Chennai: Newcomers being ‘persuaded to surrender to demands for sex’, lack of basic facilities like toilets and changing rooms for women on set and the stranglehold of a ‘power group’ on the industry. The Justice Hema Committee report reveals shocking details about the working conditions of women in the Malayalam film industry, also known as ‘Mollywood’.
According to the report, made public after a five-year delay, the industry is rife with instances of “compromise” and “adjustment” — terms used to ask women to make themselves available for sexual interactions on demand. It goes on to add that a ‘power group’ of 10-15 individuals who are at the forefront of the industry controls ‘Mollywood’ and any person who crosses them knowingly or unknowingly could be deprived of work.
“The experiences which many women have gone through in cinema are really shocking and are of such gravity that they had not disclosed those details even to close family members,” says the report made public Monday.
Earlier in the day, a single bench of the Kerala High Court dismissed a plea by actor Ranjini seeking a stay on the release of the report.
The committee led by Justice K. Hema of the Kerala High Court, who has since retired, was formed in 2017 after an outcry over the kidnapping and assault of an actress allegedly orchestrated by actor Dileep because of a personal vendetta against her.
Between 2017 and 2019, the committee conducted on-camera interviews of both men and women working in ‘Mollywood’ in different capacities, without revealing their identities. Members also visited sets of the 2019 film Lucifer to see for themselves the working conditions of women.
“In fact, many who were examined before the committee were scared to reveal to us many things which they experienced in cinema, fearing adverse consequences,” the committee notes in its report. It adds that it also faced other issues such as finding a trustworthy stenographer, which is why members of the committee were forced to type the report themselves.
The report also underlines how formation of the Women in Cinema Collective (WCC) in 2017 allowed many women a forum where they could narrate their ordeals without fear of repercussions.
The committee comprising now-retired Kerala HC judge Justice K. Hema retired IAS officer K.B. Valsala Kumari and actor T. Sharada has also made recommendations to improve the working conditions of women in the industry. Issues faced by women, says the report, can be resolved only through enactment of appropriate statutes and constitution of a tribunal.
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‘Harassment from inception’ & ‘knock on doors’
“Harassment starts from the very inception,” the report says, adding that a woman in search of a role approaching anyone in the industry would be told to make “adjustments” and “compromise” for the chance. Many were told that successful women were more willing to make these ‘compromises’.
“This impression is created by none other than people within the industry itself, to persuade newcomers to surrender to the demand for sex,” it says.
Women interviewed by the committee also revealed that it is a common belief among the majority of men in ‘Mollywood’ that women willing to act in intimate scenes are willing to do the same off the set. The committee says it is convinced after a thorough analysis of evidence (including video clips, audio messages, WhatsApp messages etc.) that women face harassment even from those ‘well-known’ within the industry.
It adds that parents or relatives often accompany women to movie sets owing to fear of sexual exploitation.
Women the committee interviewed also shared that during outstation shoots, “in most of the hotels where they are staying, the doors are knocked by the men working in cinema who would be mostly under intoxication”.
The knocking would “not be polite or decent” and on many occasions, the women felt that the door “would collapse” and the men would enter the room by force, says the report.
Denied changing rooms, toilets in ‘Mollywood’
The committee, according to its report, found that nearly all women it interviewed were denied access even to basic facilities such as toilets and changing rooms at outdoor shooting locations. Caravans are provided only for male and female actors, but other women are not allowed to use them, says the report.
“What is being done now is, the women themselves will find some space in a nearby interior place like a forest or behind bushes or a fat tree to pass urine, while on an outdoor shoot,” it adds. The report also says that often one or two people would hold up a cloth to help women change. This situation becomes even more serious during a woman’s menstrual cycle.
As a result, many women avoid drinking water and hold back urine, resulting in infections and discomfort, the committee says in its report, adding that one junior artist disclosed that the production unit did not allow her to go to the toilet which was a 10-minute walk from the set.
Referring to outstation shoots, it adds that despite the work ending only by midnight, no arrangements are made to ensure the safe commute of junior artists to the railway or bus station.
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‘Power group’ of Malayalam film industry
The committee in its report delves into the issue of a ‘power group’ exercising its writ over the Malayalam film industry.
It cites evidence obtained by members to say that certain actors, all men and some of whom are also producers, distributors, and directors, are in absolute control of ‘Mollywood’. If someone offends this ‘power group,’ they may be banned or prevented from working in the industry.
“Mostly the banning will not be supported by anything in writing. It is operated by mouth-to-mouth secret communication between one another.”
Panel suggests civil court-like tribunal
The committee recommends the formation of a tribunal comprising a retired district judge, preferably a woman, authorised to appoint any person to inspect, enquire and report any fact relevant to an enquiry. The tribunal, if formed, would consider if the dispute or complaint can be resolved by settlement, counselling or conciliation first or whether it warrants other proceedings deemed appropriate as per the situation.
In its report, the committee insists that all proceedings before the tribunal be held ‘on camera’ and that there be no bar for one facing an inquiry to move to any other forum to seek redressal. It adds that the tribunal be treated as a civil court, without the powers to conduct a criminal trial.
If the tribunal finds merit in allegations against any person accused of committing an act detrimental to the interest of the complainant by harassing or banning her from the industry by some means, it can impose a penalty against the person, the committee has recommended.
Further, it has proposed that the tribunal be empowered to impose a penalty or bar a person if found harassing women, denying basic amenities, making vulgar comments, consuming drugs or alcohol during shoots, or ‘banning’ women from the industry.
It also recommended that a working contract be made the norm for everyone including junior artists and that such a contract specifically mention the number of working days and hours, besides payment and stipulated time for the clearance of dues.
(Edited by Amrtansh Arora)
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