Sexual harassment in the Malayalam film industry - Revision history

Jyoti: /* Further details */

2024-12-31T18:00:50Z

‎Further details

Jyoti: /* Nivin Pauly */

2024-12-28T03:50:37Z

‎Nivin Pauly

Jyoti: /* Mukesh, Baburaj accused */

2024-10-08T16:05:15Z

‎Mukesh, Baburaj accused

Jyoti: /* Nivin Pauly */

2024-10-08T16:04:50Z

‎Nivin Pauly

Jyoti: /* Jayasurya booked */

2024-10-08T16:04:23Z

‎Jayasurya booked

Jyoti: /* Mukesh, Baburaj accused */

2024-09-27T07:54:09Z

‎Mukesh, Baburaj accused

Jyoti: /* Further details */

2024-09-23T16:53:47Z

‎Further details

Jyoti: /* for all sub items */

2024-09-23T16:53:11Z

‎for all sub items

Jyoti: /* Reactions from the film industry */

2024-09-19T19:56:03Z

‎Reactions from the film industry

Jyoti: /* 2017: What the Dileep case exposed */

2024-09-15T08:18:13Z

‎2017: What the Dileep case exposed

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 Actor Maala Parvathi, who walked out of an ICC constituted by the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA), told The Indian Express, “I resigned from the ICC of AMMA because despite us members recommending action against an accused in a sexual harassment case, the body failed to move even a finger. The accused even let out the name of the survivor.”
 AMMA has, however, categorically denied the existence of the power group in Malayalam cinema.
@@ Line 595: / Line 596: @@
 Actors and technicians who have fought for the release of the committee report since 2019, when it was first submitted, point out that the very fact that the government sat on such an impactful report for so long is proof of the power the lobby wielded.
 ==Mukesh, Baburaj accused==

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:50, 28 December 2024
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	In the days after the Hema Committee report’s release, a number of actors had come out with allegations against some of the veterans of the Malayalam film industry. This led to cases being registered against actor and ruling CPI(M) MLA Mukesh, as well as other prominent actors Jayasurya, Baburaj, Siddique, and others. Film director Ranjith also had cases registered against him following sexual misconduct allegations, which also led to his resignation as chairperson of the Kerala Chalachitra Academy.		In the days after the Hema Committee report’s release, a number of actors had come out with allegations against some of the veterans of the Malayalam film industry. This led to cases being registered against actor and ruling CPI(M) MLA Mukesh, as well as other prominent actors Jayasurya, Baburaj, Siddique, and others. Film director Ranjith also had cases registered against him following sexual misconduct allegations, which also led to his resignation as chairperson of the Kerala Chalachitra Academy.
		+
		+	==Edavela Babu, M Mukesh==
		+	[https://epaper.indiatimes.com/article-share?article=26_09_2024_012_007_cap_TOI Sep 26, 2024: ''The Times of India'']
		+
		+
		+	Kerala police’s special investigation team (SIT) probing sexual assault cases against women following the release of Hema Committee report arrested another Malayalam actor, Edavela Babu, after a threehour interrogation.
		+
		+	Actor-politician M Mukesh was also arrested by SIT in a sexual assault case. He was later released on bail after SIT formally recorded his arrest as a legal technicality . Mukesh’s stand has been that the complaint is an attempt to extort money from him.

	[[Category:Cinema-TV-Pop\|MMALAYALAM CINEMA: 2010 ONWARDSMALAYALAM CINEMA: 2010 ONWARDSSEXUAL HARASSMENT IN THE MALAYALAM FILM INDUSTRY		[[Category:Cinema-TV-Pop\|MMALAYALAM CINEMA: 2010 ONWARDSMALAYALAM CINEMA: 2010 ONWARDSSEXUAL HARASSMENT IN THE MALAYALAM FILM INDUSTRY

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:05, 8 October 2024
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	Noted director Aashiq Abu resigned from the Directors’ Union of the Film Employees Federation of Kerala on Friday, citing its “damning silence” over the Hema committee report. “The organisation and the leadership failed in fulfilling its social responsibility,” Abu reportedly wrote in the resignation letter.  AGENCIES		Noted director Aashiq Abu resigned from the Directors’ Union of the Film Employees Federation of Kerala on Friday, citing its “damning silence” over the Hema committee report. “The organisation and the leadership failed in fulfilling its social responsibility,” Abu reportedly wrote in the resignation letter.  AGENCIES
		+
		+	==Nivin Pauly==
		+	[https://indianexpress.com/article/india/malayalam-actor-nivin-pauly-rape-case-9548537/?ref=hometop_hp Shaju Philip, Sep 4, 2024: ''The Indian Express'']
		+
		+	A rape case was registered Tuesday against Malayalam movie star Nivin Pauly after a woman alleged in a complaint that he sexually abused her at a hotel in Dubai last year after promising her a role in a film. Pauly has denied the allegations.
		+
		+	Taking to Instagram, Pauly said the allegations were “entirely untrue” and that he would handle it legally.
		+
		+	“I have come across a false news report accusing me of abusing a girl. Please know that this is entirely untrue. I’m determined to go to any extent to prove these allegations are baseless and will take all necessary steps to bring those responsible to light. Thank you for your concern. The rest will be handled legally,” he said in a post.
		+
		+	The case will be probed by the Special Investigation Team formed to investigate sexual misconduct complaints coming from the Malayalam film industry in the aftermath of the release of the Justice Hema Committee report. The report released last month detailed the various issues faced by women in the industry, and found that this included rampant sexual misconduct.
		+
		+	Police said an FIR was registered under various IPC sections, including section 376 (rape). The incident took place in November 2023, as per the complaint.
		+
		+	In the days after the Hema Committee report’s release, a number of actors had come out with allegations against some of the veterans of the Malayalam film industry. This led to cases being registered against actor and ruling CPI(M) MLA Mukesh, as well as other prominent actors Jayasurya, Baburaj, Siddique, and others. Film director Ranjith also had cases registered against him following sexual misconduct allegations, which also led to his resignation as chairperson of the Kerala Chalachitra Academy.

