Actor Revathi, a three-time National Award winner, said that “everybody has taken seriously” the Hema Committee Report, which underscores the rampant harassment of women in the Malayalam film industry. The actor is one of the founding members of Women in Cinema Collective (WCC), an organisation to make the Malayalam film industry a safer place to work for women.
The Justice K Hema Committee in its report recorded explosive accounts of harassment, exploitation and ill-treatment of female professionals in the film industry and alleged that a “criminal gang” is controlling the industry where unyielding women are squeezed out. The 233-page report, perhaps the first such for any film industry in India, details the power nexus in the Malayalam cinema industry and lays bare the multiple levels of exploitation faced by women in it. In the aftermath of an assault case on an actress involving actor Dileep in 2017, the Kerala government had appointed a panel to study issues of sexual harassment and gender inequality.
“I think everybody has taken this very seriously. Before this, it was just gossip but now it’s an official report,” said Revathi about the report.
When asked about no reaction from Malayalam superstars Mohanlal and Mammootty on the report so far, she said, “I am sure they are as shocked as we are, we are speaking, they are silent…”
The report has led to various Malayalam actors speaking about the harassment they faced, which many have called the industry’s #MeToo movement. Malayalam filmmaker Ranjith resigned as the chairman of Kerala Chalachitra Academy following allegations of misbehaviour levelled against him by a Bengali actor related to a project in 2009. The filmmaker has rejected the actor’s charge. Actor Siddique also resigned as the general secretary of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (A.M.M.A.) following sexual assault allegations raised by a woman actor.
“I think this is going to continue for a bit…For years, some people are saying that this happened to them…19 years back, 16 years back, for years, they have been silenced. The Hema committee report being released has ignited a kind of faith that it is okay to speak,” said Revathi.
The Kerala government on Sunday decided to constitute a Special Investigative Team (SIT) to probe the allegations. She added: “The government has taken a little too long, but at the moment, I still appreciate the Pinarayi Vijayan government because no other government had the courage to do so, no other government has done it.”
When asked whether they will continue with this work by the WCC, she said, “We are trying to keep this and bring some kind of culmination to make our workspace safe in every way. I don’t think this will die down…the government will take measures.”
Revathi said while sexual harassment is a key factor, mental torture is another issue that needs to be raised. “Just being in a workspace when men are drinking during the work time is a very tough space to be…”
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