Report Reveals Rampant Harassment And No Restrooms In Kerala's Film Industry
A groundbreaking study into the challenges encountered by women in the Malayalam-language film business has uncovered a deep rot in one of India’s most renowned film centers.
The findings of the three-member panel are quite damning.
The 290-page study, some of which have been redacted to protect the identity of survivors and those accused of misconduct, claims that the business is dominated by “a mafia of powerful men” and that “sexual harassment of women is rampant”.
The Hema committee, led by a former Kerala High Court judge and established by the state government in 2017, details the appalling working conditions on sets, including a lack of toilets and changing rooms for junior artists, no food or water, low pay, and no accommodation or transportation facilities.
“There are no restrooms, so ladies have to use the bushes or hide behind big trees. “During their periods, not being able to change their sanitary napkins for long hours and holding urine for long periods causes physical discomfort and makes them sick, necessitating hospitalization in some cases,” it states.
The study, which was given to the government in December 2019, was only made public this week, following nearly five years of delay and various legal challenges by members of the film industry.
The panel was formed in the wake of a horrendous sexual attack on a prominent actress in the film business. Bhavana Menon, who has appeared in over 80 films in southern Indian languages and received numerous significant accolades, was assaulted by a group of men while driving from Thrissur to Kochi in February 2017.
Her assault made news, particularly after Dileep, one of the Malayalam-language film industry’s most prominent actors and Menon’s co-star in half a dozen films, was listed as an accused and charged with criminal conspiracy. He rejected the charges but was arrested and detained for three months before being freed on bond. The case continues to be heard in court.
Indian law prohibits the identity of survivors of sexual assault, yet it was clear from the beginning that Ms Menon had been assaulted. via 2022, she relinquished her anonymity via an Instagram post and an interview with the BBC.
A few months after Ms Menon’s attack, the Women in Cinema Collective (WCC), a group formed by some of her colleagues in a film industry known for its diverse range of successful mainstream and critically acclaimed films, petitioned the government for prompt action in the case as well as to address the issues confronting women in cinema.
According to the allegation, retired Justice K Hema was told by the WCC that “women are being silenced as the prestige of the film industry needs to be upheld”.
The panel examined several dozen men and women, including artists, producers, directors, scriptwriters, cinematographers, hairstylists, makeup artists, and costume designers, and “gathered evidence, including video and audio clips and WhatsApp messages”.
The report described sexual harassment as the “worst evil” that women in cinema suffer, stating that the panelists observed evidence that “sexual harassment remains shockingly rampant” and that “it goes on unchecked and uncontrolled”.
The industry “is controlled by a group of male actors, producers, distributors, exhibitors, and directors who have gained enormous fame and wealth,” and they were among the abusers, it claimed.
“Men in industry make blatant demands for sex without hesitation, as if it were their entitlement. Women are often forced to give up their desire to pursue a career in cinema due to societal expectations. Many women’s experiences have been so traumatic that they have not shared their stories with close family members.
Many of the participants approached by the panel were initially hesitant to testify because “they were afraid they would lose their jobs”.
“Initially, we considered their anxiety unusual, but as our research developed, we recognized it was well-founded. We are concerned for their and their close family members’ safety.”
The WCC claims that the investigation has justified its position. “For years, we have stated that there is a structural problem in the sector. Sexual harassment is only one of them. “This report proves it,” Beena Paul, an award-winning editor and one of the WCC’s founding members, told the BBC.
“We were often informed we were troublemakers [for bringing up such issues]. This analysis demonstrates that [the problem] is far worse than we originally suspected,” she said.
Members of the WCC claim they have had problems finding work since they started demanding improved working conditions on film shoots. “People dislike the fact that we ask inquiries. So, quite a few members have been in terrible situations,” Ms Paul explains.
The Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA), a leading industry association that includes superstars like Mohanlal and Mamooty, refuted the allegations. Siddique, the general secretary, disagreed that the sector was controlled by a tiny, powerful group.
He also claimed that sexual harassment was widespread in the sector, claiming that the majority of complaints they got were about worker delays or nonpayment. He stated that conditions for women on film sets had improved over the last five years and that they now have access to all amenities.
In the week since its release, the study has caused waves in the state, with activists and major opposition leaders seeking accountability for individuals accused of misconduct.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan stated that if a lady who testified before the committee came forward to submit a complaint, the government would take action. “No matter how big they are, they will be brought before the law,” he promised.
On Thursday, a public interest plea was filed in the Kerala High Court, requesting the start of criminal proceedings against persons named in the report.
The court ordered the government to give a copy of the report, and the judges stated that they will determine whether to pursue criminal action after reading it.
Allegations of harassment and abuse in films are not new in India; in 2018, the #MeToo movement spread to the country’s most popular film business, Bollywood, after actress
Tanushree Dutta accused veteran actor Nana Patekar of inappropriate behavior toward her on a 2008 film set. Patekar has refuted the charges.
Ms Dutta, who has since alleged that she has been denied job, called the Hema committee report “useless,” adding that previous recommendations on making workplaces safer for women have been ineffective.
Parvathy Thiruvothu, an award-winning actress and major member of the WCC, told Asianet that the report’s release was “a victory.”
“It’s opened up a door for big changes within the industry,” she told me.
Jeo Baby, director of The Great Indian Kitchen, a highly acclaimed film that analyzes the patriarchal structure inside the family, told the BBC that, while gender issues remain a worry, change is taking place in the sector. “This is the appropriate moment to correct this. “The film industry must fight this together.”
The report, which has made several recommendations to make the industry a safe place for women, says their inquiry and recommendations are not to find fault with any individual but “an earnest attempt to ennoble a profession so that it becomes a viable career option for aspiring artists and technicians, both male and female”.
“Hopefully filmmaking will become so safe that parents can send their daughters and sons to the profession with the same confidence and sense of security as they send their children to an engineering firm or a college,” according to the statement.
