On 24th August, Malayalam actor Siddique resigned from the post of General Secretary of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA). He resigned over allegations of sexual assault levelled against him by a female actor. The resignation has been submitted to Mohanlal, president of AMMA.
In a statement, Siddique said, “Yes. I have tendered my official resignation to the president of the organisation, Mohanlal. Since there were allegations against me, I have decided not to continue in the post and resigned.” The allegations of sexual misconduct were levelled in 2019 by a Malayalam actor. The issue has sparked again following Justice Hema Committee’s report highlighted widespread cases of sexual misconduct in the Malayalam film industry.
In a statement, the victim said, “There was this Malayalam film which was being screened at the Nila theatre. He called me for a discussion about the film at the Mascot Hotel. That’s how I went there. This happened when I was 21.”
She added, “His approach, just like others, was to call me ‘daughter affectionately’. At that time, I didn’t realise this was the approach he had. I didn’t know this would happen. I went to that hotel with a very professional approach. I realised only later, after I became an adult, that such a film never existed. He sexually abused me in that hotel. It was a trap. Whatever he is saying now is completely false.”
She further said, “What he has done to many survivors, including me, as I said, is rape. I know I am speaking to the media and understand how the survivors who are listening to this are feeling right now. But if I have to speak openly, then let me tell you that this is how he behaved with me.”
“He touched me without my permission. He physically assaulted me, kicked me and trapped me. The face he has put on now is that of a liar. When he says all these are a criminal offence, he is one. I hope he has a mirror in his home. If not, I would be happy to gift him one. I am very sure he lies to himself every day. The price I had to pay was my dreams, my time and lots of mental issues I had to go through. Nobody should have to go through all this. Because when I knocked on the doors of justice, nobody gave it to me. Be it anyone, any system, I never got it,” she added.
Several AMMA members welcomed Siddique decision to give resignation. Vice President of AMMA Jayan Cherthala said it was not appropriate for him to continue in the position as such serious allegation have cropped up against him once again. Actor Anoop Chandran said he sent an email to Mohanlal in the morning seeking Siddique’s resignation. “The continuation of a person, facing serious allegations, in the post is actually an insult to the entire organisation. So I said in the email that if Siddique was not ready to step down on his own, the executive committee should be prepared to oust him,” he told media.
Actress Mala Parvathy called decision of actor Siddique “morally and ethically correct”. She said, “The actor’s resignation is inevitable…it is an appropriate decision. If that victim woman showed the courage to come in front of the society and detailed the trauma she underwent publically, we should understand the intensity of pain and humiliation she had suffered.”
Justice Hema Report exposed challenging circumstances faced by women in Malayalam film industry
On 20th August, the Kerala government came under heavy criticism for or holding up the release of the Hema committee report, featuring startling information about how women are treated in the Malayalam film industry. The report was made official on 18th August.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
