Heads roll as sexual abuse allegations rattle Malayalam film industry

Hema Committee Report

The acronym AMMA, which stands for Association of Malayalam Movie Artists, raises the vision of a mother figure, but it’s the patriarchy that pervades the organisation that has stood out in recent times. The Justice Hema Committee report released by the Kerala government on August 19, on the sexual exploitation, discrimination against women on payouts, and lack of basic facilities for women at shooting sites, called out many of the members of AMMA. As cases were filed by the victims, the executive committee was dissolved and everyone, including its president superstar Mohanlal, resigned from the committee.

On the other side is Women in Cinema Collective (WCC), a women’s collective fighting for equality and justice in the Malayalam movie industry. Many members of AMMA came under the scanner following the formation of WCC in 2017. This was after the horror experience of a leading female actor who was abducted and sexually assaulted and filmed by a gang of men in a running car  on February 17, 2017. But her courage to file a case and pursue it saw the arrest of the accused, including the alleged mastermind superstar Dileep (the eighth accused) who engaged the gang. A case was again filed against Dileep in 2022 for threatening the investigation officer in the assault case.

The assault survivor’s bravery also received support in the industry, especially a group of leading female actors who formed the WCC in November 2017, which went on to fight for the rights of women in Mollywood. Also among her supporters was leading actress Manju Warrier, whose former husband was Dileep. WCC members, including Parvathy Thiruvothu, veteran actress Revathi, Rima Kallingal, Padmapriya, director Anjali Menon and editor Beena Paul among others approached the Kerala government and met Chief Minister Pnarayi Vijayan to stress on government action on the casting couch tradition and misogynistic attitude in the Malayalam film industry. WCC also exposed the presence of a mafia comprising some actors, directors and producers who can even get an artist banned if he or she does not comply with as desired by the mafia - ‘organised ban’.

The members of WCC thus faced a ban for campaigning against the accused and taking up the cause of the victims. Acting offers became scarce. Among its members, Parvathy, Revathi and Padmapriya are members of AMMA. Yet Parvathy called out the misogyny in the industry and specifically advised senior actors not to take up films sending out misogynistic messages. She had particularly named superstar Mammootty for his film Kasaba.

The high profile ban on Parvathy was considered a threat to women in the field that there would be consequences if they failed to keep quiet. Among those who faced a ban were those who came forward to support the women fighting sexual harassment and misogyny - prominent among them was Prithviraj Sukumaran.

Though the actress' assault, her filing a case and her persistent fight shook the misogyny in Mollywood, AMMA remained silent and no action was taken. Not a word came from its president Mohanlal - neither when WCC was formed, Justice K Hema Committee was formed, nor when the committee report was submitted or released. It was only when accusations were levelled against some senior members of AMMA executive committee that on moral ground the members resigned and the Committee was dissolved.

WCC’s efforts led to the formation of the Justice K Hema Committee in 2017, headed by former Kerala High Court Judge Justice K Hema and comprising actor Sharada and former bureaucrat KB Valsala Kumari. Both victims and perpetrators of sexual harassment were interviewed by the committee and evidence collected. After two years in December 2019, the committee submitted its report to the Pinarayi government. After a lot of struggle and demands from many quarters, a redacted version of 233 pages, after removing names of victims and accused, the report was released under the RTI Act.

It revealed the existence of an all-male power group of 15 top persons in the industry comprising directors, producers and actors in Mollywood. It decided who should stay in the industry and who should be cast in a film. The report went into instances of casting couch culture in the Malayalam film industry detailing instances of sexual exploitation, harassment and inhumane working conditions for women in the industry. There are no formal or legal contracts and no pay parity for women.

Following the release of the report, the Kerala government hesitated to initiate any action. But soon accusations began tumbling out in the open with more and more victims revealing their experience and more and more perpetrators getting exposed. For years victims stayed silent fearing the perpetrators would jeopardise their career.

But, now a fear of psychosis pervades among the perpetrators as victims have started talking. Resignations followed and the Kerala government has now set up a special investigation team (SIT) to probe the allegations of sexual harassment. The team is headed by IGP G Sparjan Kumar and four senior women IPS officers - DIG S Ajeetha Begam, SP Crime Branch HQ Merin Joseph, AIG Coastal Police G Poonkuzhali and Assistant Director of Kerala Police Academy Aiswarya Dongre. The team also has AIG Law and Order V Ajith and SP Crime Branch S Madhusoodan.

Overseeing the operations would be ADGP Crime Branch H Venkatesh.

The Film Employees Federation of Kerala had demanded the disclosure of the names of those accused in the Justice Hema Committee.

Heads began rolling as accusations began pouring in. 17 cases have already been filed in various stations, that would be transferred to the newly formed SIT:

First to resign on Sunday was AMMA general secretary Siddique. Junior actor Revathy Sampath has accused Siddique of raping her at a hotel in the state capital in 2016 when she was 21. An FIR has been lodged with the Museum police in Thiruvananthapuram, adding charges of illegal detaining and threatening Sampath. Siddique is likely to move Principal Sessions Court for anticipatory bail.

Sampath has also accused actor and bodybuilder Riyaz Khan of seeking sexual favour from her.

Prominent director Ranjith also had to resign on Sunday as chairperson of Kerala Chalachitra Academy after Bengali actor Sreelekha Mitra of inappropriate behaviour in 2009. The Kochi police have booked him on the charge of outraging her modesty.

Another police complaint was filed against the noted actor and CPI(M) legislator from Kollam M Mukesh by actress Minu Kurian alias Minu Muneer for attempting to coerce her into sexual submission. Mukesh has termed it as “blackmail” and threatened legal action. But, not only is his resignation called for by the opposition, but also by the women in his party, especially politburo member Brinda Karat. On Wednesday, he was removed from a state committee to formulate film policies.

Mukesh was also called out by casting director Tess Joseph six years ago for summoning her to his room during the shoot of the quiz program Kodeeshwaran.

Minu Muneer has also accused actors Jayasurya, Maniyanpilla Raju and Edavela Babu of sexual harassment during filming.

On Sunday, actor Jubitha Andy accused Edavela Babu of asking for some “adjustments” to get membership in AMMA. She also made allegations against actor Sudheesh and director Harikumar.

Actor Sonia Malhar has lodged a complaint with the SIT alleging molestation by an actor in 2013 on a film set.

Actor Baburaj, who does villain roles, has also been accused of sexual harassment by an actress.

An actress has filed cases against five of the seven persons she has accused of sexual harassment, with the city police of Kochi in four stations. Prominent among them are actors Jayasurya and M Mukesh.

Jayasurya has been booked for groping under non-bailable provisions. Her FIR against Mukesh is under various sections, including section 376 of IPC (rape), which is a non-bailable offence. Cases against Edavela Babu and VS Chandrashekhar, who stepped down as Lawyers Congress Committee chairman and president are similar. Maniyanpilla Raju and Noble have been booked under IPC section 354 (outraging modesty) and 509.

Meanwhile, director VK Prakash has filed an anticipatory bail please in the Kerala High Court following accusation of sexual abuse allegations against him in the committee report.