actor and producer Maniyanpilla Raju, actor and former general secretary of Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA) Edavela Babu, actor Jayasurya, a production controller and others. They all had cases filed against them.

This story is a developing issue which shall be updated frequently.