A few members of Women in Cinema Collective (WCC), an advocacy group championing women’s rights and equality of sexes in the Malayalam entertainment industry, called on Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan at the latter’s office in the Government Secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram on Wednesday, September 11, 2024.
The meeting, though reportedly brief, took on significant importance, occurring just a day after the Kerala High Court criticized the State government for failing to act on the Hema Committee report. A Division Bench of the Kerala High Court directed the government to hand over the entire report to a special investigation team (SIT) and to file a report outlining possible actions based on its findings.
Representing the WCC were members Rima Kallingal, Revathy, Beena Paul, and Deedi Damodaran, who met with Chief Minister Vijayan in his chamber. The specifics of the closed-door meeting were not immediately clear.
An insider from the government suggested that the WCC may have used the opportunity to declare its stance on the upcoming government-proposed cinema conclave in 2025. The Collective likely sought the administration’s support in safeguarding women’s rights within cinema workplaces and demanded reforms aimed at making the industry’s working environment more democratic and egalitarian, including the establishment of a regulatory authority.
The committee also shed light on the existence of a dominant power group at the industry’s apex, asserting that this clique had the power to make or break careers of individual stars, technicians, producers, and directors.
In stark contrast, the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA), arguably the most influential organization in the industry, has refuted claims concerning the existence of such a powerful group.
The High Court further chastised the government for allegedly withholding the report and not initiating legal action for nearly five years, labeling the alleged inactivity as “alarmingly lethargic.”
Such judicial remarks have armed the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) with substantial ammunition to challenge the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government’s alleged pro-women stance.
. The critiques bring to the forefront urgent concerns regarding workplace safety for women in the film industry, the gender pay gap, non-payment of wages, and abysmal working conditions—ranging from a lack of basic facilities like toilets and cloakrooms to the provision of substandard food.
In the meantime, the special investigation team (SIT), established by the government to investigate allegations of sexual exploitation and harassment that came to light following the recent publication of a redacted version of the Hema Committee report, is gearing up to begin its probe. These instances of abuse had been recorded by the quasi-judicial panel.
A senior official confirmed that the SIT, which includes four women IPS officers, would treat the depositions and evidence, including digital proofs provided by survivors to the committee, as “first information.”
To ensure the safety and privacy of the complainants, SIT members are expected to meet the deponents discreetly. Their statements will be recorded confidentially before a magistrate for subsequent action.
The High Court’s mandate to supply the SIT with all the findings from the Hema Committee report means that the investigation is poised to take a comprehensive approach to the issues at hand.
This series of events has cast a spotlight on Kerala’s handling of women’s issues within its influential and often scrutinized film industry. The outcome of these efforts remains to be seen, but the intensified scrutiny, combined with judicial pressure, suggests that long-overdue reforms may finally be on the horizon.
These developments will likely be closely monitored, not just by industry insiders but also by the broader public, as they could set a precedent for addressing gender disparities and workplace injustices in creative sectors far beyond Kerala. The Women in Cinema Collective’s engagement with the state’s highest office marks a pivotal moment in this ongoing struggle for equality and fairness in the Malayalam entertainment industry. Published – September 11, 2024 01:57 pm IST Kerala
