On Monday, women actors in Kerala identified at least five additional male actors, as more allegations of past sexual abuse emerged within the Malayalam film industry, placing it in its own separate, Me Too movement. The surge of accusations was sparked by the recent release of the Justice Hema Committee report on sexual harassment in the film industry.
The day before, the Kerala government formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) led by senior IPS women officers to investigate these claims. In the wake of these developments, prominent actors Siddique and director Ranjith, both widely recognized by their single names, resigned from the actors association and state-run film organization respectively after being accused by women.
Meanwhile, the Ernakulam North police reported that they have registered a First Information Report (FIR) against Ranjith under Section 354 of the Indian Penal Code ( IPC) following a complaint from a Bengali actress.
The officers clarified that the case is under the IPC rather than the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) since the allegation dates back to 2009.
Actors Accused of Abuse
On Monday, a female actor accused four well-known actors, M Mukesh, Jayasurya, Edavela Babu, and Maniyanpilla Raju along with a production controller named Noble, of sexual abuse.
Another junior female actor told the media that she was subjected to sexual abuse by actor Baburaj, who is also a joint secretary of the influential actors’ organization, the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA).
Mukesh, 67, who is also a CPI(M) MLA from Kollam, was specifically named in the allegations. The actor stated that he first demanded sexual favors on the sets of the 2009 film Calendar in exchange for membership in AMMA. When she rejected his advances, he threatened that she would never obtain AMMA membership without his approval.
Two years later, during the filming of Nadakame Ulakam, he confronted her again, When she ran to her hotel room, he followed, forced the door open, and physically abused her.
Membership in Amma provides health care support,a pension, and aid for senior artists, as well as opportunities for networking within the industry.
The actress has also accused 45-year-old Jayasurya of groping her hand and forcibly kissing her on the set in 2008. She described how the incident took place near the secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram.
As she was returning from the restroom, Jayasurya allegedly groped her from behind and forcibly kissed her. She confronted him, telling him it was wrong and he later invited her to his apartment which she refused.
While Jayasurya Mukesh and Babu have not responded to the allegations, Raju told reporters that he denies the accusations against him but welcomed any investigation. He suggested that there are questionable motives involved and that the truth must come out.
The remarks made by Raju are similar to those of senior actor Siddique who recently resigned as the general secretary of AMMA following the allegations that he raped a young actress in 2016. Siddique sent a complaint to the state DGP, claiming that the accusation was part of a hidden agenda.
Director-screenwriter Ranjith resigned on Sunday from his position as the chairman of the Kerala Chalachitra Academy, a state-run institution following allegations that he inappropriately touched Bengali actress Sreelekha Mitra at a hotel in 2009. On Monday, Mitra filed a formal complaint against Ranjith with the police in Kochi
Opposition Attacks Over Allegations
In response to the allegations, Congress and BJP workers held protest marches at Mukesh’s residence in Kollam, demanding action against him and his removal from a government-appointed panel responsible for framing policies for the film industry
Congress MP Shafi Parambil criticized the situation, questioning how an actor facing sexual allegation could be a member of a committee tasked with shaping policies for the film industry,
He expressed concern, stating the government’s handling of the issue reflected a lack of seriousness regarding the outcomes of the Hema committee’s report.
What’s In The Hema Committee Report?
The Justice Hema Committee report exposed the dark side of Mollywood, revealing shocking accounts of work culture, discrimination, and widespread sexual harassment, particularly against female actors, along with deplorable and unethical working conditions.
Who Is On The Committee?
The three-member justice Hema committee, established in 2017 released its report on August 19, 2024. The report which was initially submitted to the Kerala government in December 2019, has been made public with some limited redactions.
The committee considering retired High Court Justice K Hema, former actor Sharada, and retired IAS officer KB Valsala Kumari, was formed in response to the petition by the Kerala-based Women in Cinema Collective (WCC) to investigate issues of sexual harassment and gender inequality in the Malayalam film industry.
Mollywood’s Hidden Harassment Exposed
Malayalam cinema, often lauded for its progressive themes harbors a troubling underside. In February 2017m prominent female actor accused a leading actor of abduction and sexual assault in Kochi, causing significant upheaval and revealing systematic discrimination in the industry.
By July 2017, the Kerala government established a committee to investigate sexual harassment and gender inequality which submitted a 295-page report to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in december 2018.
What Is Revealed In The Report?
The committee uncovered at least 17 types of exploitation faced by women across 30 different categories in the industry. These include sexual demands for women trying to enter the field, sexual harassment, and various forms of abuse and assault.
