A recent report detailing poor working conditions and rampant sexual harassment faced by women in Malayalam-language cinema is causing upheavals in India’s entertainment industry. Yet, while many women have spoken out, the silence of powerful male actors, including some of India’s biggest stars, has been striking.
Based on testimonies from 51 individuals within Kerala’s film industry, the Hema Committee report exposes decades of exploitation, revealing that women were often pressured to offer sexual favors in exchange for work. It states that women were told to make “compromises and adjustments” if they wanted to stay in the industry.
The report comes after the Women in Cinema Collective (WCC) petitioned the Kerala government following the 2017 assault of a prominent actress, allegedly orchestrated by a male actor. Released in August 2023, the 290-page report redacts the identities of survivors and accused harassers but has still led to more than a dozen police complaints against influential men, including actors, directors, and producers.
Since the report’s release, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been established by the state government to look into the allegations. The Kerala High Court has also ordered investigations into the incidents detailed in the report, raising hopes for justice.
Women across India’s film industries have long spoken about the pervasive “casting couch” culture, where sexual favors are demanded in exchange for roles. Film critic Shubhra Gupta notes that sexual harassment is a nationwide problem: “We won’t find a single female performer anywhere in the country who has not suffered.”
The response to the report has been overwhelming, according to WCC member Deedi Damodaran. Many women who had left the industry due to harassment have now come forward to share their experiences. Despite facing online trolling and abuse, some have found a sense of closure by speaking out.
The report has also sparked calls for reform across other regional film industries, including Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Karnataka. In Telangana, pressure has mounted on the government to release a report on the Telugu film industry that has been pending for two years. In West Bengal, authorities have formed a committee to investigate allegations of abuse within the Bengali film industry.
Tamil actress Radhika Sarathkumar praises the awareness created by the Hema Committee report, saying it has caused fear among men in the industry. She calls for women in cinema to unite and take a stand against harassment.
However, critics have pointed out the lack of support from prominent male actors. Malayalam superstars Mohanlal and Mammootty have cautiously welcomed the report but warned against actions that could harm the industry. Meanwhile, actors like Kamal Haasan and Vijay in Tamil Nadu have remained silent, and Rajinikanth faced backlash for claiming ignorance of the report 10 days after its release. In Bollywood, A-list actors such as Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, Aamir Khan, and Akshay Kumar have also avoided addressing the issue.
Shubhra Gupta suggests that male stars’ silence is unsurprising, recalling the muted response to Bollywood’s #MeToo movement in 2018. Despite initial momentum, the industry saw little change, and the women who spoke out were often sidelined, while the accused faced few consequences.
Tanushree Dutta, whose 2018 #MeToo accusations against a Bollywood actor drew attention, has called the Hema Committee report “useless,” noting that earlier reports aimed at protecting women had not improved workplace safety. Gupta believes many stars remain silent to avoid jeopardizing their careers, referencing past instances where actors were trolled and lost work after speaking out on sensitive issues.
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