Justice Hema Committee Report Exposes Men’s Dominance in the Malayalam Film Industry
Image credit: The Indian Express
The Justice Hema Committee report has been released after a lengthy process. The report highlights the challenges women face in the Malayalam film industry, such as sexual harassment, inadequate facilities like women’s toilets, gender bias, discrimination, unequal pay, and the absence of a legally established authority to address their issues.
In July 2017, a three-member committee was established, with retired High Court judge Justice K Hema at the helm. This action was taken following the sexual assault of a well-known actor in a moving vehicle in February of the same year. In December 2019, a significant report addressing the challenges faced by women in the Malayalam film industry was submitted to the government. Recently, the Left Government made an important decision to form a three-member panel tasked with thoroughly studying, analyzing, and implementing the recommendations outlined in the Justice Hema Commission report. This report sheds light on the numerous difficulties encountered by women in the industry. Surprisingly, it took four and a half years for the report to be released, finally seeing the light of day on a Monday.
The committee highlighted that the testimonies included accounts of misconduct by influential figures within the film industry. It is deeply distressing to learn about the disheartening incidents recounted by the witnesses. These individuals, who are held in high esteem by society and have achieved great prominence in the world of cinema, were implicated in these distressing acts. These individuals hold significant sway and have the ability to shape the trajectory of Malayalam cinema. With each narrative, it became evident that many revered icons were being tarnished. Regrettably, they are also found to be contributing to the decline of the profession.
The report highlighted the shocking experiences of women in the film industry, many of whom have not even confided in their close family members. It mentioned the presence of the ‘casting couch’, which sets the process of obtaining jobs in the film industry apart from other fields for women. The report stated that mere ability and qualifications may not suffice for job attainment in the film industry, as there is often a demand for sexual favors in exchange for job offers. Additionally, the report described instances where intoxicated men would repeatedly disturb or bang on the doors of the hotel rooms of female film industry workers. As a result, many women feel compelled to bring a family member along while working due to safety concerns, according to the report.
Several men in the Malayalam film industry have faced unauthorized bans from working in cinema. They may have inadvertently angered powerful figures in the industry. The committee relied on the oral statements of witnesses, both men and women, who appeared before it, as well as various documents, audio and video clips, screenshots, WhatsApp messages, and WhatsApp chats provided by the witnesses, as stated in the report. Women in the industry fear facing online attacks when filing police complaints about sexual harassment.
The State Information Commission ordered the release of a report, but a film producer got an interim stay. The Kerala High Court lifted the stay and directed the government to hand over report copies. Actor Ranjini’s plea to be heard before the report’s release was rejected. 63 pages of the originally 295-page report were redacted before its release.
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- Diniya Raju is an enthusiastic and determined journalism student with a strong passion for amplifying the voices of the voiceless. Having recently completed an internship at KCV News, Diniya's commitment to journalism has been evident from a young age, driven by a desire to make a meaningful impact through storytelling.
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