New Delhi:
The release of the Justice Hema Committee report, which looked into the challenges faced by women in the Malayalam film industry, has created a big uproar in Kerala. According to Onmanorama, actor and AMMA general secretary Siddique spoke about the report during a media interaction and said, “There was a high-powered committee formed ten years ago of representatives of all film-related associations in the state. We are not sure if this is what has been mentioned.”
There is no such power lobby. No lobby can control the cinema in any way. How can an industry function if there is a group that controls every aspect? If there was such a power group, there would be no good film. Ever since the report came out, there have been accusations that generalize the entire Malayalam film industry and its people as bad, which is insulting. Every sector of work has problems, but no one is going to make remarks that will spoil the whole industry,” he added.
ICYDK: The report strongly highlights the severe discrimination and exploitation faced by female actors in the industry. The report has revealed the industry’s darker side, from its prevalence of an actor’s couch and lack of basic amenities in the film industry to pay disparity and marginalization because of its refusal to comply with abusers’ demands. The Kerala government set up this three-member committee, headed by former Kerala High Court judge K Hema, with veteran actor T Sarada and retired IAS officer KB Valsalakumari as members.
Last week, the Kerala High Court approved the release of the report on the condition that names and sensitive information be redacted to protect the identities of those involved. Despite some attempts to delay its release, the 295-page report was released on Monday. However, out of the original 295-page report, 63 pages have been redacted before its release under the RTI Act. It details the extent of the surveillance carried out by the so-called “mafia”. It is said to silence anyone who dares to complain, subjecting them to severe consequences.
In addition to the experiences of actors and technicians, the panel explored the plight of younger artists who are classified as unorganized workers because they are not recognized as artists or technicians. As a result, they are not members of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes (AMMA) or the Federation of Kerala Film Employees (FEFKA).
The report also reveals the general presence of casting couch in the industry, with those in small roles or new entrants being the most vulnerable. The report noted that female actors often face pressure to compromise their dignity in exchange for roles, and some even feel the need to bring in family members to protect themselves from abuse. The report describes incidents of knocking on women’s doors at night, with “visitors” becoming violent when denied entry.
Even basic amenities like quality food on set are denied unless women compromise. The report also states that female producers are not immune to these challenges and that they face discrimination from a male-dominated lobby.
