The Kerala government, led by Pinarayi Vijayan, came under heavy criticism on Tuesday, 20th August, for holding up the release of the Hema committee report, featuring startling information about how women are treated in the Malayalam film industry.
The government-appointed expert group discussed several embarrassing aspects, including unwanted physical advances made to women in the Malayalam film industry before they even started working and code names for women who would compromise. On Monday, August 18, the report was made official.
This study, which bears the name of the committee’s chair, Justice K. Hema (Retd.), is an important document that highlights the challenging circumstances that women in the film industry face. The committee was established in response to the 2017 sexual assault of a well-known actress, which caused public indignation and prompted calls for structural reform in the business.
The panel consisted of three people- legendary actress Sharada, and former bureaucrat K.B. Valsalakumari, led by Justice K. Hema. The committee’s mandate included looking at the working environment for women in the Malayalam film industry and coming up with suggestions for preventing discrimination and sexual harassment.
The study emphasized the serious obstacles that women encounter in the Malayalam film business, such as pervasive sexual harassment, discrimination based on gender, and an unfriendly workplace. The most startling discovery was that women who experience sexual harassment or assault frequently choose not to speak up for fear of being branded as “troublemakers” or being shunned by the business.
The report stressed that women have few options for pursuing justice or safety because there is no legally recognized body to deal with these problems.
Testimonies from other women in the industry, who detailed their terrifying experiences, are included in the report. A scenario that was particularly unsettling featured an actress who was made to rehearse a scene in which she was hugged by an actor who had previously molested her. The actress suffered severe physical and psychological damage from having to endure 17 takes. Her performance was critiqued by the producer, who failed to recognize or comprehend the emotional agony she was experiencing.
These testimonials highlight the widespread culture of insensitivity and exploitation that women in the field face on a daily basis. The study found that the Malayalam film industry has a deeply embedded patriarchal mentality that feeds the myth that women only pursue careers in the business to gain notoriety and fortune, and as a result, they will “surrender” to anything.
Because of this poisonous culture, women are exploited by men in positions of authority who believe they will do whatever it takes to get a part in a movie. The study chastised the industry for failing to acknowledge the fact that a large number of women are acting professionals who are in the business for the love of the trade rather than just the money.
The study emphasized how few basic amenities, like women’s restrooms and changing areas on movie sets, are available to women in the business. The substantial salary gap that exists in the Malayalam cinema industry between male and female actors was also highlighted by the survey.
Even in cases where women possess equal or greater experience and talent, they are frequently paid far less than their male colleagues. The discrimination against women in the workplace due to their gender is a reflection of larger issues of injustice and inequality. The report further touched upon the issue of cyberbullying and online harassment faced by women in the film industry.
The committee discovered that the sector frequently rejects women who dare to speak out against harassment or discrimination. They are called “problem-makers,” which negatively impacts their chances of getting a job and makes them feel alone in the workplace. The industry’s culture of backlash against female employees who speak for themselves is a contributing factor to the ongoing harassment and abuse of these workers.
