Will the report on the Malayalam film industry bring about change?

Mahila Congress workers demanding prosecution based on the Hema Committee report, in Kochi on August 23, 2024. | Photo courtesy: The Hindu

the story So Far:

On August 19, the Hema Committee report on several issues in the Malayalam film industry, especially those faced by women, was released in public, almost five years after it was submitted to the Kerala government. With names of witnesses and accused deleted, the report has rocked the industry with revelations of sexual abuse, illegal bans, lack of written contracts, inhuman working conditions especially for junior artistes and crew, absence of basic amenities on film sets for women and several other issues.

Why did the government form the Hema Committee?

On the night of February 17, 2017, A leading female actor was kidnapped and sexually assaulted The murder was committed by some people inside a moving vehicle in Kochi, where most of the film industry is now located. The victim filed a case the next day. The incident triggered a chain reaction that challenged the established power centres of Malayalam cinema and resulted in the creation of Malayalam cinema. Women in Cinema Collective (WCC) comprises some of the most renowned female artistes and technicians in the industry. In response to demands from WCC members, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan appointed a committee headed by retired Kerala High Court judge K. Hema to study issues of sexual harassment and gender inequality in the industry. The committee included former bureaucrat KB Valsala Kumari and actor T. Sarada as members.

The report, submitted to the Kerala government on December 31, 2019, remained secret for nearly five years, leading to speculation about its contents. Despite repeated demands from various stakeholders, including the WCC, the report remained sealed. The Department of Cultural Affairs rejected applications under the Right to Information (RTI), citing confidentiality of witnesses.

On July 6, The State Information Commission ordered the department to issue a revised report It was to be made available to the public by July 25. However, the government postponed the release after various parties, including a producer and a witness, approached the Kerala High Court citing privacy concerns. The report was eventually made public The objections of the petitioners were rejected by the High Court.

What did the Hema Committee find?

Rumours of the existence of the “casting couch”—in which sexual favours are demanded from aspiring actors in exchange for roles—have long circulated in the industry. The report, obtained by The Hindu through an RTI request, confirms the existence of the practice through in-camera testimony of several witnesses who appeared before the committee. The witnesses produced evidence including audio clips, video clips and screenshots of WhatsApp messages.

Some women in the industry told the committee that men would knock on their doors at night, sometimes trying to force their way into their rooms. The report highlights the plight of women who were forced to work with their harassers. Many women expressed fear about approaching the police or even revealing the incident to their close family members, as they feared repercussions such as being banned from the industry and cyber attacks.

The report further states that the Malayalam film industry is controlled by a powerful group of male producers, directors and actors, whom a leading actor has called a “mafia”, as they can ban anyone from the industry. WCC members have also faced informal sanctions for speaking out about issues within the industry. The report highlights the lack of changing rooms or toilet facilities for junior artistes on sets, especially at outdoor locations, leading to many women getting urinary infections. It extensively documents the plight of junior artistes, who receive meagre salaries despite working long hours, describing their conditions as slave-like.

Compared to other South Indian film industries, particularly Tamil and Telugu, the Malayalam industry typically operates on relatively low budgets, although its growing markets have led to a significant increase in investment in the last few years. The industry produces an average of 200 films annually.

What has the committee recommended?

One of the key recommendations of the committee to the state government is to enact a statute and set up a tribunal to address issues faced by women in cinema. The committee also said that the Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) may be ineffective, as powerful individuals may threaten or force ICC members to handle complaints in a partisan manner. The report recommended that film production units provide temporary toilet facilities and changing rooms.

The report highlights a significant barrier for women in the technical side of cinema, where their numbers are notably low. For example, at the KR Narayanan National Institute of Visual Sciences and Arts, a film institute under the Kerala Higher Education Department, only two of the 44 students in technical departments were women during the years studied by the committee. The committee has recommended reservations and scholarships for women in film schools.

What has the state government responded to the report?

Legal experts believe that the revelations made in the report provide enough grounds for the government to order a special probe. Opposition parties, which have criticised the government for the delay in releasing the report, have also demanded a probe led by a women’s team of senior police officers. Mr Vijayan has said that the government will intervene decisively if any of the people who testified before the committee come forward with a complaint against their alleged harassers. Meanwhile, a division bench of the Kerala High Court has directed the government to submit the entire committee report in a sealed cover and has sought the government’s stand on the action to be taken. The case will be heard again on September 10.

The release of the revised report is being seen as a partial victory for the WCC, as it has triggered discussion on some of the key issues they raised. It may also lead to corrective measures in an industry that is now constantly in the national spotlight for the quality of cinema it produces.