The Malayalam film industry, popularly known as Mollywood, is currently facing a significant upheaval as the #MeToo movement gains momentum. To date, 17 cases of sexual harassment have been reported, sparking widespread debate and leading to the dissolution of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA). The latest update being CPI(M) MLA and actor Mukesh being booked for sexual assault as fresh allegations emerge.
Latest Update on 29th August 2024
CPI(M) MLA and Actor Mukesh Booked for Sexual Assault
Actor-politician Mukesh, who serves as an MLA for the ruling CPI(M) in Kerala, has been booked by the Maradu police on August 29, 2024, for allegedly sexually assaulting a woman actor. The complaint filed by the survivor accuses Mukesh of multiple instances of harassment that occurred between 2008 and 2012. Mukesh has been charged under IPC sections 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty) and 509 (word, gesture, or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman).
The survivor, who has filed complaints against seven individuals, including Mukesh, previously detailed her allegations in a Facebook post and subsequently sent separate complaints via email to the Kerala police. Other accused individuals include actors Jayasurya, Edavela Babu, and Maniyanpilla Raju, along with production controllers Noble and Vichu, and producer and Lawyers’ Congress president VS Chandrasekharan.
Mukesh has denied the allegations, dismissing them as attempts to blackmail him and promising to take legal action against the accusers. Questions have also been raised about Mukesh's involvement in a committee established by the Kerala State Film Development Corporation in 2023 to develop a film policy for the state.
Recent Allegations and Threats
♦ Sonia Malhaar recently lodged a complaint with the Special Investigation Team (SIT) established by the Kerala government to address the '#MeToo' allegations in the film industry. She urged the media not to link actor Jayasurya to her allegations, although other prominent actors have been implicated.
♦ Actor Minu Muneer also accused actors M. Mukesh, Jayasurya, Maniyanpilla Raju, and Idavela Babu of harassment during filming. She disclosed that she has been receiving threatening messages after speaking out about her experiences.
In a candid interview, Muneer detailed a harrowing incident where Jayasurya allegedly hugged and kissed her without consent, promising more work if she complied with his advances. She also accused former AMMA secretary Idavela Babu of physically abusing her under the guise of helping her secure AMMA membership. Muneer further alleged that actor Mukesh denied her the AMMA membership after she rejected his advances.
Mukesh has since denied these allegations, stating that Muneer had previously sought financial assistance from him and accused her of blackmail. He has called for a thorough investigation to clear his name.
♦ Meanwhile, Bengali film actor Sreelekha Mitra, who has also spoken out against harassment in the industry, highlighted that such exploitation is an open secret and is rampant across film industries.
Rape Case Filed Against Actor Siddique
Amid the unfolding #MeToo allegations, a rape case was filed against Malayalam actor Siddique following accusations from a female actor who claimed he sexually assaulted her in 2016. An FIR under sections 376 (rape) and 506 (criminal intimidation) was registered against Siddique at the Museum police station in Thiruvananthapuram. This is the second high-profile case registered against a film personality following the widespread revelations of harassment in the Justice Hema Committee report. Siddique had already resigned from his post as general secretary of AMMA amid these allegations, reflecting the growing accountability being demanded within the industry.
Dissolution of AMMA and Resignations
In response to these allegations, AMMA’s executive committee, including its president, Mohanlal, resigned en masse. This decision followed an emergency meeting where the committee acknowledged the serious allegations against its members and took moral responsibility. All 17 committee members, including prominent actors such as Jagadish, R. Jayan, Unni Mukundan, and Baburaj, stepped down, and an ad hoc arrangement was put in place to manage AMMA’s daily affairs until a new executive committee is formed within the next two months.
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Justice Hema Committee Report: A Glimpse into the Dark Reality
The Justice Hema Committee report, released on August 19, 2024, brought to light the deeply entrenched issues of exploitation, discrimination, and sexual harassment in the Malayalam film industry. Formed in 2017 in response to a petition by the Women in Cinema Collective (WCC), the committee comprised retired High Court Justice K. Hema, former actor Sharada, and retired IAS officer K.B. Valsala Kumari. The WCC was established following the abduction and sexual assault of a Malayalam actress in Kochi, an incident that implicated Malayalam actor Dileep.
The Hema Committee's findings reveal a disturbing landscape where sexual favours have long been considered a prerequisite for success in the industry. The report exposed the existence of a 'power group' that dominates the industry and perpetuates the 'casting couch' culture. The revelations affected not just actors, but a wide array of women across the industry, including technicians, makeup artists, dancers, and support staff.
The committee also identified several other inequities disadvantaging women in the industry, such as inadequate facilities like toilets, changing rooms, safe transportation, and accommodation at shooting locations, which violate women's rights to privacy. Additionally, there were findings of gender-based discrimination in pay and a lack of binding contractual agreements, which further contribute to the precarious conditions for women in the industry.
Impact and Ongoing Investigations
The release of the Justice Hema Committee report has prompted more female actors to come forward with their own experiences of harassment, reigniting the #MeToo movement in Mollywood. The Special Investigation Team is currently preparing a roadmap to investigate the allegations of sexual exploitation in the industry. The Kerala government has been asked by the Supreme Court to clarify the number of witnesses left to be examined in the high-profile 2017 actor sexual assault case.
In addition to the case against Siddique, other allegations have surfaced, including one against director Ranjith, accused of inappropriate conduct in 2009 by a female actor from West Bengal. Ranjith had also resigned from his role as chairman of the Kerala Chalachitra Academy in light of the allegations.
The revelations and the resulting upheaval in Mollywood highlight the urgent need for systemic change to protect women in the industry and ensure a safe working environment. As the investigations continue and new leadership takes over in AMMA, there is hope that these steps will lead to a more equitable and respectful film industry in Kerala.
For further insights into the latest updates and developments, you can listen to the detailed discussions by the members of the Women in Cinema Collective and other stakeholders actively working towards reforming the Malayalam film industry and stay tuned for more updates on this story.
Inputs by Agencies
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