#MeToo In Mollywood: Renji Panicker Says 'Excluding' Accused Without Evidence 'Unjustifiable'

#MeToo In Mollywood: The shocking revelations in Justice K Hema Committee's report about the rampant harassment and sexual abuse of women professionals in the Malayalam film industry led to two high-profile resignations from state bodies. Actor Siddique and director Ranjith quit their positions as AMMA chairman and KCA chief respectively. Malayalam actor-director Renji Panicker has reacted to the recent controversies that have engulfed Mollywood and called for evidence-backed claims. 

Renji Panicker’s opinion on Hema Committee Report

Renji Panicker expressed his concerns about the impact of #MeToo allegations  and individuals named saying, “Their creativity cannot be suppressed and excluding them from the film industry without solid evidence is unjustifiable."

Tovino Thomas’ opinion about issues faced by women in Mollywood

Tovino Thomas expressed his views about the ongoing controversy. In a recent media interaction, the Minnal Murali star said, “It’s only the Malayalam film industry that a Hema Committee was formed and such a thorough investigation was initiated. Other industries have not seen similar actions, so it’s incorrect to claim that these issues only occur here."

He also said, “Those who did crime should be punished. It’s basic thing. Women should be safe everywhere and not only in the film industry”. His remarks comes when the Malayalam film industry is facing intense scrutiny and is undergoing what some describe as a clean-up process.

Women share their #MeToo stories

Bengali actress Sreelekha Mitra recently alleged that she faced harassment while she auditioned for the movie Paleri Manikyam: Oru Pathira Kolapathakathinte Katha (2009). The film was directed by Ranjith.

The report by the Justice Hema Committee, constituted by the Kerala government post the 2017 actress assault case, has revealed instances of harassment and exploitation of women in the Malayalam cinema industry, prompting calls for action against the guilty. In the report, 17 issues faced by women professionals in Mollywood have been highlighted, ranging from sexual harassment to pay disparity.