Thiruvananthapuram: The release of the Justice K Hema Committee Report on the conditions of women working in the Malayalam film industry on Monday resulted in immediate and sharp backlash from Kerala’s Leader of Opposition, V.D. Satheesan. The report unveiled harrowing details of sexual exploitation faced by women in the industry, prompting Satheesan to criticize the Pinarayi Vijayan government for allegedly withholding the report since 2019.
This report was initially submitted by Justice Hema (retd) in 2019, following her appointment by the Vijayan administration in 2017. The pressing question posed now is why the state kept such critical information, which cost the government Rs 1.50 crore to compile, concealed for so long. Satheesan did not hold back in his condemnation, emphasizing the dire need for a special police investigation helmed by a senior woman IPS officer to bring all perpetrators to justice, regardless of their standing or connections within the industry.
“This is a grave crime done by the Vijayan government and we wish to know why was this report kept in cold storage. Was it to save those who did the exploitation? The need of the hour is a special police probe team headed by a top woman IPS official and bring to book all the wrong-doers, whosoever they are and wherever they are placed,” Satheesan said.
On the other hand, State Culture and Films Minister Saji Cherian, who has served in his current role for over three years, stated that he had received no complaints regarding exploitation to date. Cherian expressed his willingness to initiate an investigation should any specific complaints arise. In an attempt to calm the anxieties of those affected, he assured that women coming forward with allegations would face no intimidation.
“Now a report has been published and it speaks of such things, but I am ready to order a probe if there is any complaint. I wish to inform all that no one needs to be worried and any woman coming with a complaint will face no duress,” Cherian remarked. Additionally, Cherian announced plans for a dedicated industry conclave in the following months where key figures in the film industry would convene to discuss and address these pressing issues.
The 289-page Hema Committee report begins evocatively, using metaphorical language to caution against accepting things at face value: “The sky is full of mysteries; with the twinkling stars and the beautiful moon. But, scientific investigation revealed that stars do not twinkle nor does the moon look beautiful. The study, therefore, cautions: ‘Do not trust what you see, even salt looks like sugar’.”
The report documents numerous distressing experiences of women in cinema, often so severe that the victims refrained from sharing them even with their close family members. The study also unexpectedly highlighted that certain men within the industry experienced substantial issues, including unauthorized bans from working due to trivial reasons. Such bans typically resulted from offending powerful individuals within the industry’s dominant lobby groups.
“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. Surprisingly, in the course of our study, we came to know that certain men also had suffered a lot of issues in the industry and many of them, including some very prominent artistes, were unauthorizedly banned from working in cinema for a considerable length of time.
. It was shocking to know that the sole reason for such unauthorized banning was due to very silly reasons. They would have knowingly or unknowingly ‘invited wrath of one or other person from the powerful lobby in the industry, which rules the industry,” the report noted.
Focusing primarily on the plight of women, the report identifies sexual harassment as a major issue deeply ingrained in the Malayalam film industry. Women, allegedly bold and confident, are depicted as hesitant to disclose their negative experiences due to fear of retaliation and further harassment. Stories of women facing threats not only to themselves but also to their family members upon coming forward were recurrent.
“Most of the women in cinema, who are known to be very bold, are reluctant and hesitant to divulge their bad experiences in cinema, particularly of sexual harassment. They are scared to disclose it even to their colleagues in the cinema, fearing consequences which they may have to face… By using fans and fan clubs, there would be severe online harassment against them on social media,” the report detailed.
Additionally, the report clarifies that harassment often begins at the onset of a woman’s career in cinema, with industry insiders commonly expecting ‘compromises’ and ‘adjustments’—euphemisms for sexual favors—in exchange for roles.
“According to women in cinema, the harassment starts from the very inception. It is revealed from the statements of various witnesses who were examined before the committee that the production controller or whoever gives an offer for a role in cinema first’ approaches the woman/girl or if it is the other way and, a woman approaches any person in cinema seeking a chance in cinema, she is told that she has to make ‘adjustments’ and ‘compromise’ to take her in cinema. ‘Compromise’ and ‘adjustment’ are two terms which are very familiar among women in the Malayalam film industry and they are asked to make themself available for sex on demand.”
Furthermore, the report underscores the troubling reality wherein some women, alongside certain mothers of aspiring actresses, often see no moral dilemma in acquiescing to these demands.
“There may be instances of consensual sex, but women in cinema generally, are not willing to share a bed to get a chance in cinema. Another witness stated before the committee that there may also be women who would be willing to adjust to the demands and she herself has seen certain mothers who are conniving at the situation and believe that there is nothing wrong with it. The witness stated that this is shocking reality… it is a sad state of affair that a woman has to surrender to sexual demands for her to get a job in cinema,” the report concludes.
As the revelations from the Justice Hema Report continue to draw national attention, the call for a thorough and uncompromising police investigation into these serious allegations grows louder. The unfolding events will be keenly observed by many, particularly those within and connected to the film industry, as Kerala grapples with this deep-seated issue.