	[[Category:Cinema-TV-Pop\|MMALAYALAM CINEMA: 2010 ONWARDSMALAYALAM CINEMA: 2010 ONWARDSSEXUAL HARASSMENT IN THE MALAYALAM FILM INDUSTRY		[[Category:Cinema-TV-Pop\|MMALAYALAM CINEMA: 2010 ONWARDSMALAYALAM CINEMA: 2010 ONWARDSSEXUAL HARASSMENT IN THE MALAYALAM FILM INDUSTRY

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:04, 8 October 2024
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	Multiple FIRs have been registered against many Malayalam film personalities following allegations of sexual harassment in the wake of revelations in the Justice K Hema Committee report. AGENCIES		Multiple FIRs have been registered against many Malayalam film personalities following allegations of sexual harassment in the wake of revelations in the Justice K Hema Committee report. AGENCIES

−	~~===Nivin Pauly===~~
−	~~[https://indianexpress.com/article/india/malayalam-actor-nivin-pauly-rape-case-9548537/?ref=hometop_hp Shaju Philip, Sep 4, 2024: ''The Indian Express'']~~

−	A rape case was registered Tuesday against Malayalam movie star Nivin Pauly after a woman alleged in a complaint that he sexually abused her at a hotel in Dubai last year after promising her a role in a film. Pauly has denied the allegations.
−
−	~~Taking to Instagram, Pauly said the allegations were “entirely untrue” and that he would handle it legally.~~
−
−	“I have come across a false news report accusing me of abusing a girl. Please know that this is entirely untrue. I’m determined to go to any extent to prove these allegations are baseless and will take all necessary steps to bring those responsible to light. Thank you for your concern. The rest will be handled legally,” he said in a post.
−
−	The case will be probed by the Special Investigation Team formed to investigate sexual misconduct complaints coming from the Malayalam film industry in the aftermath of the release of the Justice Hema Committee report. The report released last month detailed the various issues faced by women in the industry, and found that this included rampant sexual misconduct.
−
−	~~Police said an FIR was registered under various IPC sections, including section 376 (rape). The incident took place in November 2023, as per the complaint.~~
−
−	In the days after the Hema Committee report’s release, a number of actors had come out with allegations against some of the veterans of the Malayalam film industry. This led to cases being registered against actor and ruling CPI(M) MLA Mukesh, as well as other prominent actors Jayasurya, Baburaj, Siddique, and others. Film director Ranjith also had cases registered against him following sexual misconduct allegations, which also led to his resignation as chairperson of the Kerala Chalachitra Academy.

	[[Category:Cinema-TV-Pop\|MMALAYALAM CINEMA: 2010 ONWARDSMALAYALAM CINEMA: 2010 ONWARDSSEXUAL HARASSMENT IN THE MALAYALAM FILM INDUSTRY		[[Category:Cinema-TV-Pop\|MMALAYALAM CINEMA: 2010 ONWARDSMALAYALAM CINEMA: 2010 ONWARDSSEXUAL HARASSMENT IN THE MALAYALAM FILM INDUSTRY

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:04, 8 October 2024
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	Multiple FIRs have been registered against many Malayalam film personalities following allegations of sexual harassment in the wake of revelations in the Justice K Hema Committee report. AGENCIES		Multiple FIRs have been registered against many Malayalam film personalities following allegations of sexual harassment in the wake of revelations in the Justice K Hema Committee report. AGENCIES
		+
		+	===Nivin Pauly===
		+	[https://indianexpress.com/article/india/malayalam-actor-nivin-pauly-rape-case-9548537/?ref=hometop_hp Shaju Philip, Sep 4, 2024: ''The Indian Express'']
		+
		+	A rape case was registered Tuesday against Malayalam movie star Nivin Pauly after a woman alleged in a complaint that he sexually abused her at a hotel in Dubai last year after promising her a role in a film. Pauly has denied the allegations.
		+
		+	Taking to Instagram, Pauly said the allegations were “entirely untrue” and that he would handle it legally.
		+
		+	“I have come across a false news report accusing me of abusing a girl. Please know that this is entirely untrue. I’m determined to go to any extent to prove these allegations are baseless and will take all necessary steps to bring those responsible to light. Thank you for your concern. The rest will be handled legally,” he said in a post.
		+
		+	The case will be probed by the Special Investigation Team formed to investigate sexual misconduct complaints coming from the Malayalam film industry in the aftermath of the release of the Justice Hema Committee report. The report released last month detailed the various issues faced by women in the industry, and found that this included rampant sexual misconduct.
		+
		+	Police said an FIR was registered under various IPC sections, including section 376 (rape). The incident took place in November 2023, as per the complaint.
		+
		+	In the days after the Hema Committee report’s release, a number of actors had come out with allegations against some of the veterans of the Malayalam film industry. This led to cases being registered against actor and ruling CPI(M) MLA Mukesh, as well as other prominent actors Jayasurya, Baburaj, Siddique, and others. Film director Ranjith also had cases registered against him following sexual misconduct allegations, which also led to his resignation as chairperson of the Kerala Chalachitra Academy.
		+
		+	[[Category:Cinema-TV-Pop\|MMALAYALAM CINEMA: 2010 ONWARDSMALAYALAM CINEMA: 2010 ONWARDSSEXUAL HARASSMENT IN THE MALAYALAM FILM INDUSTRY
		+	SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN THE MALAYALAM FILM INDUSTRY]]
		+	[[Category:India\|MMALAYALAM CINEMA: 2010 ONWARDSMALAYALAM CINEMA: 2010 ONWARDSSEXUAL HARASSMENT IN THE MALAYALAM FILM INDUSTRY
		+	SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN THE MALAYALAM FILM INDUSTRY]]

	===Aashiq Abu resigns from Directors’ Union===		===Aashiq Abu resigns from Directors’ Union===

