Malayalam actor Minu Muneer has accused prominent actors M Mukesh and Jayasurya of sexual harassment, amid ongoing revelations of abuse within the South Indian film industry. These allegations come in the wake of the Justice K Hema Committee's alarming findings on the harassment and exploitation of women in the Malayalam film industry.
Malayalam Actress Minu Muneer on being physically abused
Minu Muneer shared her ordeal on Facebook, naming Mukesh, Maniyanpilla Raju, Idavela Babu, and Jayasurya as the four actors who physically and verbally abused her during the filming of a 2013 movie. In an interview with NDTV, she recounted a particularly distressing incident and said, "I had a bitter experience while shooting for a film. I had gone to the toilet and when I came out, Jayasurya hugged me from behind and kissed me without my consent. I was shocked and I ran out."
He later offered her more work if she agreed to be with him.
In another incident, she alleged that Idavela Babu, the secretary of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA), invited her to his flat under the pretense of discussing a membership application, only to physically abuse her. Minu also claimed that Mukesh, who is also a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for the ruling CPI(M), denied her membership after she rejected his advances.
Minu on exploitation in Malayalam film industry
Minu Muneer expressed her frustration over the exploitation she witnessed and experienced in the Malayalam film industry, stating that no one reached out to her when she moved to Chennai after the abuse became unbearable. She recounted how she was forced to leave the Malayalam film industry due to the relentless harassment and was later accused of not making "adjustments" when she spoke up.
"In 2013, I was subjected to physical and verbal abuse by these individuals while working on a project. I tried to cooperate and continue working, but the abuse became unbearable. As a result, I was forced to leave the Malayalam film industry and relocate to Chennai. I had spoken out against the abuse in a newspaper article. I am now seeking justice and accountability for the trauma and suffering I endured. I request your assistance in taking action against them for their heinous actions," she wrote in the post.
Actor Maniyanpilla Raju, one of the accused, has called for an investigation, asserting that there may be vested interests behind the allegations and that a thorough investigation is necessary to identify the innocent and guilty parties.
In response to the mounting pressure, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan held a high-level meeting with senior police officials and announced the formation of a seven-member special team to investigate the abuses faced by women actors in the industry.
What other actors said
Soniya Malhar, another actor, spoke to NDTV, emphasizing the need for immediate action from both the central and state governments. She highlighted the difficulty victims face in repeatedly recounting their traumatic experiences and called for decisive action in response to the Justice Hema Committee's report, which has exposed widespread harassment and exploitation in the Malayalam cinema industry.