Turmoil In Mollywood
The India Commentary view
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By Our Editorial Team
First publised on 2024-09-01 06:42:10
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The India Commentary view
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The Malayalam film industry has been thrown into turmoil after the release
of the Justice Hema committee report. The report has been filed after a delay
of five years - the Kerala government had been forced to form the committee
after Women in Cinema Collective, an umbrella organisation of women film
artistes in the industry took up the issue of sexual harassment faced by them
in the wake of abduction-and-sexual-assault case (when a popular actor alleged
she was kidnapped and sexually molested) that rocked the film industry in the
state in 2017. Actor Dileep was charged by Kerala police in the case.
Following the release of the report, several women working in the industry
have come forward to narrate several incidents of sexual harassment by
celebrated and powerful actors, producers and directors, among others. The
immediate fallout was that director Ranjith resigned as chairman of Kerala
State Chalachitra Academy and actor Siddique as general secretary of
Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes after allegation of sexual misconduct
against them. The Kerala government has formed a 9-member - including 4 women - team of senior police officers to examine the revelations in the report. These
are positive developments and will bring relief to the large number of women
artistes, some of whom have accused the male members of the industry of treating them
like sex workers.
For long, accusations of sexual harassment by women, specifically when the
accused was a powerful figure, have been dismissed as "her word against his" and the alleged perpetrator has been allowed to go scot free in most cases.
This must change. Veteran actor Mohanlal has come forward to say that the entire
industry is responsible for the plight of the women artistes. If the Justice
Hema committee report and the action that follows is able to change this
mindset, and if henceforth such allegations are treated with the seriousness
they deserve and the women are assured of a fair and speedy investigation, it
would be a major achievement. The rich and powerful get the courage to treat
women either as chattel or as sex toys only because they know that they will
not be punished. But if investigations are carried out impartially, justice is
dispensed in fast track courts and the accused are punished as per law, this
courage will vanish and women will be safe. It will also encourage more women to
come forward and report such incidents.