← Older revision		Revision as of 07:54, 27 September 2024
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	Responding to the claims, Raju demanded detailed investigations. Baburaj backed the calls for a probe while terming the allegations part of an attempt by vested interests to prevent him from becoming AMMA general secretary, replacing actor Siddique who resigned Sunday amid similar charges.		Responding to the claims, Raju demanded detailed investigations. Baburaj backed the calls for a probe while terming the allegations part of an attempt by vested interests to prevent him from becoming AMMA general secretary, replacing actor Siddique who resigned Sunday amid similar charges.
		+
		+	===Jayasurya booked===
		+	[https://epaper.indiatimes.com/article-share?article=31_08_2024_014_006_cap_TOI August 31, 2024: ''The Times of India'']
		+
		+	Thiruvananthapuram : Kerala police have registered a second sexual assault case against Malayalam film actor Jayasurya within a span of 48 hours, following a fresh complaint from a woman actor alleging sexual misconduct, in addition to the existing case registered against him on August 28.
		+
		+	The new FIR was registered under Section 354 (assault or criminal force on woman with intent to outrage her modesty) of the IPC. Section 354 C of the IPC, which deals with voyeurism, has also been invoked. The woman alleged Jayasurya molested her on a movie set during 2012-2013. The cantonment police said on Thursday a case under the same section was registered against Jayasurya in another case.
		+
		+	Multiple FIRs have been registered against many Malayalam film personalities following allegations of sexual harassment in the wake of revelations in the Justice K Hema Committee report. AGENCIES
		+
		+	===Aashiq Abu resigns from Directors’ Union===
		+	''' Director quits union over its ‘silence’ '''
		+
		+	Noted director Aashiq Abu resigned from the Directors’ Union of the Film Employees Federation of Kerala on Friday, citing its “damning silence” over the Hema committee report. “The organisation and the leadership failed in fulfilling its social responsibility,” Abu reportedly wrote in the resignation letter.  AGENCIES

	[[Category:Cinema-TV-Pop\|MMALAYALAM CINEMA: 2010 ONWARDSMALAYALAM CINEMA: 2010 ONWARDSSEXUAL HARASSMENT IN THE MALAYALAM FILM INDUSTRY		[[Category:Cinema-TV-Pop\|MMALAYALAM CINEMA: 2010 ONWARDSMALAYALAM CINEMA: 2010 ONWARDSSEXUAL HARASSMENT IN THE MALAYALAM FILM INDUSTRY

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:53, 23 September 2024
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	Actors and technicians who have fought for the release of the committee report since 2019, when it was first submitted, point out that the very fact that the government sat on such an impactful report for so long is proof of the power the lobby wielded.		Actors and technicians who have fought for the release of the committee report since 2019, when it was first submitted, point out that the very fact that the government sat on such an impactful report for so long is proof of the power the lobby wielded.
		+
		+	==Mukesh, Baburaj accused==
		+	[https://epaper.indiatimes.com/article-share?article=27_08_2024_001_024_cap_TOI August 27, 2024: ''The Times of India'']
		+
		+
		+	Kochi : The flood of revelations about sexual assault and harassment in Malayalam film industry following the release of a redacted version of the Justice K Hema Committee report last week continued Monday, with more women professionals coming out with accounts of mistreatment from their male counterparts. As many as eight Mollywood bigwigs, including actor and CPM legislator M Mukesh, faced allegations from junior actors and technicians.
		+
		+	Ernakulam police lodged an FIR against director Ranjith based on a complaint from a Bengali actor who raised charges of sexual misconduct against him dating back to 2009. Ranjith had stepped down as chairman of staterun Kerala Chalachitra Aca- demy. The case has been filed as a non-bailable offence. Others who faced allegations included Baburaj, joint secretary of Association of Malayalam Movie Artists, directors Sreekumar Menon and Thulasidas, and actors Jayasurya, Shine Tom Chacko, Edavela Babu and Maniyanpillai Raju.  TNN
		+
		+
		+	''' Kerala govt feels the heat as Mollywood scandal widens '''
		+
		+	Actor Minu Muneer joined the chorus of claims, revealing that a 16-year-old girl and her mother were sexually assaulted for two weeks on the sets of a 2008 movie directed by Bipin Prabhakar. It starred Prithviraj Sukumaran and Bhama in lead roles and Mammootty in a cameo role.
		+
		+	Much of the spotlight was on Mukesh. The accusations against the two-time CPM MLA put the Left govt under pressure. Yuva Morcha and Mahila Congress took out marches to his residence in Kollam, demanding a case against him and his resignation. Some others, like writer Sara Joseph and Chalachitra Academy vice-chairman Premkumar, objected to Mukesh’s reported inclusion in a committee of a cinema conclave planned by govt.
		+
		+	Mukesh has not responded to the charges. An actor who appeared in few movies levelled the allegations in a Facebook post against Mukesh, Jayasoorya, Maniyanpilla Raju and Idavela Babu and a few others. “In 2013, I was subjected to physical and verbal abuse by these individuals while working on a project. I was forced to leave the Malayalam film industry and relocate to Chennai. I am now seeking justice and accountability,” the actor wrote.
		+
		+	Later, sharing details of her ordeal with the media, she said Mukesh and Jayasurya tried to sexually assault her on the sets of movies while AMMA former general secretary Idavela Babu misbehaved with her at his flat, where she went to complete formalities for as- sociation membership. Maniyan Pillai Raju misbehaved with her while travelling in a car, she said.
		+
		+	A junior artist said Baburaj & director Sreekumar Menon sexually assaulted her at a house in Aluva and a hotel in Ernakulam, respectively. She also alleged that Shine Tom Chacko asked some people to arrange a meeting with her for a role in a movie featuring him. A well-known ac- tor in the 1990s, meanwhile, alleged that director Thulasidas misbehaved with her over the phone and knocked on her door at a film’s set in 1991. The filmmaker has denied the charges.
		+
		+	Responding to the claims, Raju demanded detailed investigations. Baburaj backed the calls for a probe while terming the allegations part of an attempt by vested interests to prevent him from becoming AMMA general secretary, replacing actor Siddique who resigned Sunday amid similar charges.

