justice-hema-committee-report-explained

Mollywood or the Malayalam-language film industry of Kerala is in turmoil since the Hema Committee report has surfaced, which has brought to the forefront a deepening sexual abuse scandal involving some of top movie stars and industry leaders.

 

The report is being considered as a landmark bringing forth issues faced by women in Mollywood. 

 

It has revealed that sexual harassment of women is rampant in the Malayalam film industry, which has exposed the darker side of Mollywood.

 

Discussion around challenges, which a woman face in the world, including her workplace took the centre-stage since the brutal rape and murder was reported from Kolkata, West Bengal, on August 9. And after 10 days, the Hema Committee report was made public, that is, on August 19, 2024, which highlighted the already burning issues, but specifically in the film industry. 

 

The report uncovered that women in the film industry face numerous issues including sexual demands, harassment, gender discrimination, lack of safety in the workplace, insufficient basic facilities and wage disparities.

 

And as the report was made public, it acted as the much-needed impetus for numerous women to narrate their ordeal pertaining to the assault they have endured at the hands of male actors and filmmakers.

 

It has been learnt that the Kerala Police have registered nearly 20 cases involving prominent figures in the Malayalam film industry so far.

 

As a result of the report, the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA) was dissolved as the entire executive committee stepped down in light of the report’s findings. A new governing body will, reportedly, be elected soon.

 

Local media widely reported that noted Mollywood director Ranjith resigned as the chairman of the Kerala Chalachitra Academy, a non-profit that promotes Malayalam cinema, following allegations of inappropriate behaviour by Bengali actress Sreelekha Mitra.

 

Ranjith said he would challenge the accusations against him.

 

How did it all start?

 

The Hema Committee, helmed by retired Kerala High Court judge K Hema, was established in 2017 after an actress was raped in a moving car while returning home from work, sparking outrage within the film community.

 

She was a known Malayalam woman actor who came forward alleging abduction and sexual assault on her in Kochi.

 

The Kerala Police investigation team zeroed-in on actor Dileep, who was booked on charges of conspiring to carry out the sexual assault. 

 

After the survivor identified herself on social media, the industry saw an unprecedented shake-up, leading to the formation of the Women in Cinema Collective (WCC). 

 

Based on a petition by the Collective, the LDF government set up a committee headed by retired Justice K Hema, also comprising former actor Sharada, and retired IAS officer KB Valsala Kumari.

 

Although the committee’s findings were released in 2019, making them public involved several legal challenges. Hence, it was published in 2024, five years after it was submitted to the Kerala government. 

 

The 235-page report, published after redacting the names of the witnesses as well as the accused, notes that the Malayalam film industry is wielded by a cabal of male producers, directors and actors.

 

It was claimed that the report contains several sensitive information which needed to be redacted before releasing it to the public. It was believed that publishing the full report would harm the industry. 

The committee confirms the rumoured existence of the practice of “casting couch” in the industry. 

 

The report also highlights the lack of changing rooms or toilet facilities on the set, especially in outdoor locations.

 

Actor Minu Kurian, who is also known as Minu Muneer, and whose statement was recorded by the police recently, said that she was confident that justice would be served.

She, reportedly, said: “Many artists have had a bad experience. Those who are not cooperating with powerful industry members have been cast away,” said Kurian.

 

Legal battles pertaining to the report

 

The report was published after several rounds of legal battles in the High Court. It has been learnt that Right to Information activists had approached the Kerala State Information Commission (KSIC) for more details on the report. 

 

As a result, the KSIC decided on July 6, 2024 that a controlled report could be released to the petitioners. 

 

Around 60 pages of the report have been redacted before its release under the Right to Information Act (RTI), fearing widespread repercussions. 

The Kerala High Court held its release while hearing a plea which argued that its publication would violate the right to privacy of individuals and may expose people to retaliation or further harassment. 

 

However, the plea was dismissed by the high court, thereby directing the government to make the report public. 

 

To conduct a preliminary inquiry into allegations of sexual harassment against a few actors in Malayalam cinema, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been formed.

The Kerala High Court has directed the state government to submit the full report in a sealed envelope.

The National Commission for Women (NCW) has asked the Kerala government to submit the full Hema Committee report in a week.

 

Additionally, the Kerala High Court has taken cognisance and directed the state government to submit the full report in a sealed manner.

 

Additionally, a public interest litigation has been moved before the Kerala High Court seeking for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the entire Justice Hema Committee report. The petition also seeks to formulate a special law to protect women in the film industry.

 

Making film industry safe for women

 

This is not the first instance when an Indian film industry is under scanner. 

 

In 2018, Bollywood, Mumbai-based Hindi film industry, was rocked by a sexual abuse scandal.

 

Sexual harassment allegations brought about by Tanushree Dutta, an actor and former Miss India, against Bollywood legend Nana Patekar turned the spotlight on the issue of male dominance and exploitation of women in the Indian film industry. 

 

After the horrific findings that have surfaced in the report, one hopes that notable changes will be seen in the Indian film industry, which will not only improve accountability on the part of the perpetrators but also make it a safe place for women artists to thrive without fear.