Justice K Hema Committee report which unveiled the alleged ugly side of the Malayalam language film industry has created ripples in other states too.
While there has been a demand for a similar report in the Telangana film industry, allegations of women abuse have surfaced from Kollywood (Tamil language film industry) too.
Leading women actors, producers and directors demanded that the Telangana government release the 2022 report on sexual harassment in the Telugu film industry.
Actor Samantha Ruth Prabhu welcomed the Hema Committee report and applauded the persistent efforts of the WCC in Kerala.
In the Tamil film industry, veteran actor Radhika Sarathkumar said that actors harbouring political ambitions should voice support for women from their own industry.
The impact of the Hema Committee report has now been felt on the Kannada film industry or the Sandalwood.
Kannada actor Sruthi Hariharan has called for a forum in the Kannada film industry along the lines of the K Hema Committee, which was constituted by the Government of Kerala following Women in Cinema Collective’s (WCC) petition in 2017.
Taking to a social media platform, Sruthi, who is known for films such as Lucia, Godhi Banna Sadharana Mykattu, Beautiful Manasugalu and Nathicharami, expressed her opinion on the ongoing issue.
“It would be great to have a committee similar to that of the Justice K. Hema Committee for an unbiased and fair investigation on the working conditions of women across all departments of the Kannada film industry,” she wrote.
“Please don’t sensationalise this and just focus on the sexual harassment angle. A committee like this will go far beyond just that and help uplift and empower women in many other ways,” added the National Award-winning actor.
In 2018, Sruthi had accused popular actor Arjun Sarja of sexual harassment amidst the MeToo wave.
Even as Sarja denied the allegations, Sruthi filed a police complaint against Sarja.
Three years after the complaint, the investigation was closed by the cops owing to ‘lack of evidence’.
Additionally, Kavitha Lankesh, film director-screenwriter and chairperson of the Karnataka Film Industry for Rights and Equality (FIRE) has raised her voice on incidents of assault on artists in the Kannada film industry.
FIRE was started in 2018 and, thus, there was a cry for the formation of an Internal Complaints Committee (ICC). However, no action was taken.
Lankesh believes, “An ICC should be formed with equal representation and should include individuals from both within and outside the industry, representing women’s rights, minority rights, LGBTQIA+, legal professionals, and activists.”
She added: “The only complaint that reached FIRE was from Sruthi Hariharan a few years ago. While we received a few additional complaints, despite our support, there was a radio silence from both the industry and the victims themselves.”
Lankesh asserted that the Hema Committee is a significant step forward in the direction.
In the wake of the Justice Hema Committee’s report highlighting systemic issues faced by women, including sexual harassment, in the Malayalam Film Industry, FIRE calls upon the Karnataka government to take immediate action to address similar concerns within the Kannada Film Industry.
A letter has, reportedly, been sent to the CM which states that the Karnataka government appoint a retired judge-led committee to conduct a thorough investigation into the systemic issues faced by women in KFI, including sexual harassment; and also allow them to develop and recommend policies to ensure a healthy and equitable work environment for all women in the industry.
The petition, signed by 153 individuals from various sectors of the Kannada film industry, highlights the ongoing issues of sexual harassment and systemic inequality faced by women.
Recently published Hema Committee report revealed horrifying tales of sexual exploitation, illegal bans, discrimination, drug and alcohol abuse, wage disparity and in some cases, inhuman working conditions in the Malayalam film industry.
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