	[[Category:Cinema-TV-Pop\|MMALAYALAM CINEMA: 2010 ONWARDSMALAYALAM CINEMA: 2010 ONWARDSSEXUAL HARASSMENT IN THE MALAYALAM FILM INDUSTRY		[[Category:Cinema-TV-Pop\|MMALAYALAM CINEMA: 2010 ONWARDSMALAYALAM CINEMA: 2010 ONWARDSSEXUAL HARASSMENT IN THE MALAYALAM FILM INDUSTRY

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:53, 23 September 2024
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	● Denial of food and water is a major complaint. Witnesses told the committee that women junior artistes are the most vulnerable to sexual exploitation because of their poor pay and working conditions. One witness spoke about contractors forming WhatsApp groups of junior artistes to push them into organised sex work.		● Denial of food and water is a major complaint. Witnesses told the committee that women junior artistes are the most vulnerable to sexual exploitation because of their poor pay and working conditions. One witness spoke about contractors forming WhatsApp groups of junior artistes to push them into organised sex work.
		+
		+	===How all-male power group of 10-15 controls Kerala film industry===
		+	[https://indianexpress.com/article/long-reads/bans-diktats-open-threats-report-male-power-controls-kerala-film-industry-9534829/?ref=hometop_hp Nikhila Henry, Aug 27, 2024: ''The Indian Express'']
		+
		+
		+	An “all-male”, powerful and privileged group of 10-15 people who are at the top of the pecking order of Malayalam cinema controls the industry, handing out bans to actors and allegedly looking the other way when women come to them with complaints of harassment, according to the Justice K Hema Committee report that was released on August 19.
		+
		+	With more women accusing actors and industry leaders of sexual misconduct, this ‘power group’ in the industry, which the report dwells at length on, is a key talking point. There are, however, no indications of who these “powerful” men are since the High Court allowed for only a redacted version of the report – without names of the accused or the complainants – to be released.
		+
		+	The committee, which mentions “power” and “power group” at least 70 times in its report, details how women and men are at the receiving end of “the wrath of the powerful lobby that… rules the industry”. A prominent actor quoted in the report describes the lobby as “the mafia” that expects everyone to do their bidding, failing which they issue orders for bans or permanent ouster from the industry, no reasons given.
		+
		+	“In the course of the study, we understood that the Malayalam film industry is in the clutches of certain producers, directors, actors – all male. They control the whole Malayalam industry and dominate other persons working in cinema… No man nor woman dare to utter any word which may offend anyone belonging to the power group, because such persons will be wiped off the industry by the powerful lobby,” (retired) Justice K Hema writes in the report.
		+
		+	Another member of the committee, K B Valsalakumari, writes, “It is a kind of imposition of cultural hegemony by which the superordinated create a culture in which their continued dominance is considered beneficial.”
		+
		+	The third member and yesteryear actor T Sarada puts it simply, “There is gender discrimination in the film world”.
		+
		+	According to the committee, the bans that are issued “illegally and unconstitutionally” work as a tool for subjugation.
		+
		+	“If a member of the power group is not pleased with someone in cinema because of even personal prejudice, all members of the power group join hands and such person is prevented from working in cinema,” the report says, adding that no notices are served to the individuals concerned.
		+
		+	The ban is never spoken of in public, but word that a particular actor is a “troublemaker” and hence persona non grata spreads from one person to the other till it becomes official. “No evidence will be available to prove the ban but the person who is banned will come to know about the banning,” the report reads.
		+
		+	In the case of women actors, the report says, a commonly line used to enforce a ban is that “she is a ‘Me Too’ person” – a reference to the global movement in which women came out with sexual assault charges against predatory men.
		+
		+	In certain cases, film bodies arm twist producers into not casting a ‘banned’ artiste. “It is the (Kerala) Film Chamber of Commerce which issues ‘No objection certificate’ and it would be very easy for them to prevent the release of a movie. Therefore, the producer who is warned by the power group not to cast a particular actor will opt to produce his movie by casting another actor and not take any risk,” says the report, quoting Italian philosopher Antonio Gramsci and his theory of hegemony – the intellectual and moral subjugation of the less privileged by the ruling class.
		+
		+	Given the power dynamics, any Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) – mandated under The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace [Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal] Act – would be ineffective, the report says.
		+
		+	“Constitution of ICC comprising of persons in cinema will be of no use at all to protect any woman in Malayalam film industry from sexual harassment/assault/abuse/ in cinema… As long as power structures exist in the Malayalam film industry, they will take full control of the ICC,” the report reads. Instead, the committee recommends an independent body such as a tribunal to adjudicate the cases of sexual assault and abuse in the film industry.
		+
		+	Actor Maala Parvathi, who walked out of an ICC constituted by the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA), told The Indian Express, “I resigned from the ICC of AMMA because despite us members recommending action against an accused in a sexual harassment case, the body failed to move even a finger. The accused even let out the name of the survivor.”
		+	AMMA has, however, categorically denied the existence of the power group in Malayalam cinema.
		+
		+	Two days before he stepped down as AMMA general secretary following an actor’s allegation that he raped her, yesteryear actor Siddique had said, “In my film career, I have not heard about such a power group. There is no mafia either.”
		+
		+	Director Anjali Menon, a founding member of the Women in Cinema Collective (WCC), told the Indian Express, “There are many existing unsaid rules and power structures within the industry which tend to marginalise a certain section of people, predominantly women and people who have less power. When a clear statement that spells out what’s clearly wrong in the industry comes out, then this power structure gets dismantled… The report coming out is not in the interest of people who want to continue to hold on to those old, regressive power structures.”
		+
		+	Actor and WCC member Rima Kallingal pointed out that while these power structures exist even in other film industries, including Hollywood, it’s the resolve of Kerala’s “vocal women” that has helped to unearth many of these dark secrets. “It’s just that we have vocal women and a whole movement fuelled by a modern open-minded society to work against these power structures in this (Malayalam) industry,” Kallingal said.
		+
		+	Talking about the many covert and overt ways in which the power structures work, Kallingal said, “It’s a totally male dominated world… The power is (reflected) not just in the biggest of things where there is rape or sexual harassment or people have lost jobs, but even in the smallest of things, the microaggressions. The way women are spoken to on movie sets, the way you are always told that you bring no value to the movie, the way women are sidelined at every stage of filmmaking.”
		+
		+	Actors and technicians who have fought for the release of the committee report since 2019, when it was first submitted, point out that the very fact that the government sat on such an impactful report for so long is proof of the power the lobby wielded.

