Hema Committee Report: A Month On, Where Does Mollywood MeToo Movement Stand?

Hema Committee Report: The Malayalam film industry is reeling from the shocking revelations of the Justice K Hema panel. The redacted version of the report was released publicly on August 19 this year, shaking Mollywood to its core, with accusations ranging from rampant discrimination against women professionals to more serious allegations of sexual harassment on set.

In the aftermath of the release of the scathing Hema Committee Report, prominent faces in the industry (Nivin Pauly to Jayasurya) have been accused and booked for rape, Mohanlal led Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA) executive committee has been dissolved, all while a Special Investigative Team (SIT) looks into sexual harassment allegations. But this begs a bigger question. When will the alleged victims get justice? One month on, let's look at where the Mollywood #MeToo Wave stands.

Formation of the Hema Committee - The seeds of revolution are sown

Women In Cinema Collective (WCC) had urged the Kerala state government for a committee to document the challenges faced by women working in Malayalam cinema after the 2017 actress assault case. Chaired by retired Kerala High Court Judge Justice K Hema, the committee also included veteran actress Sarada and retired Indian Administrative Service officer KB Valsala Kumari as its members.

The report was submitted to the government on December 31, 2019, but no immediate action was taken. The report was buried for nearly five years. On July 6, 2024, the Kerala State Information Commission passed an order directing the Kerala government to issue the Hema panel report. A month later, on August 19, the state government finally released the report publicly, with some redacted portions. That day, floodgates opened.

Hema Committee Report rocks India

The 235-page document, initially submitted to the government in 2019, exposed a culture of sexual exploitation and disregard for women's rights in Mollywood. It also shed light on practices like casting couch, where women were allegedly being pressured into offering sexual favours and "compromise" to sustain in the industry. Those denying would be "blacklisted". The three-member committee found out that women systematically faced gender disparity in the film industry. It also made mention of a "power group" that controls the film industry.

17 forms of exploitation faced by female professionals in Mollywood

According to the report, women actors who were ready to "compromise" were given code names, and those who were not were pushed out of the field. The panel report also alleged that the Malayalam film industry is under the control of a “criminal gang”. It further stated that anyone who does anything that upsets the alleged "power group" that controls the Malayalam film industry is unofficially banned from working here.

Forms of exploitation experienced by women professionals are listed below:

-- A lack of basic facilities for women, including toilets and changing rooms at places of work.
-- Women lack safety at their workplace and accommodation.
-- The use of drugs and alcohol, disorderly conduct and misbehaviour at the place of work by men lead to gross indiscipline.
-- Being subject to demeaning or vulgar comments at places of work.
-- The non-execution of contracts between employer and employee to suit individual requirements.
-- The failure to pay the agreed remuneration.
-- Disparity of remuneration between men and women, and gender discrimination in remuneration.
-- Resistance/reluctance to allow women to work on the technical side of cinema.
-- Online harassment.
-- Lack of legal awareness about their own rights.
-- The absence of any legally constituted authority to redress their grievances.

#MeToo wave: Women speak out, FIRs against who's who of Mollywood

Soon after the report was released, several women came out with their #MeToo stories. Prominent figures, including Siddique, Jayasurya, Mukesh M, director Ranjith and Nivin Pauly among others were of sexual misconduct and even rape. Following these complaints, Siddique and Ranjith stepped down from their respective positions at AMMA and Kerala Chalachitra Academy (KCA).

Kerala CM calls for SIT formation to tackle #MeToo movement in Mollywood

Owing to the mounting pressure, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan held a high-level meeting of senior police officials and constituted a seven-member team to probe allegations of harassment against women professionals in Mollywood. The team is headed by IG Sparjan Kumar and includes four senior women IPS officers of Kerala .

Mollywood #MeToo movement pulls AMMA to the ground

The 17-member AMMA executive committee was dissolved after President Mohanlal and 15 other executive committee members submitted their resignations on August 27en masse on "moral grounds". Days after his resignation, Mohanlal addressed the #MeToo movement and said AMMA is not responsible for everything. He added AMMA was not a trade union and it's unfortunate that the association was being hounded. He, however, failed to acknowledge any of the accused so far, inviting criticism from several quarters.

A month on, what lies ahead?

Malayalam film industry to get 'progressive' filmmakers association?

Amid the ongoing tussle in Mollywood, a group of film personalities are set to launch a new film body aimed at a safe and fair workplace for artists. The note, accessed by the media, is purportedly signed by well-known filmmakers Anjali Menon, Lijo Jose Pellissery, Rajeev Ravi and Aashiq Abu, actress Rima Kallingal and producer Bineesh Chandra.

The new association would be built on the pillars of "ethical responsibility, systemic modernisation, and empowerment of the workforce, creating a workplace that is fair, just, and reflective of the values we hold as a society".

WCC proposes Cinema Code of Conduct

The Women in Cinema Collective (WCC), on September 7, said it would soon come up with a set of recommendations to "rebuild" the industry as an equal and safe workspace. The WCC, a cornerstone in the #MeToo movement in Mollywood, expressed hope that all industry members would come in open solidarity and spirit to adopt a Cinema Code of Conduct (CCC). To streamline the Malayalam film industry they have initiated 5 codes of conduct which are listed below:

-- Contracts for all
-- Basic rights for all.
-- Insurance for every film: Cast and Crew.
-- Film IDs for every employee and every film
-- Reporting system and redressal system

Kerala HC slams government for inaction on Hema Committee Report

The Kerala High Court on September 9 came down heavily on the State government's inaction in the matters pertaining to sexual assault cases in the Malayalam Film Industry. The court criticised the authorities for not registering FIRs against those accused and for doing ‘nothing’ except constitute the Special Investigation Team (SIT).

Privacy of the alleged victims ‘jeopardised’?

WCC wrote an open letter to the state government seeking CM's intervention to protect the privacy of women, who have been deposed in front of the Justice K Hema Committee. The body penned a long note on its official Facebook handle alleging that a private Malayalam TV channel is telecasting reports based on the purported statements given by the women film professionals before the government-appointed panel.

Calling it an "invasion against privacy," the body revealed most private statements that the Hema Committee, the government, and the court decided not to release out of respect for the privacy of the victims are now coming through the reporter's channel. The note further stated that the channel reports caused mental distress to the survivors and strongly urged the CM to intervene in the matter to stop this "news attack" against the privacy of women.

What is the legal status of the prime accused?

While Siddique has sought anticipatory bail in the rape case against him, CPI-M legislator Mukesh and former AMMA general secretary Edavela Babu have been granted pre-arrest bail. The trio have been booked by Kerala Police under several cases, including rape.

SIT continues to probe #MeToo cases

The Kerala police's special investigation team (SIT) probing the sexual assault allegations in the Malayalam film industry has started an inquiry into the series of sexual misconduct and other criminal offences revealed in the Hema Committee report.

The Kerala HC on Tuesday, September 17, directed that the entire version of the Hema committee report should be handed over to the SIT to initiate further action. The court also asked the SIT to submit an action report before the next sitting on October 3.