New Delhi: The Justice Hema Committee report has brought everyone' attention to extreme discrimination and sexual exploitation that women in all departments face as the workforce in Malayalam cinema. Recently, actor Lakshmi Manchu reacted to the same, saying that she hopes the conversation around the plight of women in Malayalam cinema changes for good and things are rectified.
Don't Lose Your Voice: Manchu
Lakshmi Manchu, who did not know the complete details of the Hema Committee report, still commented on the developments around it. Manchu shared that the first step to take is to speak out against the unfair. “Let me tell you something, life is not fair to women, not just in the film industry… How do we change that? Stand up for yourself. I've been pushed over, but I stood my ground. I might lose a few (things), but I know I'm gaining for the person who's coming after me,” Lakshmi told Hindustan Times in an interaction.
Lakshmi added, "I'm standing for thousands of women who have been burned because they had a voice. If they said, I will not say anything, I wouldn't be here today."
On MeToo Movement
Lakshmi Manchu recently made her Malayalam debut with Mohanlal in the film 'Monster'. She spoke about the MeToo movement and said, "The whole MeToo movement happened with one woman deciding that she has had enough… The one voice resounded with millions and gave voice and sound to millions and they were able to come out and speak for themselves. That is the power of standing up."
Adding that while her experience of working in the industry was different because of her lineage, she being the daughter of Telugu cinema veteran Mohan Babu, many women actors and technicians suffer.
“It was different for me because I was working with my dad's good friend. They have huge respect for my old man in Malayalam and in all languages,” mother of one added.
Sexual advances in the industry
Having said that, Lakshmi did not deny the presence of sexual advances in the industry. "There will be people hitting on you thinking that you won't go talk about it. You have to learn artistic ways of saying no”.
She herself has faced untoward advances. Looking back, she said, "Initially, when people used to hit on me, I would be very nasty to them, then I would lose the entire work opportunity or that job. So, how do you manoeuvre it?’
“Now, I'm like, ‘Oh my God, I'm so touched and honoured that you really find me attractive. But I'm a married woman and I'm very committed’. If it goes more than that, then you can't be pushed over”, the actor added.
Laksmi also emphasised, "It's a nasty world out there.That happens because we are not properly sex educated. We don't know how to handle our hormones. So we only project. Men need to learn how to keep it in their pants."
On Kolkata rape-murder case
Lakshmi Manchu, who has also starred in English films, expressed disgust on the Kolkata rape-murder case.
“What happened in Kolkata was really shocking…Where is the law right now with this?” she questioned.
About the Hema Committee Report
The Hema Committee report focuses on the Malayalam movie industry. It has stirred conversation around workplace ethics in the entertainment world. The report was commissioned to look into and address the rampant issue of sexual harassment in the Malayalam film industry, and was released on Monday.
The report had shocking accounts of harrassment, exploitation and ill treatment faced by women. Some instances in the report shed light on harassment faced by women actors such as their room doors being knocked by intoxicated men from the industry and how many did not complain due to fear.
The Hema Committee report also reported a lack of basic amenities like toilets for women, or how junior artists are treated 'worse than slaves in Malayalam cinema'.