	[[Category:Cinema-TV-Pop\|MMALAYALAM CINEMA: 2010 ONWARDSMALAYALAM CINEMA: 2010 ONWARDSSEXUAL HARASSMENT IN THE MALAYALAM FILM INDUSTRY		[[Category:Cinema-TV-Pop\|MMALAYALAM CINEMA: 2010 ONWARDSMALAYALAM CINEMA: 2010 ONWARDSSEXUAL HARASSMENT IN THE MALAYALAM FILM INDUSTRY

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:56, 19 September 2024
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	Meanwhile, a defiant Vinayan, who has kept silent all these years, said that if the proposed conclave to discuss the safety in Malayalam cinema, features the members of the ‘power group’ then he would resist it with all his might. “I will fight against the organisation (AMMA) even if I am the only one fighting it. There are a lot of other organisations in Malayalam cinema. All of them should give it their all to push the industry forward,” said Vinayan, asserting the need for stricter laws and reforms in place. Joining Vinayan’s clarion call, Sophia said, “Survivors should get their justice. Equality is for all.”		Meanwhile, a defiant Vinayan, who has kept silent all these years, said that if the proposed conclave to discuss the safety in Malayalam cinema, features the members of the ‘power group’ then he would resist it with all his might. “I will fight against the organisation (AMMA) even if I am the only one fighting it. There are a lot of other organisations in Malayalam cinema. All of them should give it their all to push the industry forward,” said Vinayan, asserting the need for stricter laws and reforms in place. Joining Vinayan’s clarion call, Sophia said, “Survivors should get their justice. Equality is for all.”
		+
		+	==Further details==
		+	===for all sub items===
		+	[https://epaper.indiatimes.com/article-share?article=25_08_2024_017_002_cap_TOI August 25, 2024: ''The Times of India'']
		+
		+	● The recent sexual assault of a leading actress has further reinforced the feeling that it [the Malayalam film industry] is not a dignified place to send daughters alone for work. That is why we have the unusual sight of some mothers or fathers accompanying daughters for shooting.
		+
		+	● The perception [about women] that many men in the film industry carry is another major reason for the low participation of women in cinema. Many witnesses stated that some men in the industry believe that women who chose to work in cinema are “available”... that such women are morally very loose.
		+
		+	● “Compromise” and “adjustment” are two terms that women are made familiar with as soon as they even attempt to enter the Malayalam film industry. The two terms have only one message -make yourself available for “sex on demand”.
		+
		+	● Now knowing how the Malayalam film industry runs and the consequences [for speaking up] that women in cinema may face, we are satisfied that women in cinema are justified in not disclosing their experiences.
		+
		+	The Justice Hema Committee report – which examined allegations of sexual harassment in the Malayalam film industry and the mafia-like grip a clutch of powerful men have over it – is 235 pages long. However, the four snapshots from it reproduced above paint a clear — and rather horrifying — picture of what women in Malayalam cinema have gone through over several decades.
		+
		+	The committee comprising Justice (retd) K Hema, actress T Sarada and former IAS officer K B Valsala Kumari – formed after a leading actress was sexually assaulted in a moving car allegedly on the instructions of a leading actor – concludes that nothing but a new industry-specific tribunal can save women workers from the industry’s entrenched “mafia”.
		+
		+	The committee was convinced that anything less than hard-coded law – for instance, an Internal Complaints Committee under the Prevention of Sexual Harassment at Workplace Act of India (POSH) – will be manipulated by industry men to only punish and isolate women who dare to speak up.
		+
		+	The committee lists ‘17 issues’ that the women face in the industry. Many of these points overlap in scope and impact and can be clubbed under seven heads:
		+
		+	1 Sexual demands made as quid-pro-quo for work
		+
		+	2 Industry ganging up against women who don’t fall in line
		+
		+	3 Lack of workplace safety, whether it’s a set, outdoor site, hotels for crew or transport
		+
		+	4 Fan clubs as troll armies
		+
		+	5 Culture of ban that even men find intimidating
		+
		+	6 Non-execution of contracts
		+
		+	7 Absence of any legally constituted authority to redress grievances
		+
		+	''' ENTRY CODE — YOU MUST ‘COMPROMISE’ AND ‘ADJUST’ '''
		+
		+	According to the women who deposed before the committee, the harassment starts with a woman’s first contact with the industry.
		+
		+	If a production controller – equivalent of a producer in any other film industry – offers a role to a woman, he will make it clear in the first meeting itself that she will have to make some “compromises” and “adjust” to certain demands that would be made of her.
		+
		+	“Compromise” and “adjust” is code for telling an aspiring actress that people who will give her work will demand “sexual favours” and she will have to submit to their demands.
		+
		+	In this first meeting, the newcomer is also generally told that all top actresses have reached where they are in their careers because they made these compromises and adjustments.
		+
		+	The committee said it has gathered enough anecdotal evidence on how a “general impression” has been created that women who want to be a part of the Malayalam film industry are only interested in money and fame and will “surrender anything” to achieve this.
		+
		+	The committee recorded that there is a widely held belief in the industry that women entering the industry would “sleep with anybody for money” and not just for roles and work.
		+
		+	''' IF A WOMAN DOES NOT FALL IN LINE, ENTIRE INDUSTRY WILL GANG UP AGAINST HER '''
		+
		+	The committee recorded that it found “entirely justifiable” the women’s reluctance to speak against the abuse. Only after the women were assured of complete confidentiality did some of them agree to be interviewed.
		+
		+	“Women in [Malayalam] cinema are most reluctant to speak about the sexual harassment they face. They are afraid that if they divulge this information to others, they would be banned from cinema and subjected to harassment,” says the report. The report says it’s very clear that sexual abusers in the industry have a massive support system – fellow actors, producers, financers, heads of industry bodies, fan clubs – that gets activated when a woman raises her voice.Some men who deposed before the committee tried to argue that women face sexual harassment in every industry and it would be wrong to single out the Malayalam film industry. However, many women interviewed by the committee said there is a striking difference between the sexual harassment seen in the film industry and that in other fields.
