By V. E. K.Madhushani, Jadetimes News
New Report Reveals Harsh Realities Faced by Women in Kerala's Film Industry
A landmark report into the challenges faced by women in the Malayalam language film industry has exposed deep seated issues within one of India’s most popular cinematic hubs. The findings of the three member panel are profoundly disturbing.
The 290 page report, with sections redacted to protect the identities of survivors and those accused, paints a grim picture of an industry dominated by a "mafia of powerful men" where "sexual harassment of women is rampant."
Led by a former Kerala High Court judge and commissioned by the state government in 2017, the Hema committee outlines the deplorable working conditions on film sets. The report highlights a lack of basic amenities, such as toilets and changing rooms for junior artists, insufficient food and water, poor pay, and no accommodation or transport facilities.
"There are no toilets, so women have to go in the bushes or behind thick trees. During their periods, not being able to change their sanitary napkins for long hours and holding urine for extended periods causes physical discomfort and can lead to illness, sometimes requiring hospitalization," the report states.
Although submitted to the government in December 2019, the report was only made public this week after nearly five years of delays and multiple legal challenges from film industry members.
The panel was established following the horrific sexual assault of a leading actress in the industry, Bhavana Menon, who has starred in more than 80 films across southern Indian languages and has won numerous prestigious awards. Menon was assaulted by a group of men while traveling from Thrissur to Kochi in February 2017.
Her assault made headlines, especially after Dileep, one of the Malayalam film industry's biggest stars and Menon's co star in several films, was named as an accused and charged with criminal conspiracy. He denied the charges but was arrested and held in custody for three months before being released on bail. The case is still being heard in court.
In 2022, Menon waived her anonymity in a post on Instagram and in an interview, bringing more attention to the incident.
A few months after the attack on Menon, the Women in Cinema Collective (WCC) a group formed by some of her colleagues in an industry known for its successful mainstream and critically acclaimed films petitioned the government, seeking swift action in the case and addressing the broader issues faced by women in cinema.
In the report, retired Justice K Hema notes that the WCC told her, “Women are being silenced as the prestige of the film industry needs to be upheld.”
The panel interviewed dozens of men and women, including artists, producers, directors, scriptwriters, cinematographers, hairstylists, makeup artists, and costume designers. The committee also gathered evidence, including video and audio clips and WhatsApp messages.
Describing sexual harassment as the "worst evil" women in cinema face, the report noted that the panelists found evidence showing that "sexual harassment remains shockingly rampant" and "continues unchecked and uncontrolled."
The industry is "controlled by a group of male actors, producers, distributors, exhibitors, and directors who have gained enormous fame and wealth," many of whom were identified as perpetrators.
"Men in the industry make open demands for sex without any qualms as if it’s their birthright. Women are left with very few options but to comply or risk losing their long-awaited dream of pursuing cinema as a profession. The experiences of many women are so shocking and grave that they have not disclosed the details even to their close family members."
Many of the individuals the panel approached were initially reluctant to speak out, fearing they would lose their jobs.
"In the beginning, we found their fear strange, but as our study progressed, we realized it was well-founded. We are concerned about their and their close relatives' safety," the report states.
The WCC says the report has validated its concerns. “For years, we have been saying that there is a systemic problem in the industry. Sexual harassment is just one of them. This report proves it,” Beena Paul, an award winning editor and one of the founding members of the WCC, said.
“We were always told that we were troublemakers [for raising such issues]. This report proves that the situation is far worse than what even we thought,” she added.
Members of the WCC have faced difficulties in getting work since they began demanding better working conditions on film sets. “People don’t like the fact that we are asking questions. So, quite a few members have faced difficult situations,” Paul said.
The Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA), a leading industry body that counts superstars like Mohanlal and Mammootty among its members, denied the accusations. Its general secretary Siddique disagreed with the notion that a small, powerful group controls the industry. He also refuted claims that sexual harassment is rampant in the industry, stating that most complaints received are about delays or lack of payment for workers. He asserted that conditions for women on film sets have improved over the past five years, with all necessary facilities now available to them.
Since the report's release, it has sparked significant reactions in Kerala, with activists and prominent opposition leaders demanding action against those implicated in the report.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan stated that if any woman who testified before the committee came forward to file a complaint, the government would take action. "No matter how big they are, they will be brought before the law," he said.
On Thursday, a public interest petition was filed in the Kerala High Court, seeking the initiation of criminal proceedings against those accused in the report. The court has ordered the government to submit a copy of the report, and the judges will decide whether criminal action needs to be taken once they have reviewed it.
Allegations of harassment and abuse in the film industry are not new in India. In 2018, the #MeToo movement hit Bollywood, the country's most popular film industry, after actress Tanushree Dutta accused veteran actor Nana Patekar of inappropriate behavior on a film set in 2008. Patekar denied the allegations.
Dutta, who has since claimed that she has been denied work, described the Hema committee report as “useless,” adding that earlier reports aimed at making workplaces safer for women had not been effective.
However, Parvathy Thiruvothu, an award winning actress and a key member of the WCC, told a news channel that she viewed the release of the report as “a victory.”
“It’s opened up a door for significant changes within the industry,” she said.
Jeo Baby, director of "The Great Indian Kitchen," a critically acclaimed film that examines patriarchal structures within the family, told reporters that while gender issues remain a concern, change is underway in the industry. “This is the right time to correct this. The film industry has to fight this together,” he said.
The report, which includes several recommendations to make the industry a safer place for women, emphasizes that the inquiry and recommendations are not intended to blame any individual but are "an earnest attempt to ennoble a profession so that it becomes a viable career option for aspiring artists and technicians, both male and female."
“Hopefully, filmmaking will become so safe that parents can send their daughters and sons to the profession with the same confidence and sense of security as they send their children to an engineering firm or a college,” it concludes.
