- By Swati Singh
- Mon, 19 Aug 2024 09:03 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
The Justice Hema Committee report has finally been made public after a five-year wait, exposing the dark underbelly of sexual harassment in the Malayalam film industry . This comprehensive report is the result of a government-appointed panel formed in 2019 to investigate the challenges faced by women in the industry. It contains shocking accounts of harassment, exploitation, and ill-treatment faced by women, including unwanted advances even before they start working.
The Ugly Truth Of Malayalam Industry Revealed
According to HT, the report by Justice Hema Committe highlighted the widespread nature of the issue, sparking concerns about the safety and well-being of female professionals in the industry. It revealed that women face sexual harassment from well-known people in the industry, and many are forced to compromise and make adjustments to get a role.
The report also mentioned that women are often accompanied by their parents or close relatives on sets due to fear of demand for sex along with an offer for a role. The report also talked about the inhumane working conditions and the powerful lobby or mafia in Malayalam cinema. Women are not provided with basic facilities like toilets and changing rooms on shooting locations, and they are forced to relieve themselves in secluded places like forests or behind bushes.
The report also stated that even outspoken women in cinema are reluctant and hesitant to divulge their experiences of sexual harassment due to fear of being banned and subjected to harassment. The Justice Hema Committee report proposed the need for an independent forum to be constituted by the government to deal with the problems of women in cinema. The report concludes that there must be a special law and tribunal to address the issues faced by women in the industry.
The Justice Hema Committee report revealed shocking accounts of sexual harassment in the Malayalam film industry, including instances of intoxicated individuals knocking on female actors' doors. Fearful of repercussions, many victims hesitated to report these incidents to the police. The report emphasised that appearances can be deceiving and highlights sexual harassment as the major issue faced by women in the industry.
The report urged police to register FIRs for crimes committed in the industry, noting that many victims are silenced by fear for their lives. The panel was established following the 2017 actress assault case involving actor Dileep to investigate sexual harassment and gender inequality in Malayalam cinema, leading to this groundbreaking report.