		+
		+	''' MIDNIGHT KNOCKS ON DOORS IN HOTELS '''
		+
		+	Witnesses said they felt the most vulnerable when staying in hotels during outdoor shoots. It is common, they said, to have men, mostly drunk, knocking on their doors in the night.
		+
		+	“The knocking will not be polite... they repeatedly bang on the door. Many women said they felt that the door would collapse and men would force their way into their room. So, unless women take somebody from the family when they go for work, they fear that they will not be safe,” says the report.
		+
		+	The committee noted that though evidence indicated several cases of sexual abuse which constituted offences under the Indian Penal Code and also fell under the definition of “sexual harassment of women at workplace”, the victims never approached the police because they were afraid of “the serious consequences”. Being “public figures” women in cinema face a greater threat in terms of retribution for speaking up.
		+
		+	The 295-page report has 65 pages redacted, concealing many incidents it had recorded. One such incident is, in fact, mentioned only in part in the report. It presumably refers to a male actor misbehaving with a female co-star, who apparently called him out, but was brow-beaten into submission and had to continue working with the man against her wishes. This is how the incident is detailed in the report:
		+	“...same man and woman, as husband and wife, hugging each other. That was terrible. Because of what was done to her during the shooting, her resentment and hatred had reflected on her face. 17 retakes had to be taken for just one shot and the director criticised her for the situation.”
		+
		+	''' FAN CLUBS OR BULLY BANDS '''
		+
		+	A witness told the committee that the market value of heroes is propped up by the artificial creation of fan clubs.
		+
		+	It is common to have the same person running fan clubs for multiple stars. He/she can create a fan club for any star, provided enough money is paid.These fan clubs are often deployed to bully women if they raise their voice against a star or an industry favourite.
		+
		+	The committee noted how vicious online attacks have been launched against actresses just hours after they complained against a star. Morphed videos and pictures carrying obscene comments were uploaded and misleading stories about the star’s past conduct were circulated. What is scarier is that these fan clubs can also orchestrate physical attacks.
		+
		+	''' A CULTURE OF BAN THAT EVEN MEN FIND INTIMIDATORY '''
		+
		+	There is evidence to prove that about 10 to 15 individuals — all male, all very successful and very wealthy — control the Malayalam film industry, the report says.
		+
		+	This group can prevent anyone from working in the industry by imposing a “ban.” The ban will not be formal, but it will close all doors in the industry for the banned individual. It can even stall the release of films if the production house involved somebody the group did not approve of.Some witnesses told the committee that even top actors have suffered because they “offended” a member of this group.
		+
		+	Members of ‘Women in Cinema Collective’, the association of women formed after the assault on a leading actress mentioned earlier in this report, have all been banned by this group.
		+
		+	''' NON-EXECUTION OF CONTRACTS '''
		+
		+	A witness stated that there was no system of executing a contract between a producer and an actor or a director in Malayalam cinema till 2000.
		+
		+	The Film Chamber of Commerce had received many complaints concerning contract disputes and when the Chamber leaned in favour of contracts, certain actors, who were used to having their way with every aspect of film-making, felt offended.
		+
		+	These actors, to convey their unhappiness with the proposal, left on a holiday abroad together, bringing the entire film industry to a standstill. When some rebellious directors managed to continue working by replacing the actors who had flown abroad, they were banned.
		+
		+	From then on, at least one famous director, who used to do three to four movies every year, could not direct a single film with any major actor.
		+
		+	One actress, while deposing before the committee, spoke about how in the absence of a contract, she was tricked into shooting scenes that involved levels of nudity and intimacy she was not comfortable with.
		+
		+	“She was asked to do many things, including a lip-lock, which was contrary to the understanding between the parties,” says the report.
		+
		+	''' JUNIOR ARTISTES TREATED LIKE SLAVES '''
		+
		+	Junior artistes are not recognised as artistes in the Malayalam film industry. They are not members of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes (AMMA) and thus the most vulnerable to abuse – both physical and financial.
		+
		+	The committee recorded how difficult it was to get junior artistes to depose. “We made efforts to get a few junior artists [to depose before the committee], but it appeared they were under some threat that if they stated anything before the committee, they would be barred from any opportunities in cinema,” says the report.
		+
		+	Dancers, who form the backdrop in song-and-dance sequences, were also reluctant to appear before the committee. And when they did, it appeared they were under pressure to not say anything that would hurt the industry’s image.The report mentions the following points to drive home the pitiable status of junior artistes in Malayalam film industry:
		+
		+	● Not provided access to toilets, though they are made to spend, on an average, 14 to 19 hours on sets.
		+
		+	● Not provided any rest area.
		+
		+	● Never paid their wages in time nor in full.
		+
		+	● If the production house releases Rs 700 as a day’s wage, the junior artist gets only Rs 500.
		+
		+	● Denial of food and water is a major complaint. Witnesses told the committee that women junior artistes are the most vulnerable to sexual exploitation because of their poor pay and working conditions. One witness spoke about contractors forming WhatsApp groups of junior artistes to push them into organised sex work.

	[[Category:Cinema-TV-Pop\|MMALAYALAM CINEMA: 2010 ONWARDSMALAYALAM CINEMA: 2010 ONWARDSSEXUAL HARASSMENT IN THE MALAYALAM FILM INDUSTRY		[[Category:Cinema-TV-Pop\|MMALAYALAM CINEMA: 2010 ONWARDSMALAYALAM CINEMA: 2010 ONWARDSSEXUAL HARASSMENT IN THE MALAYALAM FILM INDUSTRY

← Older revision		Revision as of 08:18, 15 September 2024
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	“One thing we can say with certainty right now is that the case has become a game changer in many ways,” he said.		“One thing we can say with certainty right now is that the case has become a game changer in many ways,” he said.

