Justice Hema Committee Report Exposes Rampant Sexual Harassment, 'Criminal Gang' And 'Power Nexus' In Malayalam Film Industry
The report by the Hema Committee lists a number of concerns and major problems experienced by women working in the Malayalam film industry.
New Delhi: The long-awaited report by the Justice Hema Committee was issued on Monday, shedding light on the widespread and extremely concerning sexual harassment experiences faced by women in the Malayalam film industry. According to the report, which was released to the public under the RTI Act, there are allegations of abuse and exploitation that show a shadowy aspect of the industry.
After the 2017 assault case involving actor Dileep, the Justice Hema Committee was established in 2019 to investigate allegations of sexual harassment and gender discrimination in Malayalam cinema.
Here are some key points highlighted in the report:
Frequent Harassment
Among the most disturbing parts of the report is the finding that some women experienced unwanted approaches even before beginning their work in the field. Among the many forms of harassment that female performers experienced, the report notes that drunk people would sometimes knock on their hotel doors. In spite of these terrifying events, many victims were afraid to tell the authorities about the abuse; many were too scared to call the police.
According to the report, "Many women have stated that knocking will not be polite or decent but, they repeatedly bang at the door, by force," as quoted by PTI.
"The offer to act or for doing any other job in cinema comes to a woman coupled with demand for sexual favours," the committee said. The industry often fired women who would not "compromise" and dehumanised those who did comply by giving them code names.
A Controlling Gang
Claiming a "criminal gang" and a "power nexus" of powerful producers, directors, actors, and production controllers rule the Malayalam cinema industry is one of the most damaging allegations of the research. Victims are allegedly afraid to come out for fear for their lives and the lives of their families since this gang has a lot of influence.
Additionally, the report highlights the fact that women who choose to come out face serious consequences, such as cyberattacks and physical threats to their safety. "An artist added that if they take up the matter before the court or the police, they will face worse consequences, including threat to life," according to the report.
A Demand for Legal Redress
Members of the committee emphasised the need for swift action by the police, who should file formal complaints (FIRs) against individuals involved in industry-related crimes. Nonetheless, many incidents go unreported because of the fear generated by influential persons in the sector.
A Signal to the Industry
The actress assault case involving actor Dileep garnered significant media attention in 2017, prompting the establishment of the Justice Hema Committee. To prevent harassment and exploitation of women, the committee's recommendations highlight the critical need for structural reform in the Malayalam film industry.
“The sky is full of mysteries, with the twinkling stars and the beautiful moon. But scientific investigation revealed that the stars do not twinkle, nor does the moon look beautiful," the report concluded with a stern warning, as quoted by PTI.
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