On Tuesday, August 27, 2024, a Special Investigation Team (SIT), recently formed to delve into the explosive “me-too” disclosures of sexual exploitation within the Malayalam film industry, convened at the State Police Headquarters in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. This pivotal meeting marks the beginning of what promises to be a highly complex and sensitive investigation, bringing to the forefront the alleged complicity of several top stars, producers, and directors.
In the harrowing narratives shared across social and mainstream media last weekend, victims detailed their experiences of “coercive” sexual acts, inappropriate sexual comments, and advances in professional settings. One particularly grave allegation involved the trafficking of a junior female artist to a producer for sexual exploitation. These disclosures have ignited widespread public outrage and fervent calls from Opposition parties for swift justice.
The Left Democratic Front (LDF) government’s response to the burgeoning scandal was swift. They established the SIT, staffed exclusively by four female IPS officers, to probe the allegations. This strategic move aims to placate the growing unrest and ensure a thorough and empathetic examination of the claims. The team hopes to create a detailed roadmap for the investigation, mindful of the legal and societal implications of their findings.
Since the emergence of these allegations, at least eight women, including aspiring actors and scriptwriters, have courageously come forward. They paint a disturbing picture of a work culture steeped in patriarchy, where sexual submission is allegedly required for career advancement. Moreover, the victims highlighted the abysmal working conditions faced by less privileged women in the industry, citing a lack of essential facilities such as cloakrooms, toilets, safe accommodations, and secure transportation.
This past Tuesday, these aggrieved women began formal legal proceedings by filing extensive police complaints. In response, law enforcement in Kochi has already lodged an FIR in one instance, signaling the first official step towards addressing these systemic abuses. The catalyst for many of these complaints is the recently published Justice K. Hema Committee report. This report uncovered widespread sexual exploitation, a pervasive casting couch culture, and deep-rooted misogyny within the entertainment industry. The horrifying findings of the report, coupled with assurances from Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to address specific complaints, emboldened these women to finally seek justice.
The victims shared that some industry figures attempted to discredit their allegations by scrutinizing the timing of their complaints and suggesting ulterior motives.
. They describe efforts by influential cliques within the industry to delegitimize their stories through conspiracy theories, framing them as attempts to blackmail or tarnish reputations. Despite these attempts, the women remained undeterred. They found solace and support in the empathetic responses from the investigating female officers, who acknowledged the significant risks the victims took by stepping forward.
A senior official familiar with similar high-profile investigations stated that this probe would be far from straightforward. The investigation demands meticulous fact-checking and empathetic listening to build a credible case. Due to the retrospective nature of the offenses, the police will need to establish a specific timeline by piecing together dates, locations, and financial transactions. The investigators will likely rely on contemporaneous statements made by the survivors, including text messages, emails, personal journals, and social media interactions, to construct an irrefutable narrative.
The investigative team anticipated that questioning actors and technicians from past film projects, some over a decade old, may be necessary. One investigating officer remarked that the survivors’ accounts elucidated a clear pattern of criminal behavior, marked by sexual exploitation, sexist language, misogynistic conduct, and physical assault.
During the closed-door meeting chaired by State Police Chief Sheikh Darvesh Saheb, other high-ranking officials and team members collaborated to outline the case’s investigative framework. Notable attendees included H. Venkatesh, Additional Director General of Police, Crime Branch, Inspector General of Police Sparjan Kumar, DIG Ajitha Beegum, SP Crime Branch Headquarters Merin Joseph, AIG Coastal Police G. Poonkuzhali, SP Aishwarya Dongere, AIG Law and Order V. Ajith, and SP Crime Branch S. Madhusoodhanan. Some officers participated remotely via online conferencing tools, ensuring a comprehensive and united approach to the investigation.
As the SIT continues their intensive probe, the Malayalam cinema industry stands on the brink of a seismic transformation. The coming weeks and months will inevitably reveal the depth and breadth of the systemic issues plaguing the industry, potentially leading to legal repercussions for some of its most prominent figures. Whether justice will be served remains to be seen, but the SIT’s efforts signal a significant step towards addressing the longstanding issue of sexual exploitation in the Malayalam film industry.