		+	=The Justice Hema Committee report, 2019 (released: 2024)=
		+	[https://indianexpress.com/article/india/hema-committee-malayalam-cinema-sexual-harassment-discrimination-workplace-safety-9522187/ Shaju Philip, Aug 20, 2024: ''The Indian Express'']
		+
		+	The Justice Hema Committee report, which looked into the problems faced by women working in the Malayalam film industry, has found that these include sexual harassment, lack of basic facilities like women’s toilets, gender bias and discrimination, disparity in remuneration, and the absence of a legally constituted authority to address their problems.
		+
		+	The report, which has been with the state government for the last four- and-a-half years, was released after several rounds of legal battles in court as well as at the State Information Commission.
		+
		+	The three-member committee, headed by retired High Court judge Justice K Hema, was formed in July 2017 in the wake of the sexual assault of a prominent actor in a moving vehicle in February that year.
		+
		+	The committee said incidents narrated by witnesses include those involving “highly placed men in cinema”.
		+
		+	“It is very painful to hear some incidents narrated by witnesses in which very highly placed men in cinema were involved. These are the people whom society looks up to with great reverence and admiration. Incident by incident, as narration progressed, many icons started crumbling. These are the people who have the influence and power to change the course of Malayalam movies. Unfortunately, these are the people contributing to the degeneration of the profession.”
		+
		+	The report said the experiences that women have gone through in the industry are shocking, and that many had not even disclosed these to their close family members. The committee said it was not surprised that these experiences were not disclosed earlier given the way the MalayaIm film industry runs and the consequences that women may face for speaking up.
		+
		+	“Surprisingly, in the course of study, we came to know that certain men had also suffered a lot of issues in the industry, and many of them, including some very prominent artistes, were banned, without authorisation, from working in cinema… They would have, knowingly or unknowingly, invited the wrath of one or other person from the powerful lobby in the industry that rules the industry,” the report said.
		+
		+	In reaching its conclusions, the committee relied upon oral statements of witnesses – both men and women – who appeared before it. “We have also taken into consideration various documents, audio clips, video clips, screenshots, WhathApp messages, WhatsApp chats, etc. produced by the witnesses,” the report said.
		+
		+	It also said that one of the reasons why women do not file police complaints over the sexual harassment faced by them in the industry was the fear of faceing online attacks.
		+
		+	A prominent actor told the Commission that a powerful lobby exists that can make anything happen in the industry. This “mafia” can even ban actors, producers and directors, the report said.
		+
		+	This also means that the constitution of an internal complaints committee (ICC) would not be a solution for all the problems faced by women in the Malayalam film industry, according to the report.
		+
		+	The report mentioned the ‘casting couch’, which makes the experience of getting jobs in the film industry different to other fields when it comes to women. Ability and eligibility may not be enough to get a job in the film industry, and the demand for sex is often made with offers for jobs, the report said.
		+
		+	The report also talked of instances where drunk men repeatedly knock or bang on the doors of the hotel rooms of women working in films. This leaves many women with no choice but to take somebody from their family when they go to work as they fear they will not be safe, the report said.
		+
		+	Several of those who deposed before the committee also called for an authority or body to look into the grievances of women in the industry.
		+
		+	The report said that if a woman is perceived as a “problem maker”, she may not get work again in the industry, and that this leads them to keep silent about many of the atrocities they face.
		+
		+	The Justice Hema Committee had submitted its report to the state government in December 2019. However, the Cultural Affairs Department had rejected several RTI applications for the report, saying that making it public would affect the privacy of several witnesses.
		+
		+	In early July this year, the State Information Commission ordered the release of the report without identifying the witnesses. However, a film producer approached court and got an interim stay on the report’s release.
		+	Last week, the Kerala High Court lifted the stay with a directive to the government to hand over the copies of the report within a week. Meanwhile, actor Ranjini had approached the court seeking to be heard before the release of the report, but the plea was rejected.
		+
		+	After this, the report, which was originally 295-pages long, was released after 63 pages were redacted.
		+
		+
		+	A list of 17 issues faced by women in the Malayalam film industry, according to the Hema Committee report, are given below.
		+
		+	1. Sexual demands are made to women from the time they enter the industry
		+
		+	2. Sexual harassment, abuse, and assault against women take place at the work place, during transportation, and at places of accommodation
		+
		+	3. Women are tortured if they express resentment or unwillingness to fulfil sexual demands
		+	4. A lack of basic facilities for women, including toilets and changing rooms at places of work
		+
		+	5. Women lack safety at their workplace and accommodation
		+
		+	6. Unauthorised and illegal banning of individuals in cinema
		+
		+	7. The silencing of women under the threat of banning them from working in the industry
		+
		+	8. Male dominance, gender bias and gender discrimination
		+
		+	9. The use of drugs and alcohol, disorderly conduct and misbehaviour at place of work, which lead to gross indiscipline
		+
		+	10. Being subject to demeaning or vulgar comments at places of work
		+	11. The non-execution of contracts between employer and employee to suit individual requirements
		+
		+	12. The failure to pay the agreed remuneration
		+
		+	13. Disparity of remuneration between men and women, and gender discrimination in remuneration
		+
		+	14. Resistance/reluctance to allow women to work on the technical side cinema
		+
		+	15. Online harassment
		+
		+	16. Lack of legal awareness about their own rights
		+
		+	17. The absence of any legally constituted authority to redress their grievances
		+
		+
		+	===Reactions from the film industry===
		+	[https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/malayalam/sophia-thilakan-vinayan-suresh-gopi-react-to-justice-hema-committee-report-9524183/ Aug 20, 2024: ''The Indian Express'']
		+
		+	'' In response to the Justice Hema Committee Report, Sophia Thilakan and director Vinayan opened up about their own bitter experiences with AMMA and FEFKA. ''
		+
