A glimpse behind the curtains, exploitations in the Malayalam film industry

The Justice Hema Committee was created to uncover, study, and document the issues of sexual harassment and gender inequality in the Malayalam Film Industry. The committee was formed in 2017 in response to a petition filed by the Women in Cinema Collective (WCC) to the government. The Committee took two years to formulate and submit its report to the government on December 31st, 2019. The redacted 233-page report was finally published on August 19, 2024, nearly five years after its submission, following efforts to uphold the privacy of the individuals it mentions. On February 17, 2017, a First Information Report (FIR) was registered after a prominent actress was allegedly sexually assaulted by several men. ‘Pulsar’ Soni, a perpetrator the actress could identify, was arrested as the primary suspect. In May 2017, several female artists and office-bearers supporting the actress convened to form the WCC, aiming to expose the gender disparity, abuse, and injustice women face in the industry. The case was revitalised after Dileep, a prominent actor, emerged as a perpetrator in the case, supposedly organising the assault. He is currently out on bail and still under trial, yet the case prompted the need to inspect and observe similar instances in the industry. The creation of the Hema Committee fulfilled these needs. The Committee was formed in response to a direct request by the members of the Collective to the Chief Minister of Kerala, Pinarayi Vijayan, seeking investigations into conspiracies linked with the case. The three-membered committee, constituted retired Kerala High Court Judge Justice K. Hema, veteran actress Sarada and retired Indian Administrative Service officer K.B. Valsala Kumari as its members. The Committee spent two years conducting interviews with several members from the industry, many of whom declined meetings fearing repercussions from influential people. The report was finally presented before the government, alongside a 1500-page document as evidence, on 31st December 2019. Despite several applications moved under the RTI Act (Right To Information) to gain access to the report, it was withheld from the public. This decision followed legal appeals made to the High Court to protect the privacy of the individuals mentioned in the report by keeping it undisclosed. Eventually, the High Court overruled all such requests and directed the Government to release it into the public domain. On August 19, 2024, the 233-page report was finally made available to the public. The report unravelled countless cases of inhumane working conditions, gender bias, discrimination and various other heinous acts- the report brought the stories of individuals from every corner of the industry into the limelight, providing their stories with the recognition they deserve. Yet the most notable revelations it provided were innumerable instances of sexual exploitation, the prevalence of ‘casting couches’, and the existence of a “power group” in the industry. The report further elucidated the current norms of the industry which provide leniency for such cruelties to take place. Junior artists hold the least influence in the industry and hence face numerous injustices such as inadequate and unsafe accommodations, discrimination in remuneration, and scarcities of binding contracts to protect their rights. These factors make it difficult for most to succeed and make them desperate for any help that might guarantee them a role. The junior artists who manage to succeed are the ones who comply with every instruction their superiors provide them, albeit forcefully. These conditions are the reason the issue of “casting couches” occurs where artists are sexually exploited in exchange for roles. Those who refuse to comply with such requests receive a so-called “ban” from the power group which effectively removes them from the industry as no director or producer would hire them in any role hereafter. This power group was told to consist of 15 influential male members who include producers, actors, and directors in the industry. While their names are known to the government, only when the entire history of their actions over the years becomes transparent will any action be taken against them. After the report’s release, multitudinous allegations were made against several prominent actors, directors, and production team members. Within a week of its release, the State Government formed a State Investigation Team led by Inspector General of Police G Sparjan Kumar to probe the charges. After a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was filed by the Central Bureau of Investigations (CBI) seeking a probe into the allegations of the report, the High Court appointed Justices AK Jayasankaran Nambiar and CS Sudha to a Special Bench tasked with hearing all matters concerning the report. The Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA), which serves as the de facto presiding body of the Malayalam film industry, enthusiastically welcomed the report and its findings. Yet the absence of a legitimate response from the committee in the backdrop of such serious allegations levelled against its members exposed the committee to several indictments, forcing the resignation of its entire executive board in an attempt to atone for their inactivity. Senior Actor Siddique spoke on the report on behalf of AMMA as its General Secretary and revealed that its findings were unheard of; he called for police investigations into the matter after formally denying any knowledge of the casting couch and the alleged power group in the industry. The Hema Committee Report represents a milestone in the fight for gender justice in the country. It is notably the first committee ever appointed to investigate sexual harassment in the film industry in India. After the report's release, several pleas for reforms have taken place in all of India’s film industries in correspondence with the #MeToo movement which continues to fight the atrocities prevalent in Bollywood. Revathy Asha– a veteran actor and filmmaker and one of the founding members of the Collective– responded that issues mentioned in the report which were previously dismissed as gossip, are now being taken very seriously. The report showed us that stable laws must be introduced in the country so that the safety and dignity of individuals can be upheld. The Hema Committee Report serves as a mirror, allowing the industry to self-reflect and correct its previously unnoticed faults. It encourages us to reflect on the issues we can see and makes us determined to work collectively to change them. References Malayalam film industry: Implement Hema Committee report (no date a) Peoples Democracy. Available at: ttps://peoplesdemocracy.in/2024/0901_pd/malayalam-film-industry-implement-hema-committee-report (Accessed: 26 October 2024) Pandey, G. (2024) Hema Committee Report: Why are India’s biggest film stars silent?, BBC News. Available at: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn9dgjd8rewo (Accessed: 26 October 2024). Bureau, T.H. (2024) Justice Hema Committee Report: The complete coverage, The Hindu. Available at: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/justice-hema-committee-report-the-complete-coverage/article68567888.ece (Accessed: 26 October 2024). TOI Entertainment Desk / etimes.in / Updated: Aug 28, 2024 (no date) Revathy reacts to superstars Mammootty and Mohanlal’s silence over the Hema Committee Report: - times of India, The Times of India. Available at: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/news/revathy-reacts-to-superstars-mammootty-and-mohanlals-silence-over-the-hema-committee-report/articleshow/112815725.cms (Accessed: 26 October 2024).