		+	It will be quite the understatement to say that the Justice Hema Commitee Report has sent ripples across the Malayalam film industry. The report spoke in detail about the kind of problems faced by women in cinema, including the paucity of basic facilities on sets, economic discriminations, ostracism for standing their ground, and the casting couch. As the report gets read by more and more people, there have been voices that were previously stifled getting a platform to talk about their issues. Remember the late actor Thilakan’s long-standing beef with Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA) and Film Employees Federation of Kerala (FEFKA)? It all started when he was unceremoniously ousted from a film, and was supposedly ‘blacklisted’ from being cast in a lot of films and TV serials. Remember Vinayan’s long-standing beef with AMMA and FEFKA over their unceremonious takeover of trade unions by rejecting MACTA (Malayalam Cine Technicians Association), a trade union fronted by him. Sophia Thilakan and Vinayan were among the loudest voices expressing the importance of the Hema Committee Report, and how they have been vindicated by its content that clearly reveal that Malayalam cinema is being controlled by a 15-member power group.
		+
		+	“My father opened up a can of worms about AMMA. He spoke about how there is a mafia, a gundaism, and how it isn’t a welfare organisation for the actors by any means,” said Sophia, who pointed out that AMMA took immediate action against her late father, but people who have done heinous crimes continue to be part of the organisation without any repercussion. “It is this dichotomy, this discrepancy that I am questioning.” When asked to name the people who are allegedly in this power group, Sophia refused to do so, saying it isn’t the right thing to do. This was a sentiment echoed by Vinayan, who also avoided naming the members of the power group saying everyone knows the names but they can’t tell it out loud. “Even the Hema Committee Report had to redact the names, right? That is the dictatorial power of that group,” said the veteran filmmaker.
		+
		+	Sophia revealed that AMMA’s agenda was clearly to keep the actors in line, and shared a harrowing experience she faced from someone she looked up to growing up. “I received a message from a senior member of the industry, who wanted to apologise for everything that happened with my father, and wanted to sort out things. With subsequent messages I received, I realised that his intent was something really nefarious,” said Sophia, pointing out how tough it would be for people within the industry to deal with such men. “I can’t even discuss the kind of messages I received, and I am someone who is only remotely connected with Malayalam cinema. Imagine what would happen to someone trying to make their mark in cinema, or even established actors. There are many more unsaid stories.”
		+
		+	While praising the Hema Committee Report, a pragmatic Vinayan also said it might not change a lot of things on the ground. “But I am sure that the power vested in certain people to do whatever they wanted has been reduced. It is important that the power centres take cognisance of the issues ailing the industry, including security for women in cinema. Don’t act as if you are sleeping, it will only push the industry to doldrums,” said the filmmaker, who repeatedly called the power centres as a mafia group who were calling the shots.
		+
		+	“I am probably one of the earliest affected people under the reign of this mafia group in cinema. Honestly, back in the day, when I spoke about this power group, and how this behaviour won’t do any good for Malayalam cinema, they didn’t like it at all. That is why MACTA was attacked. Even in the report, it is mentioned that an actor, who didn’t like being answerable for his actions, destroyed the union,” said Vinayan, who listed out the various good things that happened during his tenure as the General Secretary of MACTA. “I knew I had a target on my back. They stopped MACTA’s growth. They had a meeting with the bigwigs of the industry to stop me in my tracks. This included actors who later became important politicians, and even ministers,” said Vinayan, who recalled how he held some of the biggest actors of that time responsible for their actions when they stepped out of line. “An actor I introduced did something untoward to a costume assistant, and I made him apologise to the entire unit. When a director of a Superstar film insulted Thilakan sir, I asked the filmmaker to apologise to the thespian. He still holds a grudge against me. That is the kind of organisation that AMMA destroyed.” reminisced the filmmaker.
		+
		+	Meanwhile, actor-politician Suresh Gopi, who is also the Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas and the Ministry of Tourism, said, “A commission was formed. They submitted their findings, and today, the report is out. Why talk about the delay unnecessarily? It has come out, right?” Adding that the various organisations will come together to heed to the government’s demands and enforcements to better the machinations of the industry, Gopi said, “Is this only happening in cinema? Isn’t it there in banking? Or any other field? But yeah, we would find a solution, and use the Hema Committee recommendations to do what is required. The required changes will happen in due course. All of us are waiting for it.”
		+
		+	Talking about how the maligning of the Malayalam cinema industry has deeper repercussions, the Garudan actor said, “A atmosphere is getting destroyed. Cinema is not just about the actors who are earning in crores. It is also about the various technicians earning in thousands too. There is an unorganised sector in cinema, and the production of films is their bread and butter. Cinema is a magnetic medium with many people getting attracted to it. You shouldn’t destroy that either.” However, he was quick to point out that it doesn’t mean there aren’t issues in the industry. “I am not saying nothing happened to warrant such reactions. But it is time to let the good things happen. Of course, we might face newer problems in the future, and it is important to evolve with time. I will support them in this endeavour if they ask for it.”
		+
		+	Meanwhile, a defiant Vinayan, who has kept silent all these years, said that if the proposed conclave to discuss the safety in Malayalam cinema, features the members of the ‘power group’ then he would resist it with all his might. “I will fight against the organisation (AMMA) even if I am the only one fighting it. There are a lot of other organisations in Malayalam cinema. All of them should give it their all to push the industry forward,” said Vinayan, asserting the need for stricter laws and reforms in place. Joining Vinayan’s clarion call, Sophia said, “Survivors should get their justice. Equality is for all.”
		+
		+	[[Category:Cinema-TV-Pop\|MMALAYALAM CINEMA: 2010 ONWARDSMALAYALAM CINEMA: 2010 ONWARDSSEXUAL HARASSMENT IN THE MALAYALAM FILM INDUSTRY
		+	SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN THE MALAYALAM FILM INDUSTRY]]
		+	[[Category:India\|MMALAYALAM CINEMA: 2010 ONWARDSMALAYALAM CINEMA: 2010 ONWARDSSEXUAL HARASSMENT IN THE MALAYALAM FILM INDUSTRY
		+	SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN THE MALAYALAM FILM INDUSTRY]]

	= Accusations made after Hema Committee report 2024 about earlier incidents=		= Accusations made after Hema Committee report 2024 about earlier incidents=